Five Major Changes in the H-1B Visa Program in 2019

A drastic change has been observed in the allocation procedure of the H-1B Visa program. This change is mainly happening for cutting off administrative load form the allocation and application processing as well and also provides favour to applicants who hold a U.S. master’s degree.

Now let’s focus on the five significant changes that were made in the H-1B Visa programme for the year 2019.

More importance imposed on advanced degrees

In the previous year, around 85000 H-1B Visas were granted to 65000 people holding a bachelor’s degree, and 2000 were given to people holding a higher or master’s degree. Previously general the visa granting system or process is done via lottery. A pool of the applicants’ names are made, and the first preferences are generally given to the one who holds a bachelor’s degree and then it is given to the ones who holds a master’s degree.

But U.S. companies now are more keen on selecting candidates who are more educated and holds the experience and better academic excellence. But as a part of the change that is going to happen the number of visas will be allocated will not change; instead, the preference will change this time. The people with a master’s degree will get favours while getting chosen for having their visas, whereas the number of favours given to bachelor’s degree holders will decrease. 

This will not only provide better opportunities for the people but also enhance the quality of work for the companies because they will be having employees with better educational backgrounds and experience as well.

Comprehensive application processing

The application process of granting Visas was very tedious, and companies literally used to spend hours in filling up application forms of people they want in their company to work. This whole process will be drastically changing in order to make the whole procedure time saving, hasslefree and obviously seamless as well.

In the new system of application processing, the companies will only fill up the entire form once the applicant is chosen through the lottery process previously, which was not the scenario. This process is undoubtedly going to save a lot of time and make the whole process better as well.

Opportunity for F1 visa holders to enjoy employment in the U.S

This change is going to be really fruitful for the international students who have an F-1 Visa. They will now be included under the HB-1 visa and will get an opportunity to work in the U.S. that can be in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.

The applicants should have certificates from accredited colleges form the United States of America. This opportunity is going to provide the international students an extension period of 24 months to work in any company where they are employed.

Inspection of ICE authorities for recruitment of international students.

ICE authorities will send inspectors to interview companies and international employees working with F1 visas in the companies. In this inspection procedure, the employee will be interrogated with questions regarding his or her degree and work. Also, the company will have to speak in detail about the recruitment procedures.

The revival of H-4 Work Permission

This feature was present in the times when President Obama was there, but now there is a possibility of revoking this again. The H-4 work permission program enables the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the U.S. as well. But this change is a sceptical decision for the companies.