The Trump administration is considering a proposal which may result in large scale deportation of Indians from the US.
The proposed US Bill – Protect and Grow American Jobs – which is being shared as a memo in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aims at ending the provision of granting extensions to H-1B visa holders whose applications for permanent residency (Green Card) had been accepted.
Aligned with President Donald Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” policy, the proposed US Bill could lead to mass deportation of around 500,000-750,000 H-1B visa holders.
Software body Nasscom said it has flagged its concerns around visa related issues in the US with the senators, Congressmen and the administration, and will engage further in a dialogue over the next few weeks over the proposed legislation.
The bill proposes new restrictions to prevent abuse and misuse of H-1B visas. It tightens the definition of visa dependent companies, and imposes fresh restrictions in terms of minimum salary and movement of talent.
Apart from prescribing higher minimum wages, the bill places the onus on clients that they will certify that the visa holder is not displacing an existing employee for a tenure of 5-6 years.
"That formulation has conditions which are extremely onerous and makes it very difficult for people to not just get the visa but also on how they can be used," R Chandrashekhar, President, National Association for Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) told PTI.
The bill has been passed by the House Judiciary Committee and is now headed for the US senate.
The US grants 85,000 non-immigrant H-1B visas every year – 65,000 to foreigners hired abroad and 20,000 to foreigners enrolled in advanced degree courses in US schools and colleges. An estimated 70 per cent of these visas go to Indians - hired mostly by IT companies.
