US TO ISSUE TEMPORARY WORKER VISAS THIS SUMMER

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NEW DELHI Consulate:

There are over 1.5 lakh Indian nationals who have been issued employment-based visas, including nearly 1.26 H1B job permits, by the US in 2016, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. 

Replying to a written question, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said as per the last data released by the US Department of Homeland Security, in 2012, the total number of non-resident Indians with legal permanent resident status, also known as 'green cards', in the US was estimated to be 5.4 lakhs. 

The minister added that the new Trump Administration has so far not announced any comprehensive policy changes regarding non-immigrant work visa programmes.

"The government is keeping a close watch on the developments in the US that may have a bearing upon movement of skilled Indian professionals to the United States. We remain engaged with the US Administration and the US Congress at senior levels on this matter," Singh said. 

 

TEMPORARY WORK VISAS THIS SUMMER

WASHINGTON:

The Homeland Security Department has decided to offer extra visas for temporary, seasonal workers, a department spokesman said Wednesday. 

DHS spokesman David Lapan said Homeland Security John Kelly hasn't decided how many visas will be offered but that number should be set soon. Lapan said the department expects to start issuing visas as soon as late July. 

The H-2B visas are used for temporary, non-agriculture workers at a variety of businesses, including resorts. The government offers 66,000 such visas a year, and the extra visas will be available to companies that show they'd be significantly harmed if they aren't able to temporarily hire foreign workers.