Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>The US government is mulling nearly 10%-15% cap on H1-B visas for selective nations — including India. </li><li>The move is targeted on nations that restrain from global data storage norms seeking foreign companies to store data locally. </li><li>Of the 85,000 H1-B visas that are granted every year, nearly 70% go to the Indians. </li><li>This has hit the IT sector employees the most with nearly 40% <keyword id="61274" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Visa">US visa</keyword> rejections. </li></ul>In bad news for Indians, the United States of America(USA) is reportedly considering nearly 10%-15% cap on H1-B visas for selective nations — including India. Amid the rising tensions over trade and tariffs, the government is considering the move on nations that restrain from global data storage norms seeking foreign companies to store data locally, according to a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-india-exclusive/exclusive-us-tells-india-it-is-mulling-caps-on-h-1b-visas-to-deter-data-rules-sources-idUSKCN1TK2LG">Reuters report</a>. The US government is considering the move on nations that restrain from global data storage norms seeking foreign companies to store data locally, according to a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-india-exclusive/exclusive-us-tells-india-it-is-mulling-caps-on-h-1b-visas-to-deter-data-rules-sources-idUSKCN1TK2LG">Reuters report</a>. The H1-B visas are issued to the skilled Indians planning to work in the US, every year. "The proposal is that any country that does data localisation, then it (H-1B visas) would be limited to about 15% of the quota. It's being discussed internally in the US government," Reuters reported citing sources. This comes just ahead of Mike Pompeo’s India visit. In a recent US-India Business Council event, he told that the US government will focus on consumer privacy, thereby allowing free flow of data across borders. The US, however, has not put a limit on visa grants to a specific country, TOI reported. Of the 85,000 H1-B visas that are granted every year, nearly<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/us-tells-india-it-is-mulling-caps-on-h-1b-visas-to-deter-data-rules/articleshow/69865212.cms"> 70% go to the Indians</a>. The Trump government has been aggressively cracking down on the immigration rules. Recently, it directed the visa applicants to share their <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/us-visa-seekers-will-now-have-to-submit-their-social-media-handles/articleshow/69632144.cms">social media handles</a> that they have used in the last five years. This will enable the government to have access to applicants’ email address, phone number and locations among others. This has hit the Indian IT sector employees the most with nearly 40% US visa rejections. According to the US think-tank <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tcs-and-infosys-face-most-rejections-on-h1-b-work-visa-extension/articleshow/68316202.cms">Centre for Immigration Studies</a>, top IT firms Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Cognizant and Infosys faced the most rejections in extension of <keyword id="7779297" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="H1-B-work-visas">H1-B work visas</keyword>. Given that, "The next phase will be that Indian IT firms will go acquire more companies in the US. And, those companies will have back-end engineering in India,” Mohandas Pai, the former CEO of Infosys and a startup investor <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/us-h-1b-visa-rejection-rate-may-trigger-tech-ma/articleshow/69721592.cms">told</a>. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/us-h-1b-visa-rejection-rate-may-trigger-tech-ma/articleshow/69721592.cms">Rise in US H-1B visa rejection may force Indian tech companies to look at M&amp;A</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/us-visa-seekers-will-now-have-to-submit-their-social-media-handles/articleshow/69632144.cms">US visa seekers will now have to submit their social media handles</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tcs-and-infosys-face-most-rejections-on-h1-b-work-visa-extension/articleshow/68316202.cms">New H1-B rules bring more rejections on work visa renewals</a>

