H-1B visa program will change, America is going to change the rules, will Indians be affected?

Changes to the H-1B visa program: The H-1B visa program is very important for thousands of Indians leaving India for jobs in America. Most Indians go to America and work in the tech sector, where H-1B visas are available for jobs. According to a report by Bloomberg Law, major changes are soon to be seen in the H-1B visa program. The White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is currently reviewing the changes.
This review is in its final stages before changes to the H-1B visa program are announced. ‘US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) released the draft of new rules for visa last year. It also included changes in the degree requirements required to obtain a visa. According to reports, OIRA has received the final rule (1615-AC70). The changes in visa rules will have a big impact on those Indians who are going to work in the tech sector.

Changes already made in the lottery system of US H-1B visa

At the same time, in the proposed rules issued earlier, the annual lottery system for visas was also changed. Due to this change, every applicant is getting equal opportunity in the selection process. The lottery update was finalized in January ahead of the fiscal year 2025 visa lottery. Under the H-1B visa program, 85 thousand visas are issued every year, out of which 20 thousand visas are reserved for those students who have completed their studies in America and obtained a degree.

The draft rules have also clarified the criteria for cap-exempt visas. Apart from this, a policy of giving weightage to the previous decisions of the agency for visa extension has also been introduced. This means that if someone has got a visa extension in a previous case, then the extension will be easily given in a similar new case also. This will make the process even more transparent. However, it has not yet been told when the changes in visa rules will be announced.