ThinkStock PhotosPUNE: The Trump administration is moving closer to bringing about changes in the H-1B visa program, something that had been a part of his election campaign four years ago. On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) submitted a regulation to amend what jobs would qualify for the high-skill visa category to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. This is typically the last step before the regulation is made open to the public for comments.
The DHS intends to revise the definition of what an H-1B visa speciality occupation is, and the definition of the employer-employee relationship. The rule said that the ‘Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will propose to revise the definition of specialty occupation to increase focus on obtaining the best and the brightest foreign nationals via the H-1B program, and revise the definition of employment and employer-employee relationship to better protect U.S. workers and wages. In addition, DHS will propose additional requirements designed to ensure employers pay appropriate wages to H-1B visa holders.’
This proposed change has been a part of all the unified agendas published by the Trump administration since Fall 2017. Every year, the US administration publishes two unified agendas highlighting the key policy and rule-making areas for the year. Trump, who came to power on a strong anti-immigration stance is seeking re-election in November.
In June, he temporarily suspended the H-1B visa program till 31st December 2020 in a bid to protect local jobs following record unemployment levels due to Covid19 shutdowns. In August, the administration allowed for visas to be issued to applicants meeting some specific criteria, like being involved in the Covid19 response in some manner, or to people who were returning to the same job in the same role as per the earlier visa issued.
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The DHS intends to revise the definition of what an H-1B visa speciality occupation is, and the definition of the employer-employee relationship. The rule said that the ‘Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will propose to revise the definition of specialty occupation to increase focus on obtaining the best and the brightest foreign nationals via the H-1B program, and revise the definition of employment and employer-employee relationship to better protect U.S. workers and wages. In addition, DHS will propose additional requirements designed to ensure employers pay appropriate wages to H-1B visa holders.’
This proposed change has been a part of all the unified agendas published by the Trump administration since Fall 2017. Every year, the US administration publishes two unified agendas highlighting the key policy and rule-making areas for the year. Trump, who came to power on a strong anti-immigration stance is seeking re-election in November.
In June, he temporarily suspended the H-1B visa program till 31st December 2020 in a bid to protect local jobs following record unemployment levels due to Covid19 shutdowns. In August, the administration allowed for visas to be issued to applicants meeting some specific criteria, like being involved in the Covid19 response in some manner, or to people who were returning to the same job in the same role as per the earlier visa issued.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
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