The H-1B is an employer-sponsored non-immigrant classification which enables a person who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the US to work in a specialty occupation for up to six years with very limited exceptions. It is a foreign worker visa that allows the US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.
As per India Today, the US Department of Homeland Security has implemented a final rule to modernise and improve the efficiency of the H-1B visa programme three days before Trump's inaugural ceremony on 20th January 2025.
This new rule took effect on Friday, 17th January 2025. It aims to enhance the requirements for the H-1B non-immigrant visa programme and enable the US companies to fill job vacancies more effectively. It addresses labour needs in critical fields and strengthens the US economy as well.
The minimum educational level required for H-1B status is a bachelor's degree in the field of the proposed employment. The non-immigrant employee must have the required degree or its equivalent in order to receive the H-1B approval.
As per DHS, “Proposed changes to improve the H-1B programme would create jobs and benefit not only US employers but also professionals who want to contribute to the United States’ success.”
Regarding this, US President-elect Donald Trump said, “I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favour of the visas. That's why we have them. I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great programme.”
US Citizenship and Immigration Services said, “The H-1B final rule modernizes the H-1B program by streamlining the approval process, increasing its flexibility to better allow employers to retain talented workers, and improving the integrity and oversight of the program. The H-2 final rule significantly strengthens worker protections by, among other things, imposing new consequences on companies that charge prohibited fees or violate our labor laws, and provides greater flexibility for H-2A and H-2B workers. Both rules were published in the Federal Register on Dec. 18, 2024.”