US H1-B visa ban: Who is affected by Trump’s new rules on work visas?

The effects of the proclamation may not be immediately felt as the issuance of work visas had already dramatically declined due to the coronavirus pandemic

US President Donald Trump suspended the entry of certain foreign workers on Monday until the end of the year, a move the White House said would help the coronavirus-battered economy, but which business groups strongly oppose. The effects of the proclamation may not be immediately felt as the issuance of work visas had already dramatically declined due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The following visa categories are affected:

H-1B: The United States grants 85,000 H-1B visas every year to ‘high-skilled’ workers, often in the technology industry. They are generally valid for up to six years. In fiscal year 2019, the Department of State issued 188,123 H-1B visas for both new applicants and renewals. Some 131,549 were for Indian citizens, followed by 28,483 for mainland Chinese citizens.

ALSO READ: Donald Trump blocks H1B visa as businesses say it will hurt US recovery

Only 143 H-1B visas were issued in May 2020, compared with 13,678 in May 2019, according to Department data.

H-2B: H-2B visas are for seasonal non-agricultural labor. The United States issues 66,000 per year, although it sometimes grants additional visas based on demand. They are generally valid for up to three years and are popular in industries like food processing, hotel work, and landscaping. In fiscal year 2019, the Department of State issued 97,623 H-2B visas for both new applicants and renewals. Some 72,339 were for Mexican citizens…Read More

Trump wrong about H-1B? Threat of 'being Bangalored' illogical: US study

In fact, report says immigration bans will lead to greater outsourcing by US firms

 

 

Did US President Donald Trump get his H-1B visa math wrong? A report by a US think tank, the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), thinks he did.

One of the key findings of the report was that fears in the US that H-1B visas granted to foreign workers, especially Indian techies, were draining the job market of opportunities for the natives were exaggerated at best, and, "illogical" if seen in the context of data.

The 9,356 new H-1B petitions for the top seven Indian-based companies approved in financial year 2016 represent "only 0.006 per cent of the US labour force" , the report said, adding that while the "threat of job loss has long been exaggerated by critics, it reaches illogical proportions when discussing fewer than 10,000 workers in an economy that employs 160 million workers nationwide".

In April this year, Trump signed an executive order called 'Buy American and Hire American' to protect the American industry from unfair competition and stop the "misuse" of H-1B visas| economy news

• The numbers just don't add up

According to the 'H-1B Visas by the numbers' report by NFAP, the April 2017 unemployment rate in the US for "computer and mathematical science" occupations was 2.5 per cent – a very low rate, even lower than the 4.4 percent for "all occupations", according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The unemployment rate for "architecture and engineering" occupations is even lower at 2.1 per cent.| economy policy

• More jobs than workers
• Visa restrictions could actually kill more jobs
• Trump's lower wages argument may be wrong too