Despite 4 per cent dip, Indians get 63 per cent of H-1B visas

The selection of H-1B visas for ‘initial employment’ issued to Indians dipped by four% within the 12-month duration finishing September 30, 2017. In all, 67,815 visas have been licensed by america government for Indian aspirants as in comparison to 70,737 within the 2016 fiscal.

According to immigration professionals, the four% drop signifies two ground realities: “excessive vetting” and a higher rejection price right through processing, reflecting the protectionist policies underneath President Trump; and higher native hiring by huge Indian IT gamers corresponding to TCS, Infosys and Wipro.

Despite the drop, Indians have been the biggest workforce of H-1B beneficiaries. They bagged 63% of the whole 1.08 lakh visas issued for initial employment within the duration. In fiscal 2016, Indian beneficiaries constituted 62% of the 1.14 lakh visas granted. In combination, 2.76 lakh beneficiaries of the whole three.65 lakh H-1B packages in 2017 (or 75.6%) have been born in India. These statistics have been disclosed by america Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in its contemporary file, Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers.

“The selection of beneficiaries from India licensed for initial employment reduced by four.1% in fiscal 2017, whilst the selection of beneficiaries licensed for proceeding employment increased by 12.Five% (from 1.85 lakh to two.08 lakh),” it added. Applications for initial employment are filed for first-time employment in america underneath the H-1B visa route, which is a well-liked paintings visa especially for India’s technology sector.


Post-September 2017, procedural adjustments corresponding to greater strictures for those H-1B aspirants who will be running at 3rd celebration consumer sites had been issued. The US additionally plans to tighten the H-1B policy further by changing the definition of “specialisation occupation” which is able to slim task alternatives for Indian aspirants. It additionally plans to hike the minimal wage price for H-1B visa holders from $60,000 consistent with yr to $90,000 or more, making it more expensive to rent expats. Fiscal 2017 saw a median wage of $85,000.

“This downward development within the selection of visas for new beneficiaries is more likely to proceed and the drop in numbers could also be sharper in fiscal 2018 and past,” stated an in-house immigration professional of a technology corporate.

“I expect a Five-10 times build up in denials. There has additionally been substantial redistribution within the development of filings. American companies are submitting a lot more H-1B visas this yr in comparison with submitting from Indian companies,” identified Rajiv S Khanna, managing legal professional at Immigration.com.

“The widespread sentiment helps to keep pushing the H-1B visa program down. I'm seeing a lot of motion inside my clientele against putting in place operations in Canada and professionals moving to Canada. This brain drain from US will not be glaring straight away, however will unquestionably impact its lead in science and technology,” Khanna added.

Annually, simplest 85,000 visas are issued for initial employment by america government (which includes america Master’s cap of 20,000). However, packages for an H-1B filed by a sponsoring employer which is a higher training institution or non-profit affiliated with such an establishment, or a non-profit analysis organisation or govt analysis organisation are exempt from the cap. Applications to increase an H-1B holder’s duration of keep (the visa is first of all for three years) or to change the present employer additionally don't count against the once a year cap.


Overall, america licensed three.65 lakh H-1B visa packages, of which 1.08 lakh or 29.Five% have been for initial employment. Apart from being the biggest constituents for initial employment, in combination, 2.76 lakh beneficiaries of the whole three.65 lakh applicants (or 75.6%) have been born in India. More than 80% visas for endured employment of Indian applicants have been licensed.


The second most prevalent country of delivery of H-1B beneficiaries used to be China, representing 9.four% of all beneficiaries, 15% for initial employment and 8% for endured employment.


“Computer-related occupations” used to be the biggest class, and the selection of H-1B packages licensed for those staff increased by 6.6% from 2.38 lakh in 2016 to two.54 lakh in 2017.


Despite 4 per cent dip, Indians get 63 per cent of H-1B visas Despite 4 per cent dip, Indians get 63 per cent of H-1B visas Reviewed by Kailash on May 09, 2018 Rating: 5
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