Getting an H-1B visa in the US is becoming increasingly difficult by the day. Techies are already struggling to find sponsors, and even if they do have one, the authorities don’t make it easy for them.
In a recent case, USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) asked an H-1B applicant to submit not just his own documents but also all W-2 forms from his company, basically asking the company to show what they pay to all its employees.
This applicant had used premium processing to speed up the process. Instead, he got a bizarre Request for Evidence (RFE), asking for co-workers’ W-2s, company tax filings, and even photos of the office.
Under Trump’s new immigration approach, USCIS has become stricter. They suspect some companies are only set up to bring in foreign workers on H-1B visas, often underpaying them.
The new US administration is curbing these “H-1B shops.” As a result, companies with a clean past are also being thrown under the hammer.
Many believe someone may have reported the company for wage issues. Others say USCIS is now routinely asking for extra proof, especially if the company mostly hires international workers.
Whatever the reason, this is bad news for Indian students and tech workers. Even if you’re doing everything right, and apply for premium processing, your visa could be delayed or denied just because of the red tape issues.
