H1-B Visa Row: What Is The US Visa Programme And Why Has It Become A Hot Topic On Social Media? EXPLAINED
H1-B visa has become a hot topic of conversation on social media. After right-wing activists called for the removal of the visa programme entirely, the matter became more intense with US President Donald Trump adding to the conversation. Trump came out in support of the visa programme on social media platform X and said, "I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program." Before diving into how this conversation started, let's first take a look at what the H1-B visa program is and who are eligible for obtaining the visas. What Is The H1-B Visa Programme? The H1-B visa is a non-immigrant visa programme that helps US employers in recruiting foreign nationals to work in the country for specialised roles for a particular duration. Any non-US citizen who is looking for employment in the United States needs to obtain an H1-B visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act to work in specialty occupations. To apply for the visa programme, individuals need to submit certain documents. Further, the employer needs to sponsor the application, including the associated visa expenses, and also complete the needed documentation on behalf of the applicant. The individual is not allowed to apply for the H1-B visa on their own as the programme requires sponsorship from US employers. Also Read : Donald Trump Backs Elon Musk In H1-B Visa Debate: 'I've Always Been In Favour...' Who Can Obtain The H1-B Visa? To be eligible for the H1-B visa programme, these conditions need to be fulfilled by an individual. They must possess a valid job offer from an American employer that requires a specialty. A specialty occupation needs specialised knowledge and the individual must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in fields such as information technology (IT), engineering, science, medicine, mathematics, accounting, finance, architecture, etc. They need a bachelor’s degree or proven experience in a particular field. Their employer has to show that they genuinely searched for qualified Americans before opting for the individual. They are willing to come to the US to earn and not with the intention to follow a hobby or do any humanitarian service. Benefits Of The H1-B Visa By enrolling in the H1-B visa programme, individuals get certain benefits that can make their stay in the US more convenient. Some of the major benefits are as follows: The H1-B visa allows individuals to obtain a social security number. The visa programme lets people apply for a state ID or a driver’s license in the US. The individual can open a bank account or rent/buy a car if they enroll in the H1-B visa programme. The visa also allows individuals to purchase or rent a property in the US. Also Read : 'I Will Go To War On This...' Elon Musk Backs Sriram Krishnan, Slams MAGA Loyalists As H-1B Row Intensifies In US H1-B Visa Controversy: How It Began? The controversy around the visa started earlier this week after far-right activists and MAGA (Make America Great Again) loyalists criticised the President's appointment of Indian-American Sriram Krishnan as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House. The activists claimed that this decision will impact the government's immigration policies as Krishnan would have influence on the same. The matter became further highlighted after billionaire Elon Musk joined the conversation and asked the immigration hard-liners to 'take a step back'. Musk even said, "The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B." The President also came out in support of providing the visas for highly skilled workers and said, "I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favour of the visas. That’s why we have them." Notably, in his first Presidency, Trump moved to restrict the usage of the visas. These comments come as the debate over immigration gets heated up and right wing activists continue to push for removing the H1-B visa programme in a protectionist bid to provide more job for the local population. Notably, the US tech industry depends on the H1-B visa program to recruit skilled workers from abroad to run their companies.
H1-B visa has become a hot topic of conversation on social media. After right-wing activists called for the removal of the visa programme entirely, the matter became more intense with US President Donald Trump adding to the conversation. Trump came out in support of the visa programme on social media platform X and said, "I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program."
Before diving into how this conversation started, let's first take a look at what the H1-B visa program is and who are eligible for obtaining the visas.
What Is The H1-B Visa Programme?
The H1-B visa is a non-immigrant visa programme that helps US employers in recruiting foreign nationals to work in the country for specialised roles for a particular duration. Any non-US citizen who is looking for employment in the United States needs to obtain an H1-B visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act to work in specialty occupations.
To apply for the visa programme, individuals need to submit certain documents. Further, the employer needs to sponsor the application, including the associated visa expenses, and also complete the needed documentation on behalf of the applicant.
The individual is not allowed to apply for the H1-B visa on their own as the programme requires sponsorship from US employers.
Also Read : Donald Trump Backs Elon Musk In H1-B Visa Debate: 'I've Always Been In Favour...'
Who Can Obtain The H1-B Visa?
To be eligible for the H1-B visa programme, these conditions need to be fulfilled by an individual.
- They must possess a valid job offer from an American employer that requires a specialty. A specialty occupation needs specialised knowledge and the individual must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in fields such as information technology (IT), engineering, science, medicine, mathematics, accounting, finance, architecture, etc.
- They need a bachelor’s degree or proven experience in a particular field.
- Their employer has to show that they genuinely searched for qualified Americans before opting for the individual.
- They are willing to come to the US to earn and not with the intention to follow a hobby or do any humanitarian service.
Benefits Of The H1-B Visa
By enrolling in the H1-B visa programme, individuals get certain benefits that can make their stay in the US more convenient. Some of the major benefits are as follows:
- The H1-B visa allows individuals to obtain a social security number.
- The visa programme lets people apply for a state ID or a driver’s license in the US.
- The individual can open a bank account or rent/buy a car if they enroll in the H1-B visa programme.
- The visa also allows individuals to purchase or rent a property in the US.
H1-B Visa Controversy: How It Began?
The controversy around the visa started earlier this week after far-right activists and MAGA (Make America Great Again) loyalists criticised the President's appointment of Indian-American Sriram Krishnan as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House. The activists claimed that this decision will impact the government's immigration policies as Krishnan would have influence on the same.
The matter became further highlighted after billionaire Elon Musk joined the conversation and asked the immigration hard-liners to 'take a step back'. Musk even said, "The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B."
The President also came out in support of providing the visas for highly skilled workers and said, "I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favour of the visas. That’s why we have them." Notably, in his first Presidency, Trump moved to restrict the usage of the visas.
These comments come as the debate over immigration gets heated up and right wing activists continue to push for removing the H1-B visa programme in a protectionist bid to provide more job for the local population.
Notably, the US tech industry depends on the H1-B visa program to recruit skilled workers from abroad to run their companies.
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