Trump plans a 15% cap on H-1B visas — and Indians will be hurt the most

<ul><li>The US approved more number of H1-B visas this year — both entry level and extension on work visas. </li><li>According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it extended over 389,000 visas in 2019 fiscal — higher than 335,000 visas approved last year. </li><li>However, the number of approved L1 visas — which are given to existing employees at technology firm to relocate to the United States — dropped to 71.9%, as compared to 77.8% last year. </li><li>In a recent update, the US embassy said that the visa applicants should apply at least three months before the start of their employment.</li></ul>In good news to Indians, the US approved more H1-B visas this year — both entry level and work visa extensions. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it extended over 389,000 visas in 2019 fiscal — higher than 335,000 visas approved last year. In the last four years, as many as 100,000 more visas rolled out. This is despite Trump government tightening visa norms. In spite of stricter norms, the demand for work visas continues to be high. "It used to be that if the job requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) and the beneficiary (whose H-1B visa was being sponsored by the employer) possessed this qualification, the H-1B application was likely to be approved. Not anymore, as is reflected in the spate of requests for evidence (RFEs) and lower approvals post an RFE," Snehal Batra, Managing Attorney, NPZ Law Group<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/more-scrutiny-but-more-h-1b-visas-okd/articleshow/71572241.cms"> told </a>TOI. However, the number of approved L1 visas — which are given to existing employees at technology firm to relocate to the United States — dropped to 71.9%, as compared to 77.8% last year. Technology companies like Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have been most impacted by the new immigration rules. The renewal of work visas has also thrown up hurdles, has hurt Indian IT majors. According to an ET <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/decline-in-us-visa-approvals-continues/articleshow/71546846.cms">report</a>, the rejection rate for work visas has been increasing — with over 50% rejections during the first six months. While last year, TCS, Cognizant and Infosys faced the most <a href="https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/corporate/indian-it-firms-see-higher-h-1b-visa-extension-rejections-us-firms-get-more-visas/68310179">rejections </a>in extension of H1-B work visas, as per the Centre for Immigration Studies, a US-based think tank. H1-B work visas are initially provided for three years — but can be extended for a similar term later. The US embassy also said that applicants should apply at least three months before the start of their employment. <div type="twitter" handle="USAndIndia" handlename="U.S. Embassy India" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/624159508307185664/CyuUQx2F_normal.jpg" favoritecount="36" retweetcount="8" status="Applying for your work #USvisa? You can apply up to 90 days before the employment start date noted on your I-797. #USVisas" createdat="1570684441000" id="1182162345121861632"></div>

 See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-us-government-wants-to-check-social-media-handles-before-giving-a-green-card/articleshow/71003314.cms">The US government wants to check social media handles before giving a green card</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indians-studying-in-the-uk-have-doubled-in-the-last-three-years/articleshow/70804829.cms">Indians studying in the UK have doubled in the last three years</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/usa-has-passed-a-bill-to-help-indian-it-professionals-get-permanent-residency/articleshow/70170952.cms">Indians can get permanent residency easily in the US, if the Senate clears the Bill</a>

Despite tighter norms, the US approves 389,000 H1-B visas this year

US is going to expedite processing of H-1B work visas in many categories, mainly in higher education and scientific research institutions. "<keyword id="368921" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Citizenship-and-Immigration-Services">US Citizenship and Immigration Services</keyword> (<keyword id="137642" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="USCIS">USCIS</keyword>) will resume premium processing for certain cap-exempt H-1B petitions effective immediately," an official statement. As per the department, petitions from the exempted category will be taken up. "Premium processing will also resume for petitions that may also be exempt if the beneficiary will be employed at a qualifying cap-exempt institution, organisation or entity," the USCIS said. It has previously announced that premium processing resumed on June 26 for H-1B petitions filed on behalf of physicians under the Conrad 30 waiver program as well as interested government agency waivers. The federal agency also plans to resume premium processing of other H-1B petitions as workloads permit. The H-1B visa has cap of 65,000 visas for each fiscal year. Additionally, there is an annual "master's cap" of 20,000 petitions filed for beneficiaries with a US master's degree or higher.

