15,000 Additional Work Visas Announced By The US: 7 Things You Should Know!

In a surprise move, US Govt. has announced the rollout of 15,000 additional work visas for foreign workers this year.

Considering the anti-immigration and anti-H-1B visa stand taken by Trump led US Govt. since last few months, this development has several surprise elements hidden.

Additional Work Visas: Conditional Availability

Here are 7 things which you, as a job seeker, should be aware of:

1. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M Nielsen has announced that the US will allocate 15,000 additional work visas this year, which would be in addition to the existing 66,000 work visas already allocated. This shall make total work visas to be 81,000 for FY 2018.
2. Eligible job seekers should file for H-2B visas under this new additional quota, by filling up Form I-129. Employers in the US who wish to employ these workers also must fill in Form I-129, along with supplemental attestation on Form ETA 9142-B-CAA-2, on behalf of the job seeker.
3. Department of Homeland Security, via their official website: Uscis.gov said, “Details on eligibility and filing requirements will be available in the final temporary rule and on the Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2018 webpage to be published on uscis.gov when the final temporary rule is posted for public inspection,”
4. Spouse and unmarried kids up to age 21 of H-2B visa holder can apply for  H-4 non-immigrant classification. However, they cannot get a job under this H-4 visa category.
5. As per reports, this new addition of 15,000 visas would be made available for those American companies, which are at  “risk of failing”. Only non-agricultural jobs are eligible to get this visa under H-2B.
6. As per other reports, industries and corporate sector of US is facing an unprecedented shortage of workers, and new additional 15,000 work visas have been announced to fill this urgent gap. The decision was taken after consulting with Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, Congress members, Corporate leaders.
7. Out of 66,000 work visas which were originally announced for 2018, half or 33,000 visas are available during the first half of the financial year 2018, and the other half or 33,000 during the second half of FY 2018. 15,000 additional visas would be, most probably, allocated in the second half of the financial year itself.

The official statement regarding this additional work visas also included this line: “American workers are protected”.

We will keep you updated, as we receive more information.