75,000 Indian workers in US facing deportation as Trump mulls tweak in H-1B visa rules

Even as the bond between Trump administration of the United States of America and Modi government of India is growing stronger, as many as 75,000 Indian workers in US are facing deportation thanks to a proposed tweak in H-1B visa rules.

According to report, a new proposal being shared as a memo in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in sync with the President Donald Trump’s "Buy American, Hire American" vision, can potentially stop foreign workers from keeping their H-1B visas while their green card applications are pending.

The move would mean that thousands of Indian employees in the US, a huge chunk of which works in the IT sector, will not get their H-1B visas extended as their applications for Green Card- which grants permanent residency- stay pending. The existing rules allow the administration to extend the H-1B visas beyond the allowed two three-year terms if a green card is due for approval.

If the move comes to fruition, an estimated 50,000- 75,000 Indian H-1B visa holders will be deported back to the country.

Software industry body Nasscom has reportedly 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 move came as a reaction to a proposed US bill 'Protect and Grow American Jobs'. 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.

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.