US is fast processing H-1B visas in several categories. Check them out

<keyword id="6355629" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword> is leading a determined effort by US tech giants to support a programme that gives work authorisation for spouses of those possessing H-1B foreign work visas, the most sought after among Indian IT professionals. Google is joined by 30 other companies to support the H-4 EAD ((Employment Authorisation Document) programme. An H-4 visa is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the <keyword id="6358066" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="h-1b-visa">H-1B visa</keyword> holders. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. "Google is proud to support our nation's immigrants. We joined 30 other companies to protect the H-4 EAD programme which spurs innovation, creates jobs and opportunities, and helps families," Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted. Google on Friday filed a legal brief in a lawsuit called Save Jobs USA vs US Department of Homeland Security. Tech companies that signed onto the amicus brief include Adobe, <keyword id="18635" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>, <keyword id="6354427" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="apple">Apple</keyword>, eBay, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, PayPal and Twitter. "To support this important programme, we are leading an amicus brief with over 40 companies and organisations to preserve and protect the H-4 EAD programme," Catherine Lacavera, Vice President, Legal, Google, said in a blog post. "This builds on an amicus brief we recently joined in support of a lawsuit filed by the American Immigration Lawyers Association to expedite the delayed processing time of H-4 work authorisations," she said. Kent Walker, Senior Vice President, Global Affairs, Google, said H-4 EAD authorisations for the spouses of high-skilled workers help American companies recruit and retain the world's best talent. "Today we led a business coalition filing on behalf of 30 companies to preserve and protect the programme," Walker said. "H-4 EADs provide work authorisation to more than 90,000 H-4 visa-holders--more than 90 per cent women. COVID has disproportionately affected women. Ending this programme would make things worse, disrupting careers and reducing wages," he said. "It doesn't make sense to welcome a person to the US to work but to make it harder for their spouse to work. That hurts their family and hurts our economy now and in the future," he added. The plaintiff is Save Jobs USA, a group of computer workers formerly employed by Southern California Edison and "replaced by foreign workers imported on H-1B guest worker visas. Save Jobs USA filed the lawsuit in 2015. It was delayed as former president Donald Trump's administration considered rescinding the H-4 work rule. A week after his inauguration on January 20, US President Joe Biden withdrew a Trump-era rule rescinding work authorisation for H-4 visa holders. Now, both the plaintiffs and the Biden administration are seeking summary judgment. In the amicus brief, Google said: "The regulation at issue here-the H-4 Rule, US Department of Homeland Security, Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses, 80 Fed. Reg. 10,284 (Feb. 25, 2015)-provides work authorization to more than 90,000 H-4 visa holders (spouses of certain H-1B visa holders), more than 90 per cent of whom are women. "Invalidation of this rule would result in these talented individuals being barred from the workplace, forcibly severing tens of thousands of employment relationships across the country," it said. The results would be utterly destructive for the families impacted; by just one measure, about 87 per cent of these families have made crucial life decisions on the promise of H-4 employment, including whether to have a child and whether to buy a house, it said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/go-air-has-filed-for-a-3600-crore-ipo-at-a-very-desperate-time/articleshow/82626097.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Go Air has filed for a ₹3,600 crore IPO at a very desperate time</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/heres-why-the-spike-in-inflation-in-the-us-may-worry-markets-in-india/articleshow/82597218.cms">Here's why the spike in inflation in the US may worry markets in India ⁠— but experts say don’t panic yet</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-responds-to-privacy-criticism-by-alleging-other-apps-like-zomato-ola-aarogya-setu-zoom-google-and-other-apps/articleshow/82570897.cms">WhatsApp responds to privacy criticism by alleging that other apps and tech companies also show disdain for user privacy</a>

Tech giants Google, Amazon, and Apple back work authorisation in US for spouses of H-1B visa holders

The <keyword id="368921" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Citizenship-and-Immigration-Services">US Citizenship and Immigration Services</keyword> (USCIS) has put on hold the <keyword id="4303431" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Premium-processing">premium processing</keyword> of H-1B visas, used mainly by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/companies/Indian-IT-industry-is-going-to-incur-400-million-burden-as-they-will-have-to-pay-4000-more-for-each-H-1B-visa/articleshow/52463993.cms">Indian IT firms</a> and professionals, so that it can focus on the massive number of applications for the <keyword id="455563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-visas">work visas</keyword> that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/latest/Whether-Trump-likes-it-or-not-US-will-begin-accepting-H1B-work-visa-applications-from-April-1/articleshow/51440316.cms">start from April</a>. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/change-in-h-1b-visa-rules-might-be-delayed-indian-tech-companies-breathe-sigh-of-relief/articleshow/57667203.cms">Change in H-1B visa rules might be delayed; Indian tech companies breathe sigh of relief</a> 
 
