 "Big news for Punjabi youth from America, they will get visas in a hurry – News-Patiala Punjabi")
H-1B Visa: Some major changes have been made in the US H-1B visa program, which has been in the headlines for the past few days. These changes have been implemented from today i.e. Friday 17 January. The new rules have given relief to students studying in the US on F-1 visa. While the H-1B visa application is being reviewed, their F-1 visa will automatically be extended until April 1, so their legal status and employment rights will not be affected.
The US administration says that the purpose of the change in the H-1B visa program is to ensure fairness, transparency and efficiency in the recruitment of foreign talent in the US. Indians are the largest number of such visa holders. Of the 3,86,000 H-1B visas issued in 2023, 72.3% were granted to Indians. Experts say Indian tech professionals are likely to benefit the most from these changes.
The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows temporary employment of foreign workers with special qualifications. The reforms, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), are intended to simplify the visa approval process and increase program flexibility, so employers can retain their talented workforce. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated two goals for modernizing the H-1B visa program—first to clarify the requirements of the H-1B program and to increase its efficiency. Second, to provide greater benefits and flexibility to petitioners and beneficiaries.
Change in the definition of special work
The specific definition of work in the H-1B program has now been changed. The US Department of Homeland Security defines the requirement to maintain a “direct relationship of degree” as a “logical relationship”. This means that there should be a logical connection between the degree and the job responsibilities.
Easy process to convert from F-1 to H-1B visa
The new rules have given relief to students studying in the US on F-1 visa. While the H-1B visa application is being reviewed, their F-1 visa will automatically be extended until April 1, so their legal status and employment rights will not be affected.