Curtailing opportunities
As the world is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic various issues have cropped up over the past several months. One such issue is the decreasing job opportunities in countries that would hire tens of thousands of people every year.
One of the major recruiters of course happened to be the United States of America. However, the covid-19 pandemic after affects has hit the country so bad that it choose to suspend the most sought-after H-1B visas along with other types of foreign work visas until the end of 2020 to protect American workers in a crucial election year.
The move is seen as a huge blow to Indian IT professionals eyeing the US job market. Under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, the new restrictions will take effect from today.
Though the rumor mills were abuzz about the developments since the past more than a week but people in India were made to think that Indians will be exempted from it. This hope was possibly generated by the bonhomie people were made to believe exists between US and India.
However, the unexpected has happened for now and the decision will surely impact a large number of Indian IT professionals and several American and Indian companies who were issued H-1B visas by the US government for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1.
They would now have to wait at least till the end of the current calendar year before approaching the US diplomatic missions to get stamping. It would also impact a large number of Indian IT professionals who are seeking renewal of their H-1B visas.
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. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
In April, Trump signed an immigration proclamation targeting people outside of the US seeking to legally migrate to the US, with some exceptions. That order, which was set to lapse, will be extended until the end of 2020 and expanded to include some guest worker visas.
The new visas included are L-1 visas for intracompany transfers, H-1Bs for workers in specialty occupations as well as the H-4 visa for spouses, H-2Bs for temporary non-agricultural workers and most J-1 visas for exchange visitors.
The Trump administration seeking another term in the White House in the November 3 presidential election believes that the step was essential to help millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the self interest the order has reflected has ignored the mounting opposition to by various business organisations, lawmakers and human rights bodies. This order also reflects the lack of concern the US administration has shown towards eradicating unemployment issues that have been worsened by the advent of Covid-19.
KV News