Premium processing means that the application has to be processed within 15 days. USCIS receives <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/H-1B-Visa-applications-exceeds-limit/articleshow/51811005.cms">200,000 or more</a> H-1B applications in the first week itself, and it gets difficult to process them within 15 days, which is why premium processing has to be held back. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/trump-in-no-mood-to-spare-immigrants-goes-after-dependent-spouses-of-h-1b-visa-holders/articleshow/57537572.cms">Trump in no mood to spare immigrants; goes after dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders</a> 
 
"I think the other thing to keep in mind is that these visas that they're applying for in April are not available until October. So what we do is we take them in, we process them, we organise them and then when we're ready, we let people file for the premium processing if they think that that's what they need," said Lori Scialabba, acting director of USCIS. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/h-1b-visa-reforms-half-a-dozen-bills-tabled-to-stop-indian-techies-from-entering-us/articleshow/57558831.cms">Half a dozen bills tabled to stop Indian techies from entering US</a> 
 
"But the visas aren't available until October in any event, so it's really not delaying anybody from getting their visa when they're ready to pick up the visa," she added. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Could-You-Answer-These-10-Questions-From-The-US-Citizenship-Test/articleshow/22664532.cms">Could You Answer These 10 Questions From The US Citizenship Test?</a> 
 
It’s not the first time that premium processing has been suspended; this has been done earlier as well. 
 
(Image source: Gadgets Now)

H-1B premium processing put on hold to handle massive work visa applications

<ul><li>Spouses of <keyword id="6358066" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="h-1b-visa">H-1B visa</keyword> holders are issued the H-4 visa in the US.</li><li>Indians constitute 80 percent of the 125,000 H-4 visas issued in 2015. </li><li>US wants to make this change to prevent “US workers from being displaced by foreign workers”.</li></ul>After making the process of attaining an H-1B visa harder, the <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> administration seems to be focusing on scrapping work permits for H-4 visa holders. The <keyword id="2743235" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-States-Citizenship-and-Immigration-Services">United States Citizenship and Immigration Services</keyword> (USCIS) has backed that claim reasserting that they plan on getting rid of the provision that allows H-4 visa holders to work in the country. H-4 visa holders are basically dependents of the H-1B visa holders. And, currently, the largest beneficiaries of H-4 visas are Indians. They constitute <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/may/19/silicon-valley-wives-women-visa-immigration-work">80 percent</a> of the 125,000 H-4 visas issued back in 2015. Step back and you can see how such a move would impact women immigrants since <a href="http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2016/05/20/wives-of-silicon-valleys-immigrant-engineers-speak-of-loneliness-and-frustration/">one out of ten</a> H-4 visas are issued to females. Lee Francis <keyword id="4395926" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cissna">Cissna</keyword>, Director of the USCIS, wrote a letter to <keyword id="331434" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Charles-E-Grassley">Charles E Grassley</keyword>, Chairman of the <keyword id="220224" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Judiciary-Committee">Judiciary Committee</keyword>, stating, “..our plans include proposing regulatory changes to remove H-4 dependent spouses from the class of aliens eligible for employment authorisation, thereby reversing the 2015 final rule that granted such eligibility.” This decision would force the H-4 visa holders back into, what were <a href="http://thesouthasiantimes.info/index.php?param=news/19356/USA/34">called</a>, their ‘Golden Cages’. It was a metaphor for being able to live in the US but without the right to work within the country or get a social security number. The situation was corrected two years ago, when the <keyword id="16284" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Obama">Obama</keyword> administration passed a ruling that gave H-4 visa holders the provision to seek employment while they waited for their green card to be approved. Reports <a href="https://qz.com/1260345/h-4-visa-the-trump-administration-reiterates-itll-scrap-work-permits-for-h-1b-spouses/">suggest</a> that visa trouble won’t stop with H-1B and H-4 visas but also spill over onto the L-1B visa, which is issued to professionals with specialised knowledge. USCIS’ Cissna assures that the only reason any of this is happening is ”...to prevent US workers from being displaced by foreign workers.”

