Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

We Pave Your Career Path

President Joe Biden hands another win to H-1B holders and Indian students in the US

2 min read
US H-1B visa draws

Two developments in immigration law bring happy news: a court challenge to OPT and STEM OPT extension has failed, and the US Department of Labor (DOL) has delayed to 14th May 2021 (past the H-1B lottery deadlines) implementation of the regulations influencing disproportionate wage hikes for H-1B holders and green card petitions.

The OPT (Optional Practical Training) program gives one year of work approval to students who finish their degrees. The law requires that the students should work in their own field for no less than 20 hours every week – paid or unpaid. Full-time employment is permitted, yet not needed.

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) graduates can extend their OPT for an additional two years, giving them a sum of three years to work in the United States of America. The rules for the extension are harder and a lot more like H-1B visas.

In both types of OPT statuses, students can apply for the H-1B lottery.

These two programs have been doing the rounds in federal courts. Local employee organizations believed these programs to be past the authority of the government to proclaim. The government and different stakeholders including the National Association of Manufacturers, a prestigious organization, disagreed. The court ruled for the government. This case can still be appealed, yet the decision is sound, and not likely to be reversed easily.

Biden Hands Another Win to H-1B Holders

On the H-1B and green card subjects, the DOL regulation raising expected wages to an unreasonable level was troublesome. Yet, the hike would not have been an insurmountable hurdle for H-1B or green card petitions. Since employers might have relied upon certain third-party wage surveys. These surveys have the positive quality of being extensively lower in salary figures than the DOL. However, they also have two basic issues. First, they are not available for all jobs in every geographical location. Second, they are expensive ($800-$900 or more).

[New H-1B rule not valid, other changes on hold for 60 days]

Now, DOL has delayed the implementation of the wage hike guideline to 14th May 2021 which brings us past the H-1B lottery times this year. DOL is inviting comments from the stakeholders and the public. They may repeal the guideline altogether if after consideration they find the regulation untenable factually or legally.

All in all, we are moving the right way under President Joe Biden in guaranteeing that our policies are made with due thought and deliberation. That is better than great news.

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