H-1Bvisas issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services permit foreign born professionals to work legally in the US for a maximum of 6 years. Upto 65,000 such visas are issued every year.
As on April 18 this year, the USCIS has received 18,000 petitions
from applicants with advanced degrees. US laws have authorized
the exemption of a fiscal cap on the first 20,000 applications.
2000 slots are still waiting to be filled in this category.
Other exemptions under the mandated cap will be extended to those
with higher degrees from American establishments, those involved
in research and teaching at educational institutions and those
looking for service in the non-profit sector.
The US Government is yet to announce its comprehensive immigration
bill which is expected to raise the cap of the H1B visa category,
and ease the process leading to the green card, or permanent
residency.
The expected raise in the cap for H1B visas is largely due to
the lack of skilled workers in the US. Indian and Chinese students
are being welcomed to continue working in the US and apply the
skills acquired in that country after their studies are completed.
US officials are concerned that foreign students go back home
with the knowledge and skills to train their countrymen who are
in competition to the US.