Spouses of H-1B visa holders may lose work permits in the US

<ul class="summary-list"><li>President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/">signed an executive order yesterday</a> suspending new <keyword id="455563" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="work-visas">work visas</keyword> for immigrants until at least December 31, 2020.</li><li>The order extended the 60-day ban that Trump set on US work visas in April.</li><li>Administration officials <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-executive-order-work-visas-immigration-2020-6">previously told Business Insider</a> that the initiative would reserve 525,000 jobs for American citizens.</li><li>Business Insider spoke to an Nandini Nair, an <keyword id="50403" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Immigration">immigration</keyword> <keyword id="6356325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lawyer">lawyer</keyword>, who broke down three key points about the ban.</li><li>Per Nair, the ban does not apply to people who were outside the US prior to June 22; it only applies to certain <keyword id="6359421" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="visa">visa</keyword> categories; and there is still some debate of sections of the proclamation.</li></ul>On Monday, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-executive-order-work-visas-immigration-2020-6">signed</a> a proclamation freezing a variety of immigration visas. Under the order, H-1B, H-2B, H-4, J-1, and L-1 visas will be halted. Major tech <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-google-twitter-speak-out-against-trump-h1b-visa-freeze-2020-6">companies</a>, including Amazon, Google, and Twitter, criticized the move, saying it would make American companies less competitive and less diverse.Business Insider spoke to <a href="https://www.gmlaw.com/attorneys/nandini-p-nair/">Nandini Nair</a>, an immigration lawyer who focuses on US visas and who broke down three key points about the proclamation.<h2>1. The new proclamation only applies to people who were outside the US before June 22</h2>Nair told Business Insider that she has received several calls about whether or not Trump's ban applies to people who are currently in the US. The answer, Nair said, is straightforward: It does not.If you were recently laid off on an H-1B visa and you are in the US, Nair said, the ban does not affect you. This means you can still <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-if-lose-h1b-visa-immigrant-layoffs-resources-2020-5">look for a new employer to sponsor your H-1B visa or apply to change your visa status</a>.<h2>2. It only applies to certain visa categories</h2>Nair told Business Insider that it is also important to note that the ban does not apply to all visa categories. The ban temporarily suspends <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-executive-order-work-visas-immigration-2020-6">H-1B, H-2B, H-4, J-1, and L-1 visas</a>.This means you can still apply for other <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-if-lose-h1b-visa-immigrant-layoffs-resources-2020-5">US visa categories</a> in 2020, including B-1 visas, which are meant for those visiting the US for business purposes; B-2 visas, which are meant for tourists; and F-1 visas, which are meant for students. Per Nair, you can still apply for <a href="https://my.uscis.gov/exploremyoptions/o1_visas">O-1</a>, <a href="https://my.uscis.gov/exploremyoptions/evisas_for_temporary_workers">E-3, and E-2</a> visas.<h2>3. There is still some debate over sections of the new proclamation</h2>Nair said that the proclamation left her with questions to ponder. She said that the proclamation doesn't clearly state whether or not the ban applies to individuals who previously had visas and are now stuck abroad. For example, she said if someone was in the US on an H-1B visa, departed the country a few months ago, and now needs to secure a new visa, she is unsure if the proclamation applies to those individuals.

3 key things to know about Trump's freeze on work visas, according to an immigration lawyer

