Tightening of rules that would make it difficult for prospective international workers to work in the US may well be underway, as US President elect Donald Trump’s pick for Attorney General called for measures to curb the misuse of popular H-1B and L-1 work visas.
During his confirmation hearing for US Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions said that the perception that any American could be replaced with a foreign worker was “simply wrong”.
“We have borders. We have a commitment to our citizens and you have been a champion of that. I’ve been honoured to work with you on it,” Sessions was quoted as saying by PTI.
The incoming US administration of Donald Trump is known to be critical of US companies that hire foreign workers over Americans, and is widely expected to further regulate the visa process that could make it harder for future applicants to get US work visa.
If that happens, it will mainly affect various IT companies across the US who depend on overseas talent to fill up high-level positions. A stricter US visa application process will also take its toll on dreams on millions of Indians who are aspiring to work in the US in coming days.
In 2015, Indian citizens reportedly received almost 70 percent of the total H-1B visas, viewed as a popular pathway to American citizenship. Indians also received nearly 30 percent of L-1 visas issued in the same year. The L-1 visa allows multinationals to transfer its employees to US branches. A large chunk of both visas are issued to employees in the IT industry.
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump has struck a chord with trade protectionists who advocate stricter border control for all goods, services and labour. The 70-year old has also called for border tax on companies that move operations overseas or rely too much on foreign workers, a pledge he is widely expected to make good on once he assumes office on Jan 20.
Trump’s attorney general pick Sessions has in the past played a key role in sponsoring a legislation that reportedly adversely affected Indian IT companies in the US. The Alabama senator is expected to head the Justice Department under Trump, giving him great power to regulate work-related immigration.
The bill proposed by Sessions reportedly advocated reforming H-1B visa programmes by ensuring that qualified American workers are considered for high-skilled job opportunities before those jobs can be offered to foreign nationals.
“It also prohibit a company from hiring H-1B employees if they employ more than 50 people and more than 50 per cent of their employees are H-1B or L-1 visa holders,” he reportedly said.
Sessions was also quoted as asking, “The Obama administration has failed to protect American workers here. Will you, this is my question, will you be more aggressive in investigating the abuses of these visa programmes?”
