Trump considering suspending H1B, other visas: Report

US President Donald Trump is considering suspending a number of employment visas including H-1B, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, in view of massive unemployment in America due to coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report. proposed suspension could extend into government’s new fiscal year beginning October 1, when many new visas are issued, Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, quoting unnamed ministration officials.

“That could bar any new H-1B holder outside country from coming to work until suspension is lifted, though visa holders alrey in country are unlikely to be affected,” daily reported.

H-1B is most coveted foreign work visas for techlogy professionals from India. Such a decision by Trump ministration is likely to have an verse impact on thousands of Indian IT professionals. Alrey a large number of Indians on H-1B visas have lost ir jobs and are heed back home during coronavirus pandemic. White House, however, said that final decision has been me and ministration is considering various proposals.

“ ministration is currently evaluating a wide range of options, formulated by career experts, to protect American workers and job seekers especially disvantd and underserved citizens — but decisions of any kind have been me,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

In dition to H-1B visas, suspension could apply to H-2B visa for short-term seasonal workers, J-1 visa for short-term workers including camp counselors and au pairs and L-1 visa for internal company transfers, financial daily reported. Meanwhile, US Chambers of Commerce CEO Thomas Dohue on Thursday wrote a letter to Trump, expressing concern over his reported move on temporary work visas.

“As ecomy rebounds, American businesses will need assurances that y can meet all ir workforce needs. To that end, it is crucial that y have access to talent both domestically and from around world,” Dohue wrote in a letter to Trump.

According to Hill newspaper, Dohue said that American businesses need L-1 visa holders, who have a work visa valid for a relatively short amount of time, for necessary expertise. He ted importance of H-1B visa holders, who have a work visa valid for multiple years, for various industries, including techlogy, accounting and manufacturers, newspaper said.

“Policies that would, for example, impose wide-ranging bans on entry of nimmigrant workers or impose burdensome new regulatory requirements on businesses that employ foreign nationals would undermine that access to talent and in process, undercut our ecomy’s ability to grow and create jobs,” Dohue ded.