(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: H-1B Visas Temporarily Suspended

Topic: H-1B Visas Temporarily Suspended

Guest:

Prabhu Dayal, (Former Ambassador)
Shivaji Sarkar, (Senior Journalist)
Shivendra Singh, (Vice President, Global Trade Development, NASSCOM)

Topic Description:

U.S. President Donald Trump suspended the entry into the United States of certain foreign workers on Monday, a move the White House said would help the coronavirus-battered economy, but which business groups strongly oppose. Trump issued a presidential proclamation that temporarily blocks foreign workers entering on H-1B visas for skilled employees, and L visas, for managers and specialized workers being transferred within a company. He also blocked those entering on H-2B seasonal worker visas, used by landscapers and other industries. Businesses including major tech companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the visa suspension would stifle the economic recovery after the damage done by the pandemic. The proclamation’s immediate effects are likely to be limited, as U.S. consulates around the world remain closed for most routine visa processing. The order exempts those already in the United States, as well as valid visa holders abroad, but they must have an official travel document that permits entry into the United States.