H-1b Visa
2024 H-1B visas for skilled professionals to open from March 1: US
All prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners are required to use a myUSCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process
 "2024 H-1B visas for skilled professionals to open from March 1: US")
H-1B, EB-5 visa application fees to shoot up under proposed USCIS rule
H-1B visa petitioners would also need to pay $215 in pre-registration fees, up from the current $10 fee
 "H-1B, EB-5 visa application fees to shoot up under proposed USCIS rule")
Asia-Pacific presidential commission proposes stamping of H-1B visas in US
A presidential commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has unanimously approved a recommendation for the provision of stamping of H-1B visas inside the US, a move if accepted by President Joe Biden will come as a big relief to thousands of foreign professionals, particularly from India. 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. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. As per the current mandatory practice, one needs to apply for a visa stamp at a US Consulate or Embassy abroad before one's H-1B status can be activated. The move came from the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders during its meeting at the White House on Wednesday. Notably, a large number of them either new or waiting for the renewal of H-1B visas are faci
Registration for H1-B visas for FY23 to begin in March, says US
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the initial registration period for the coveted H1-B visas for FY2023 will run through March 1-18.
 "Registration for H1-B visas for FY23 to begin in March, says US")
US waives in-person interviews for range of visas, including H-1B, for 2022
The Covid pandemic resulted in profound reductions in the Department of State's visa processing capacity
 "US waives in-person interviews for range of visas, including H-1B, for 2022")
Amid Covid-19 concerns, US expands interview waivers for H-1B, L-1 visas
Amid growing concerns of Covid surge, the US is temporarily dropping an in-person interview requirement for some work-visa categories - H-1B, L-1 and O-1
Automatic job authorisation becomes easier for spouses of H-1B visa holders
The Joe Biden administration has agreed to provide automatic work authorisation permits to spouses of H-1B visas holders
Modi raises issues of Indian professionals including H-1B Visas with Biden
Modi in his first-ever in-person meeting with US President Joe Biden raised a number of issues involving the Indian community in the US
 "Modi raises issues of Indian professionals including H-1B Visas with Biden")
In boost for Indian IT, US to conduct rare 2nd lottery for H-1B applicants
The move would provide another chance to hundreds of Indian IT professionals who could not make it in the first random selection
US Chambers seeks to double H-1B quota to address workforce shortage
The powerful US Chambers of Commerce has launched a campaign to address the acute shortage of skilled and workforce, which includes urging the Biden administration to double the number of H-1B visas
US Labour Dept seeks public input on determining H-1B wage levels
The US Department of Labor has sought feedback from the public on determining the wage levels for the employment of various immigrants and non-immigrants
Trump's H-1B ban expires: What this means for Indian IT professionals
The US issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas each year. Most of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders are from India and China
 "Trump's H-1B ban expires: What this means for Indian IT professionals")
Biden lets H-1B visa bans expire; Indian IT professionals to benefit
Biden let the ban on foreign workers visa, in particular H-1B, lapse as the notification issued by his predecessor Trump expired, a move which is likely to benefit thousands of Indian IT professionals
 "Biden lets H-1B visa bans expire; Indian IT professionals to benefit")
US completes H-1B initial electronic registration selection process
The US has received enough electronic applications during the initial registration period to reach the 2022 fiscal year cap for the H-1B foreign workers visa
Biden urged to rescind Trump-era ban on H-1B and other foreign work visas
Five powerful Democratic senators urged Biden to rescind Trump's ban on some non-immigrant visas, including the H-1B visa which is popular among Indian IT professionals
 "Biden urged to rescind Trump-era ban on H-1B and other foreign work visas")
H-1B visa: US issues notification to further delay mandatory minimum pay
Proposes to shift the effective date of the rule to May 14
 "H-1B visa: US issues notification to further delay mandatory minimum pay")
US House passes sweeping voting rights bill over GOP opposition
Legislation would require states to offer mail-in and early voting, limit role of big campaign donors
 "US House passes sweeping voting rights bill over GOP opposition")
Biden admin urged not to issue H-1B to Indians till country cap removed
The current per-country cap on issuing of green cards in the US has resulted in Indian professionals, mostly from the IT sector, having to wait for decades for their legal permanent residency
 "Biden admin urged not to issue H-1B to Indians till country cap removed")
USCIS to open H-1B cap registration from March 9: Details here
In 2019, USCIS had made the process to apply for H-1B visas electronic
Nasscom hails ten-month delay in implementing Trump's H-1B allotment rule
Dept of Homeland Security will now push date of the rule March 9 to December 31, will review it as a whole for potential changes or for rescinding it
