Dive Brief:
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reportedly contemplating whether to rescind H-1B extensions that allow foreign workers to maintain their visa status while green card applications are processed, according to the McClatchy DC Bureau.
- As part of the Trump administration's "hire American" rhetoric, the DHS is looking to adjust the language of the "may grant" section in the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act. The act allows visa holders to extend their two three-year terms if awaiting green card approval.
- There are thousands of visa holders eligible for extensions, and most candidates originate from India.
Dive Insight:
The H-1B program allows companies, including major tech companies such as Facebook and Microsoft, to add highly skilled talent they were unable to find in the U.S.
Debate to end visa extensions is the most recent rumored change to the immigration program. Since Trump took office, the number of requests for evidence increased by 44%, thus slowing the application process. Additionally, the number of applications dropped in 2017.
The DHS announced last month that the H-4 visa, the visa granted to the spouses of H-1B recipients, may also be eliminated. The H-4 visa allowed spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the U.S. to help attract more foreign talent.
Critics argue both visa programs displace U.S. workers, but the DHS also made an announcement that H-1B visas will be harder to receive because it plans to "revise the definition of specialty occupation." Attracting talent that is willing to relocate to the U.S. will become harder as more revisions of the immigration program roll out.
