Trump extends freeze on H-1B, other work visas until March 31; Indian IT Firms to be hit
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The Donald Trump government expanded a ban on immigrants traveling to the US on work-based visas and green cards till 31st March 2021. A move that directly impacts a few H-1B visa holders.
The visa ban had been given in April and June to protect American jobs and was set to expire on December 31. Extending the ban to March means US president-elect Joe Biden may need to accept an intense approach to whether to revoke it. And risk being seen as anti-American labor or let it expire in March. Which goes against his more liberal pro-immigration stance.
The move essentially impacts the individuals who had been given H-1B visas in April, effective October 1, 2020.
Reuters reported that Biden, who takes charge as president on 20th January 2021. Criticized the limitations, but didn’t state whether he would instantly reverse them.
The visa ban expansion contradicts its rationale to protect US jobs. After trump’s new message that the unemployment rate is below 6.7%. It is Trump’s last gasp to hurt immigration that benefits the US and is promoting economic recovery. Immigration lawyer Cyrus Mehta said on Twitter.
Trump Extends Freeze on Various Work Visas
In October, a US judge gave a preliminary injunction against the ban on the entry of H-1B, L-1, and other non-immigrant visa holders. Relevant to the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. This included individuals from the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, Technet, Intrax, and the US Chamber of Commerce, representing a few huge companies including Facebook, Google, and Uber. The US Department of Justice appealed the decision, and the following hearing is planned for 19th January 2021.
The announcement stated the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) proceeds to significantly disrupt Americans’ livelihoods. While the November overall unemployment rate in the US of 6.7% reflects a marked decline from its April high. There were still 9,834,000 fewer seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in November than in February of 2020.
[Importance of Monitoring the I-94 Expiration Date]
While a few Indian and US tech organizations criticized the ban in June. It hasn’t had a critical effect on business because numerous employees are still working remotely. In August, the US Department of State announced ‘national interest exemptions’ to the presidential proclamations. Including technology workers on H-1B/L-1 visas giving critical infrastructure services. As well as exceptions for visa holders getting back to the US in the same position with the same employer and visa classification.