<ul><li>New <keyword id="2896546" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="H1-B-visa-rules">H1-B visa rules</keyword> have been an unwelcome change for Indian IT firms with new visas as well as renewals, according to data by Centre for Immigration Studies. </li><li>Homegrown IT majors TCS and <keyword id="6354512" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infosys">Infosys</keyword> faced maximum rejections for extension of the work work visas. </li><li>According to the US Department of Labour, Deloitte Consulting and Apple received the maximum work permits. </li><li>Six Indian IT outsourcing companies — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, <keyword id="28721" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cognizant">Cognizant</keyword>, HCL and US arm of Tech Mahindra — got only 2,145 work permits, which was 16% of total work visas bagged by companies.</li></ul>Under the Trump administration, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/h-1b-visa-revised-rules-go-into-effect-on-april-1-favouring-advanced-degree-applicants/articleshow/67768709.cms">new H1-B visa rules</a> have brought new challenges for applicants of these temporary work visas, heavily used by Indian IT majors. Now, it appears that renewal of these work visas has also thrown up hurdles, particularly hurting Indian IT majors. According to the Centre for Immigration Studies, a US-based think tank, top IT firms Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Cognizant and Infosys faced the most <a href="https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/corporate/indian-it-firms-see-higher-h-1b-visa-extension-rejections-us-firms-get-more-visas/68310179">rejections </a>in extension of H1-B work visas in 2018. H1-B work visas are initially provided for three years — but can be extended for a similar term later. With most of its workforce in India, Cognizant witnessed nearly 3,548 rejections for extension of these work visas in the year, which is so far the highest for any company hiring foreign employees. While the homegrown ITs Infosys and TCS saw 2,042 and 1,744 rejections, respectively, said the report. Analysing a broader range of top 30 IT companies, the analysis also found that the six major outsourcing companies — TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, HCL and US arm of Tech Mahindra — constitute nearly two-third of extensions for work visas. The six outsourcing companies got only 2,145 work permits, which is 16% of total work visas bagged by all companies. On the flipside, several US-based technology companies — Microsoft, Amazon and Apple-- were able to increase their foreign work staff via the new H1-B rules, showing the new regulation in fact benefitted the American companies, noted the report. A<a href="https://trak.in/tags/business/2019/02/16/deloitte-apple-grab-most-number-of-h1b-visas-hcl-only-indian-company-in-top-10-list/">ccording to</a> data with the the US Department of Labour, Deloitte Consulting and Apple received the most number of H1-B visas, while only HCL from India made it to the top 10 list with a total of 5,085 certifications in US. However, many legal experts point that Indian ITs are the largest consumers of H1-B visa. But recent moves by the US government point to growing protectionism. Indian IT companies have also faced backlash by locals for allegedly discriminating against American workers. On Thursday, alleging discrimination at workplace, a US employee filed a <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/its-cognizants-turn-to-face-us-lawsuit-alleging-discrimination/articleshow/68296041.cms">lawsuit</a> against Cognizant for calling an American a ‘diversity candidate.’ “Protectionism happens without making any policy changes to favour their own companies. This slant is not unusual. This has happened under President Barack Obama, not just under Donald Trump,” ET<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/h-1b-extension-rejections-rob-indian-it-firms-of-visa-power/articleshow/68312136.cms"> reported</a> citing Sid Pai, founder of Siana Capital, who has led outsourcing deals of over $ 20 billion in the past. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/h-1b-visa-revised-rules-go-into-effect-on-april-1-favouring-advanced-degree-applicants/articleshow/67768709.cms">New H-1B rules to go into effect on April 1, visas for advanced degree holders expected to jump 16%</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trump-may-have-an-ugly-surprise-for-h-1b-applicants-and-indian-it-companies/articleshow/67552613.cms">Trump may have an ugly surprise for H-1B visa applicants</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indians-seeking-uk-visa-will-now-have-to-shell-out-a-lot-more/articleshow/67435527.cms">Indians seeking UK visa will now have to shell out a lot more</a>

