Out of all of the registrations this 12 months, 120,141 had been picked to maneuver forward.
The #H-1B visa program is essential for Indian IT staff and a significant approach US tech corporations rent expertise.(File picture)
Out of all of the registrations this 12 months, 120,141 had been picked to maneuver forward. The #H-1B visa program is essential for Indian IT staff and a significant approach US tech corporations rent expertise. Every 12 months, this system provides out 85,000 visas, together with 20,000 spots for folks with US grasp’s levels.
Why did the drop happen?
Many causes are being cited for this large drop, together with new guidelines, larger H-1B prices, and altering profession plans for overseas staff. A significant cause can also be that USCIS is cracking down on duplicate entries and system misuse.
“Based on evidence from the FY 2023 and FY 2024 H-1B cap seasons, we undertook extensive fraud investigations, denied and revoked petitions accordingly, and continue to make law enforcement referrals for criminal prosecution,” the USCIS mentioned on its official web site. “We are also reviewing the FY 2025 and FY 2026 data for any attempts to gain an unfair advantage through the beneficiary-centric selection process.”
USCIS additionally mentioned it can take sturdy motion when wanted, together with petition denials, cancellations, and legal fees. “We believe that the decreased filing rate for FY 2024 H-1B cap petitions and the decreased registration numbers for FY 2025 and FY 2026 indicate that these investigations, and the beneficiary-centric selection process, have been effective integrity measures,” the assertion learn.
Besides coverage modifications, the price of making use of has change into a giant cause persons are backing off. USCIS raised the registration payment from $10 (about ₹856) to $250 (about ₹21,000) this 12 months. That made a giant distinction, particularly for college students and other people simply beginning out. “It’s no longer a small gamble,” mentioned a software program developer from Nagpur now in Washington on OPT (#Optional Practical Training). “When the fee was $10, people thought, why not try? But $250 is serious money, especially when you’re not guaranteed a shot. I’m still unsure if I’ll register next year—I’ve started saving up.”
At the identical time, extra folks are actually taking a look at different nations as an alternative of the US. “Many of us are looking at #Australia or #Germany now,” mentioned Aaftab B, a postgraduate from #Hyderabad dwelling in #Chicago. “Their immigration systems are more straightforward, and you feel more welcomed there. I am also considering UAE. The US feels uncertain—long wait times for green cards, H-1B dependency, job instability. It’s just not worth the anxiety anymore.”
Experts say this transformation may have a huge impact on how Indian college students transfer overseas. India has at all times been one of many high nations sending college students to the US. “The ‘American Dream’ of immediate employment at a high salary with full sponsorship of an #H-1B visa will elude most foreign students. It’s not the late 90s and early 2000s anymore,” mentioned Orn Bodvarsson, an economist and senior tutorial. “As word continues to travel back to India that post-graduation labour market outcomes are not as strong as before, Indian student emigration to the USA will weaken.”
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