The US government has finally shown some generosity to the specific visa holders which are H1B and L1 given that if they meet specific conditions set by US Immigration.
The Trump authority announced some exemptions for H1B visas stating, "All those on H-1B visas working in the healthcare sector or to conduct ongoing medical research in an area with a substantial public health benefit (e.g. cancer or communicable disease research) are exempted from the ban and can enter the US if they are going to continue the same job as they had before lockdown."
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require the theoretical or technical experience. Companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
As stated in June, US President Donald Trump had imposed restrictions on specific non-immigrant visa categories including an H1B visa which is the most acquired visa by Indians. Trump in his justification said that he wanted to save jobs for Americans which are being taken by non-immigrants.
The announcement of the travel ban has shattered dreams of many Indians and they even protested for it. But now after the relaxations, it will revive some hope in people. The relaxation on the visa ban will also allow spouses of these workers to return to the United States.
In the brief, filed in a lawsuit brought in California by major US business associations such as Amazon and Facebook, the companies argued that the visa restrictions will hurt American businesses. That’s why the government looked into this matter but there is a catch that the employer has to specify that refusal of visa would cause financial loss to the company.
The new rules allow senior-level employees in critical infrastructure sectors including healthcare and IT, whose roles are vital to the management and success of the business to get the visas. They should be paid at least 15% higher than the wage rate would also be considered, provided it is established that denial of the visa would cause significant financial harm to the employer. The department has issued a set of five guidelines, and applicants must meet at least two out of these five to be considered for a visa.