On the 23rd of June, Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America (U.S.A.,) suspended visas of Indian workers.
The suspension on the entry of certain foreign workers to the United States until the end of 2020 would affect as many as 525,000 workers in the U.S.A.
The H-1B Visa is issued for skilled employees, and L Visa, for managers and specialised workers being transferred within a company. In addition, Donald Trump also blocked those entering on H-2B seasonal worker visas and their dependents.
With the above updates, as of now, Indians holding H-1B, H-2B and L Visas would be banned in the U.S.A.
The Donald Trump led American Government took the decision in the wake of the pandemic crisis and economic crisis due to the Novel Coronavirus.
President Trump said the step was essential to help millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the current economic crisis.
Donald Trump said, “The entry of additional workers through the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L non-immigrant visa programmes, therefore, presents a significant threat to employment opportunities for Americans affected by the extraordinary economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.”
H-1B Visa, work related ones, H-2B Visa are temporary non agricultural workers, H-4 Visa for dependents of H-1B Visa holders, L Visa for inter company transfer and J Visa for doctors and researchers.
The United States of America is the worst COVID-19 hit nation globally.
The U.S.A., has more than 2.36 million positive cases.
However, the issued suspension exempts those already in the United States and ones who have valid visas overseas.
In addition, the ones with a valid visa need to have an official travel document that permits entry into the United States.
The visa suspension measure is not applicable on food supply chain workers and people whose entry is deemed in the national interest.
It would only include IT workers, work authorized J visas for cultural exchange opportunities, camp counselors, teachers trainees and others.
The proclamation issued by the American Government said, “In the administration of our Nation’s immigration system, we must remain mindful of the impact of foreign workers on the United States labour market, particularly in the current extraordinary environment of high domestic unemployment and depressed demand for labour.”
The proclamation issued on the suspension of visas till the 31st of December, 2020 comes into effect from the 24th of June.
Stay tuned for further updates.
