New Visa Policies Cause US Tech Layoffs to Have a Severe Impact on Indian Employees.

(VOR News) – A recent wave of layoffs has had a disproportionate impact on workers of Indian origin, especially those on H-1B visas, shaking the US IT industry to its core.

The combination of this condition and the newly implemented new visa restrictions has resulted in the creation of a new environment that is becoming increasingly challenging for talented professionals and international students who are immigrants studying in the United States.

Loss of jobs in the United States’ technology sector

As a point of information, according to Layoffs.fyi, 438 technology companies have let go of 137,500 employees in a field that was previously believed to be recession-proof. As a result, employment prospects in the information technology industry are few.

In addition, the H-1B visa gives Indian employees a window of time in which to look for and accept a new position. They will have to depart the country if they are unable to locate and accept a new position within the designated period. According to data from the US Congressional Research Service, Indian labourers must wait incredibly long periods of time—up to more than 190 years—in order to be granted green cards.

Even when they have met all requirements for the workplace, this is still the case. Because of the growing number of petitions, the already shaky situation has gotten much worse.

The visa bulletin that was distributed by the United States Department of State in October 2024 contained information that was published regarding the availability of immigrant visa numbers for the fiscal year 2025. As part of the regular updates that applicants get, this bulletin is intended to inform them about the progress of their applications as well as the different visa categories that are currently available.

The findings of the study conducted by Telugu360 indicate that this had an effect on a number of different immigration categories, one of which was the EB-5 investment visa category in particular.

The latest visa changes and their impact on Indian workers

People are able to receive visas under the EB-5 visa program if they invest in specific projects, such as those that are located in rural areas or in regions with high rates of unemployment.

On the other hand, applicants from mainland China and India frequently experience delays, despite the fact that these visas are available everywhere in the world. On the other hand, there are indications that the processing times are gradually improvement, but they are definitely improving.

Not only that, but concurrently with this, there has been an increase in the number of H-1B visas issued. From $10 to $215, which is a 2150 percent rise, the cost per recipient experienced a significant surge. Over the course of the paper filing procedure, the application price has climbed from $460 to $780, representing a 70 percent increase. This increase occurred over the course of the entire process.

The restrictive measures that were recently implemented with regard to visas have also had an effect on individuals who are applying for green cards. At the moment, the fee for persons who wish to submit their I-30 petition online is $625, but the fee for filing the petition on paper costs $675.

There is a new method that has been implemented for the payment of the $600 asylum fees required for certain petitions.

The sorting of international students has also been brought about as a result of the adoption of increased scrutiny for applicants seeking visas under the F, M, and J categories. It is now expected of them that when they apply for appointments, they will present accurate information from their passport accounts.

The maximum validity duration for Employment Authorisation Documents has been expanded to five years, which is a positive development for those individuals who are eligible for the program. As a consequence of this, the standards for extending work permits will likely become less stringent.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) are two examples of options for students to participate in practical training.

Students can still take advantage of these chances. The 24-month extension that is available for the STEM OPT is still accessible, despite the fact that there have been some of the employer requirements relaxed.

The necessity of enhancing safety, simplifying operations, and better managing costs is the justification for these modifications. On the other hand, they might also make it more difficult for candidates to meet their financial obligations and alter the ethnic composition of the American labour force.

SOURCE: HT

SEE ALSO:

Reacting with Rockets, Hezbollah Declares an ‘Open-Ended Struggle’ with Israel.

Kate, The Princess Of Wales, Makes First Public Appearance After Cancer Treatment