US Plan To Remove H-1B Visa Cap And Its Impact On India
The United States is considering removing the per-country cap on H-1B visas, a policy that could impact Indian tech professionals seeking opportunities in the U.S. It aims to streamline and expedite H1-B visa approval process & provide greater flexibility for employers to retain top talent. If enacted, the decision could profoundly impact India and the US by reshaping the global talent pool and the tech landscape.
US President-elect Donald Trump appointed Indian-American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Krishnan is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of technology and immigration reform in the United States.
Krishnan has long advocated for immigration reforms that would priorities merit and streamline the green card process. Along with him influential figures including David sacks and Elon Musk have supported the removal of country specific caps to attract and retain global talent to US.
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H-1B Visa System
The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire foreign workers for jobs, especially in the fields of technology, engineering and healthcare. Currently, there is per-country cap of 7%, which means the total number of H-1B visas can not go beyond this limit, regardless of demand. This system has caused significant delays for applicants from high-demand countries, especially India.
India has long been affected by this cap considering its large pool of highly skilled workers in the tech sector. Indian applicants face long waiting times-sometimes over a decade-due to the high demand of H-1B visas. In contrast, applicants from countries with smaller populations of skilled workers may have little to no waiting perod.
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Removing the cap would enable applicants from high-demand countries like India to get the visa easily. Instead of country-specific quotas, applicants would be accessed based on merit, allowing most qualified candidates to secure quick visa. For country like India, where a significant proportion of global tech talent resides, this would prove to be beneficial for professionals seeking US employment.
