A US body representing American technology workers has submitted a representation to President Donald Trump to suspend the H-1B visa program this year. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
Indians are the biggest beneficiaries of this scheme as they manage to obtain 70% of them. They also urged to suspend H-2B visas which are mostly for foreign farmworkers. US businesses hire people from Latin American countries. According to some reports, the Department of Labour would be looking at 50-70 million unemployed Americans by the end of April.
Interestingly, the Indian Diaspora in the US has requested the US Citizenship and Immigration Services for a 90-day grace period for tech professionals to leave the US following the expiry of their visas. The current limit is 60 days and they are seeking a 180 days period as this period of economic uncertainty will make it difficult to get employment in 60 days.
In the wake of US Elections in November, it has to be seen which way President Trump will tilt.
