Trump administration may ban visas like H-1B: Report

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal Trump administration may enforce temporary ban on the non-migrant Visas like H1B, which allows large number of professionals who have theoretical or technical expertise from foreign countries to work in U.S. Almost 500,000 migrant professionals are employed in the US in the H-1B status.

The proposed suspension could bar any new H-1B holder outside the America from coming to work until the suspension is removed.Those who are already in the U.S on H1B visa may not be affected.

“The administration is currently evaluating a wide range of options, formulated by career experts, to protect American workers and job seekers, especially disadvantaged and undeserved citizens—but no decisions of any kind have been made,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

A final decision on the issue is yet to be taken.

The Trump government is also said to be considering a proposal to increase H-1B visa application fee from $460 to $20,000. “It is also considering ending an Obama-era rule allowing spouses of H-1B workers to work on their visas. That could eliminate approximately 100,000 immigrants from the workforce over time,” the report said.

Besides the H-1B visa, H-2B visa for short-term seasonal workers,banning J-1 visa for short-term workers including camp counselors and au pairs and L-1 visa for internal company transfers is very likely.