New H1-B rules bring more rejections on work visa renewals

The <keyword id="6354458" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="us" source="Orion">US</keyword> risks losing talented foreigners, particularly those married to other skilled professionals, to <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword>, which grants work authorisation to spouses of all skilled foreign workers, says a new study. But granting employment authorisation to all spouses of <keyword id="6358066" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="H-1B-visa" source="Orion">H-1B visa</keyword> holders would encourage more skilled migrants, including Indians, to choose the US over Canada, the study by National Foundation for American Policy revealed. "The US can reap significant economic benefits, ease labour shortages, and attract more workers in the global competition for talent if it expanded current rules on work eligibility for the spouses of H-1B visa holders," the study, authored by Madeline Zavodny, said. The number of Indians who became permanent residents in Canada increased by over 115 per cent between 2016 and 2020 and 2021. In 2015, then President <keyword id="15962" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="barack-obama" source="Orion">Barack Obama</keyword> allowed the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the US via the H4 (dependent) visa. H4 visas are issued to dependent spouses and children who accompany H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visa holders to the US. The spouses of H-1B visa holders tend to be highly educated, many of them in STEM fields, and previously had careers of their own or worked to support their families. "Allowing the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work upon arrival would help recruit and retain skilled workers and increase the already-considerable economic benefits of the H-1B visa category," Zavodny said. She estimates that almost 90 per cent of the spouses of H-1B visa holders have at least a bachelor's degree, and over half have a graduate degree, based on American Community Survey data (2017-2019). Out of these 90 per cent of spouses, two-thirds are from India and 6 per cent are from China. "Almost half of spouses of likely H-1B visa holders who have a bachelor's degree had a STEM-related major. Among spouses of likely H-1B visa holders who are employed, 42 per cent are working in a STEM field," she noted. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation published in 2015 allows spouses who hold an H4 visa to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Currently, H4 spouses can only apply for an EAD after their H-1B spouse is in the queue for a permanent visa. That typically does not occur until the H-1B has worked in the US for several years; indeed, some spouses may apply only after their H-1B spouse has worked in the US for at least six years. The H4 visa holder must be selected in the H-1B lottery, which only occurs once a year and has low odds of success. Long delays in processing H4 EADs have plagued the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the spouses who need the approval to work. Spouses of workers who hold an L-1 intracompany transferee visa, an E-1 treaty trader, an E-2 treaty investor, or E-3 specialty occupation worker from Australia visa are allowed to work. Spouses of these visa holders are "considered employment authorised incident to status", that is, their visa allows them to work and they do not need to apply separately for an EAD. Since mid-2015, some 171,000 H-4 visa holders have been approved for employment authorisation, a significant portion of whom are from India. In fiscal 2021, Indians bagged the highest number of H1B visas i.e., over 74 per cent of the allotments. Out of 4.07 lakh H1-B visas approved by the USCIS, 3.01 lakh were allotted to Indians whereas, 50,000 Chinese received the visas. Research shows that the H-1B visa category bumps up economic growth, creates jobs for American workers, and slows offshoring of high-paid jobs. "If allowed to work, these spouses would make considerable contributions to the US labour market as most of them would enter occupations with very low unemployment rates and high job vacancy rates," says Zavodny. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/september-earnings-on-track-but-its-time-to-tone-down-optimism-says-kotak-institutional-equities/articleshow/95272073.cms">September earnings on track, but it’s time to tone down optimism says Kotak Institutional Equities</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/vodafone-ideas-q2-loss-widens-to-7596-crore/articleshow/95282354.cms">Vodafone Idea’s Q2 loss widens to ₹7,596 crore</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/hdfc-reports-18-year-on-year-rise-in-q2-net-profit-to-4454-crore/articleshow/95279744.cms">HDFC reports 18% year-on-year rise in Q2 net profit to ₹4,454 crore</a>

