H- 1B rules untouched, says US to India’s joy

In a relief for Indian techies, US authorities on Tuesday said that the Trump administration is not considering any proposal that will force H- 1B visa holders to leave the country.

The announcement by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS) comes days after reports emerged that the Trump administration was considering tightening H- 1B visa rules that could lead to deportation of nearly 7.50 lakh Indians. The reports had said that it was mulling ending extensions for H1B holders.

The USCIS “is not considering a regulatory change that would force H- 1B visa holders to leave the United States by changing interpretation of Section 104 C of the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act ( AC21) statute,” an official said.

This provides for H- 1B extensions beyond the six- year limit. “Even if it were, such a change would not likely result in these H- 1B visa holders having to leave the US because employers could request extensions in one- year increments under section 106( a)-( b) of AC21 instead,” Jonathan Withington, chief of media relations at the USCIS, said.

“The agency is considering a number of policy and regulatory changes to carry out President’s Buy American, Hire American executive order,” Mr Withington said.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services ‘ is not considering a regulatory change that would force H- 1B visa holders to leave the US’ The reported move had been opposed by both the industry and several lawmakers The Nasscom had warned that any disruptive move on the visa front would be detrimental for both India and the US