The story so far: On September 19, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation increasing the fee for processing H-1B visas by about 60 times to $1,00,000. The White House underlined that the objective was to help “curb abuses that displace U.S. workers and undermine national security”. A tentative calm returned when Washington clarified the revised fee would only be for new applications, starting September 21, and not for present visa-holders or those up for renewal.
Also read: The Hindu’s coverage on U.S. work immigration visa fee hike and its impact
What is the purpose of the hike?
The entire contestation revolves around the perception that the H-1B visa programme was leading to a “disadvantageous labour market for American citizens”. The H-1B programme seeks to help employers in the U.S. obtain crucial skills and abilities, not existing within the current local workforce, by authorising them to temporarily bring certain specialised talent from overseas to work in the U.S.
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