US risks losing skilled professional H-1B visa holders to Canada

<ul><li>US President Donald Trump’s wife first entered the country on an <keyword id="6358066" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="h-1b-visa">H-1B visa</keyword> — the same work visa that Trump wants to make ‘merit-based’ and has suspended till the end of 2020. </li><li>Even Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, sustained their stay in the US on H-1B visas. </li><li>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella gave back his green card for an H-1B visa so that his wife could join him in the US without having to revoke her own visa. </li></ul>US President Donald Trump’s attempts to reform visa regulations and his most recent freeze on issuing new visas, including the coveted H-1B work visa, may come as a surprise when one learns that some of the most notable names in the US made their way to the country on H-1B visas — including his own wise Melania Trump. Many of global leading names from the US from their way to the ‘land of the free’ through H-1B visas — including Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi. Melania Trump’s H-1B story Melania Trump, sustained her stay in the US on a series of H1-B work visas. She apparently made her way to the US in August 1996 to pursue a career in modelling. Two months later, she obtained an H-1B visa that allowed her to work in the States for a year. After that, she was able to get five H-1B visas over the next five years, according to <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/16/melania-trumps-einstein-visa-and-chain-migration-detailed-in-new-book/">Mary Jordan</a>’s book ‘The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump’. It was only in 2001 that she received an ‘<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43256318">Einstein Visa</a>’ — also called the EB-1 visa — reserved for immigrants with ‘extraordinary ability’ and ‘sustained national and international acclaim’. This was after she started dating Donald Trump in 1998 and her lawyer has never published the details of her application. But without the initial line of H-1B visas, Melania would have never met Trump in the first place. Best of the best in the US have come in on H-1B visas Pichai is originally from Madurai in Tamil Nadu. He initially moved to the US on an F1 student visa after being accepted into Stanford University. Once he was employed with McKinsey &amp; Co. — just before joining Google — he was on an H-1B visa. He’s now a US citizen after being a green card holder for five years. Nadella too was born in Hyderabad before heading to the US to study electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin. Even though he was a green card holder in 1993 when he married his wife, he went to H-1B status to that she could come to the States and join him. Around the campus, he was known as “the guy who gave up his green card,” he writes in his book ‘<a href="https://www.firstpost.com/world/all-for-love-when-satya-nadella-surrendered-his-green-card-for-h1-b-visa-4083165.html">Hit Refresh</a>’. Like Pichai, Nooyi was also born in Tamil Nadu but in the capital city of Madras. After working and Johnson and Johnson India, she left for the US to study at Yale. In 1980, she went to work from the <a href="https://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2004-Ko-Pr/Nooyi-Indra.html">Boston Consulting Group on an H-1B visa.</a> Another fourteen years down the line, she joined PepsiCo as senior vice president of corporate strategy and development becoming president and CFO by 2001 — and CEO by 2006. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/googles-sundar-pichai-facebook-and-amazon-heres-how-american-companies-reacted-to-donald-trumps-h1-b-visa-freeze/articleshow/76522530.cms">Google’s Sundar Pichai, Facebook and Amazon — here’s how American companies reacted to Donald Trump’s H1-B visa freeze</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/donald-trumps-h-1b-visa-ban-incites-a-sharp-reaction-from-indian-tech-company-like-wipro-tcs-infosys-tech-mahindra/articleshow/76524525.cms">Donald Trump's H-1B visa ban incites a sharp reaction from India's tech lobby</a>

Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Indra Nooyi and even Melania Trump entered the US on the same H-1B visa that Donald Trump's suspending

A US-based think tank has claimed US President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword>’s H1-B visa diktat is based on incorrect data and majority of H1-B professionals were paid less. An official from Trump’s administration stated nearly 80% of H-1B workers were paid less than the median wage in the sector. A study by National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) claimed there were few low-paid H-1B workers, which contradicts with US government data, which counted more low-paid H1B visa workers than there actually are. The study said foreigners on H-1B visa who are paid less-than-median American salary provide cost advantage to employers who do not prefer American workers for same jobs. This leads to Americans losing their jobs to foreigners. "This statistic is misleading as it relies on a Department of Labor database that includes multiple applications for the same individuals since a new filing is generally required when an H-1B professional moves to a new area," the study said. "The wages listed in the DOL database are generally only the minimum that a company is required to pay under the law. Employers are required to pay the higher of the prevailing wage or actual wage paid to all other individuals with similar experience and qualifications for the specific employment in question. That means wages listed in the DOL database typically understate an individual H-1B visa holder's actual salary," says the study.

You Searched For "US work visa" and got 11 results

Trump plans a 15% cap on H-1B visas — and Indians will be hurt the most

Prerna Sindwani

Despite tighter norms, the US approves 389,000 H1-B visas this year

Prerna Sindwani

US is fast processing H-1B visas in several categories. Check them out

BI India Bureau

Tech giants Google, Amazon, and Apple back work authorisation in US for spouses of H-1B visa holders

PTI

H-1B premium processing put on hold to handle massive work visa applications

BI India Bureau

Spouses of H-1B visa holders may lose work permits in the US

Prabhjote Gill

3 key things to know about Trump's freeze on work visas, according to an immigration lawyer

Joey Hadden

New H1-B rules bring more rejections on work visa renewals

BI India Bureau

US risks losing skilled professional H-1B visa holders to Canada

IANS

Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Indra Nooyi and even Melania Trump entered the US on the same H-1B visa that Donald Trump's suspending

Prabhjote Gill

Donald Trump’s crackdown on H1-B visa professionals is based on incorrect data

BI India Bureau

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides