The US to implement new H1B visa rules from April 1: Boost for foreign students in American Universities

Washington : The United States on Wednesday announced that new H1B Visa rules will come into effect from coming April 1; it will give priority to foreign workers with a degree from American University against those who have a degree from Universities outside the nation.

In the new system, electronic registration of the petitions will also be introduced, however, it will not be implemented for the upcoming H-1B 2020 season that will typically kick off from April 1.

Francis Cissna, director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which runs the H-1B visa programme, gave a nod to Trump in a statement announcing the new rule and said, “US employers seeking to employ foreign workers with an American masters or higher degree will have a greater chance of selection in the H-1B lottery in years of excess demand for new H-1B visas.”

Trump had himself signalled the new rule in a tweet earlier this month in which he had said: “changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship”. And, he had added, “We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the US.”