The row over H1-B visa has gotten more intense with US President Donald Trump weighing in on the matter. The President 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.”
The matter became highlighted after billionaire Elon Musk slammed right-wingers and asked them to ‘take a big step back’. Recently, MAGA (Make America Great Again) loyalists have been raising voice against immigrants after Indian-American Sriram Krishnan was appointed as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House.
Let’s see what the H1-B visa program is and who are eligible for obtaining the visas.
H1-B Visa
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…’
Eligibility
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.
Also Read : ‘I Will Go To War On This…’ Elon Musk Backs Sriram Krishnan, Slams MAGA Loyalists As H-1B Row Intensifies In US
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.
