DHS overhauls H-1B visa program
Source: The Hill
12/17/24 10:45 AM ET
The Biden administration announced a rule Tuesday clarifying who can apply for an H-1B work visa, a key program to attract international talent thats been criticized as too complicated and susceptible to abuse. The new rule expands the definitions of specialty occupation positions and spells out the requirements for nonprofit and governmental research organizations to sponsor H-1B visas.
The H-1B program was created by Congress in 1990, and theres no question it needed to be modernized to support our nations growing economy, said Ur Jaddou, director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The changes made in todays final rule will ensure that U.S. employers can hire the highly skilled workers they need to grow and innovate while enhancing the integrity of the program. The changes follow years of lobbying for a more streamlined H-1B, the workhorse of labor-related visas.
Earlier this month, Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Alex Padilla (Calif.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) petitioned the Biden administration to address a series of gaps in the immigration system in preparation for the incoming Trump administrations announced crackdown on immigrants. Among their requests was codification of the H-1Bs cap exemptions for research jobs to allow nonprofits and academia to sponsor the visas year-round.
Im glad that President Biden took action to streamline the H-1B program, which will strengthen our economy and make it easier for U.S. businesses to sponsor DACA recipients for work permits. Of course theres still more work to do to protect Dreamers and TPS [Temporary Protected Status] recipients, and Im going to keep pushing this administration to do all they can to protect hardworking immigrant families, said Cortez Masto in a statement.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5044033-dhs-h-1b-visa-program-biden-uscis-immigration-system/
Link to DHS PRESS RELEASE - DHS Strengthens H-1B Program, Allowing U.S. Employers to More Quickly Fill Critical Jobs
House of Roberts
(5,750 posts)When we allow businesses to poach talent from other countries, it weakens the demand for quality education here.
littlemissmartypants
(25,910 posts)There was no one capable of doing a job that I needed to fill and patient care was suffering. I was thankful for having the option. She worked until we were able to make other arrangements and knew that the position was temporary.
The isolationist view is self defeating. This creates an expansive and inclusive approach.
Very democratic, though. Lately its not as cool as it used to be
so Ive heard.