US Allows H-1B Visa Holders with Family to Return for Same Jobs

The US Department of State advisory said dependents (spouses and children) will also be allowed to travel along with primary visa holders.

Washington: The Trump administration in the USA has loosened some rules for H-1B visas allowing visa holders to enter into the United States if they are a return to the same jobs they had before the announcement of the visa ban.

The US Department of State advisory said dependents (spouses and children) will also be allowed to travel along with primary visa holders.

“Travel by applicants seeking to resume ongoing employment in the United States in the same position with the same employer and visa classification,” the state department advisory said.

The US administration additionally allowed travel by technical professionals, senior-level managers, and other workers who hold H-1B visas and their travel is necessary to help facilitate the instant and continuous economic recovery of the United States.

The US administration also allowed travel of visa holders who are working as public health or healthcare practitioner, or researcher to alleviate the consequences of the CoronaVirus pandemic, or to conduct ongoing medical research in an area with a significant public health benefit.

“Travel supported by a request from a US government agency or entity to meet critical US foreign policy objectives or to satisfy treaty or contractual obligations. This would include individuals, identified by the Department of Defense or another US government agency, performing research, providing IT support/services, or engaging other similar projects essential to a US government agency,” the advisory stated.

Earlier on June 22, Trump suspended the temporary work visas, including H-1B, for foreigners till the end of the year. And on August 4, Trump signed an executive order prohibiting American employers from using H-1B workers to displace Americans in outsourcing contracts. The order aligns federal contracting and hiring practices keeping in mind the “interest of American workers.”

This order will change the priorities of the federal government in the US drastically, forcing it to hire Americans rather than signing on foreign workers, majority of those who are on H-1B visas.

The H-1B, which is a non-immigrant visa, allows firms in the US to employ foreign workers in the specialized professions that require theoretical or technical experience. As many as 500,000 immigrant workers are working in the US on an H-1B visa status. The H-1B visa is also especially popular among highly skilled Indian IT specialists.