United States May Suspend H1B, Other Visas starting October, 1st – Due to large scale unemployment in United States of America post coronavirus pandemic, the US President Donald Trump is considering suspending a number of employment visas including the H-1B. This is the most sought work Visa in USA among Indian IT professionals. In addition to the H1B visas, the suspension could apply to the H-2B visa for short-term seasonal workers, the J-1 visa for short-term workers including camp counselors and au pairs and the L-1 visa for internal company transfers.
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The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, quoting unnamed administration officials that the proposed suspension could extend into the government’s new fiscal year beginning October 1, when many new visas are issued. That could bar any new H-1B holder outside the country from coming to work until the suspension is lifted, though visa holders already in the country are unlikely to be affected, the daily reported.
The H-1B is the most popular coveted foreign work visas among IT companies like Infosys, Wipro, TCS etc in India.If the decision gets implemented, it will have an adverse impact on thousands of Indian IT professionals. Currently, due to COVID-19, already a large number of Indians on the H-1B visas have lost their jobs and are headed back home.
The White House, however, said that no final decision has been made and the administration is considering various proposals.
“The administration is currently evaluating a wide range of options, formulated by career experts, to protect American workers and job seekers especially disadvantaged and underserved citizens — but no decisions of any kind have been made,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.