US stops fast-track visa program for foreign workers

Foreigners seeking temporary jobs at US high-tech companies will face a longer visa approval process after the Trump administration announced a temporary suspension of applications for emergency H-1B visas.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that starting April 3, the agency will stop expediting visa processing and instead, the process can last up to 6 months, instead of the old regulation of 15 days.

The H1-B is a nonimmigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to recruit and hire foreign professionals in specialized occupations, including information technology, medicine, engineering, and mathematics, to work in the United States for a limited period of time.

To qualify for an H-1B visa, employers and potential employees must meet certain requirements. Employers must comply with the requirements of the H-1B visa application process, as well as regulations set by USCIS and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Each year, the US limits the number of H-1B visas to 65,000, plus about 20,000 visas for those who have earned a master's degree or higher in the US. These visas are valid for 3 years, but can be extended for an additional 3 years.

The move comes as the US government is fulfilling President Trump's 2016 campaign pledge to crack down on immigrants who he said were stealing jobs from Americans.

According to SGGP