This New Bill Can Make H1B Jobs Tougher For Indians: Only 1-Yr H1B Visa, No Job For Students

A new bill has been introduced in the US about the H-1B visa, and it will be tightening the noose around the rules of the H-1B visa programme. 

This new bill has been named the American Tech Workforce Act of 2021 and has been introduced in the US House of Representatives.

New Bill “American Tech Workforce Act of 2021” Proposed For H-1B Visa

The new bill has been proposed to eliminate Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows foreigners on student visas to work in the US for up to 3 years, given that they have STEM qualifications.

The Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks proposed this legislation in order to bring accountability of big tech companies. This bill will first be approved by House and then move on to Senate for clearance.

In a statement, Banks said, “Big Tech is setting aside some of the most lucrative and valuable career opportunities in America and giving them exclusively to foreign guest workers. They’re cutting out Americans to save a few bucks. It’s domestic outsourcing.”

He said that Big Tech’s incentives must be fixed. 

American Tech Workforce Act of 2021: What Does It Say?

As per reports, the bill asks that the minimum wage for H-1B visa recipients equal the higher end of the annual wage paid to an American worker for the position, or $110,000, whichever is higher.

As per the bill, the period of H-1B visas sponsored by third-party companies should be decreased to one year from 3 years currently. 

Banks said, “This shocking disregard for American workers and their role in our nation’s future is unpatriotic. We must fix Big Tech’s incentives, so they begin putting Americans first.”

American Principles Project (APP), Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and NumbersUSA support the American Tech Workforce Act.

The H-1B program offers tax relaxations to big tech companies and enables them to hire foreign workers at cheaper wages. Whereas, supporters think it’s important that it is important to address the gap in the US labor market.