Govt Of India Working With US Govt To Remove All H1B , Green Card Restrictions Imposed By Trump

As per new reports coming in from the External Affairs Ministry, India is engaging closely with the  US administration and other relevant stakeholders regarding the movement of Indian professionals. 

The topic arose when the Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, was asked about the effect of the H-1B visa restriction on Indians.

Find out how India’s engagement will change the situation!

India In Talks with US Administration To Remove Restrictions On H-1B Visa

As per Muraleedharan, the issue was raised twice during two bilateral meetings between India and the US last year. 

He stated, “Government is closely engaged with the US administration and other relevant stakeholders on issues related to the movement of Indian professionals, highlighting the importance of people-to-people linkages and the contribution of Indian skilled professionals to the growth and development of the US economy, especially in the technology and innovation sector.”

As we all know, H-1B visas were suspended by the Trump administration thereby banning the entry of non-immigrant workers and their families. This order was implemented on June 22, 2020, and was to be effective till December 31, 2020. However, it was later extended to March 31, 2020 as well. 

The suspension drastically impacted skilled workers like computer programmers, seasonal workers in hospitality industry and students on work-study programmes. IT professionals, who are the biggest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa were affected the most.

India Already Employing Numerous Ways To Get Restrictions Revoked

As per Muraleedharan, the presidential proclamation is not specific to India or any other country and India is already employing multiple ways to get the suspension revoked. 

As per the data shared by the minister, Indians got a huge chunk of the H-1B visas in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

It was only last week when the new administration in the US had announced that they would reconsider the limits placed on H-1B visa workers. Additionally, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had also declared that “it may reopen and/or reconsider adverse decisions” on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.