Marjorie Greene, a member of the House of Representatives, has said that legislation will soon be established to eliminate the H-1B visa. The Republican Party alleges that the H-1B visa is being misused. Under the new “America First” policy, the H-1B visa category will be eliminated. However, Trump seeks to retain a provision to provide 10,000 H-1B visas to doctors each year for the next 10 years. Currently, approximately 70% of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued each year are to Indians.
Trump and Vance have showcased contrasting opinions on the H-1b Visa. While Vance contends that the U.S. should focus on equipping blue-collar workers with advanced technology instead of depending on migrant labor. Trump, however, argues that key American industries — particularly high-tech sectors — still require specific foreign expertise to operate, at least for now.
Recently U.S. Vice President JD Vance has escalated his criticism of foreign workers, referring to them as “cheap labor” and asserting that America no longer depends on immigrant workers to support its economy. His remarks, made during a discussion with conservative host Sean Hannity, further highlight the difference of opinion in the US government elites regarding the H-1b Visa programme.
Trump’s earlier comments on talent shortages
Trump has previously stated that there has been a shortage of talent in certain domains in the United States. He pointed out that the country lacks enough skilled people to fill key jobs, necessitating the need for workers from abroad. He mentioned that tasks like battery manufacturing involve dangerous work and that America lacks such talent, which is why H-1B visas are essential.
Trump’s U-turn on foreign students
Trump has made a U-turn on his stance on foreign students. He has stated that foreign students should continue to be allowed to study in the United States, as they not only strengthen the country’s education system but also support the financial well-being of universities. He said that if the number of students coming from China and other countries is reduced, then about half of the colleges in the U.S. will shut down.
He said:
“We can’t stop half the students coming from around the world. Doing so would severely harm our college and university system. I don’t want that. I believe it’s good to have students from foreign countries, and I want to maintain good relations with the world.” But in the recent past, he has showcased apprehension regarding foreign students’ entry in the US
Interviews for foreign students were banned 6 months ago
The change in the U.S. decision regarding foreign students is clearly evident from the fact that interviews for foreign students were banned in May this year, with the aim of curbing anti-Semitism and left-wing views at the country’s universities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an order to U.S. embassies around the world not to schedule new interviews for student visas, as the Trump administration planned to tighten scrutiny of the social media profiles of students coming to the U.S.
He further mentioned that, with immediate effect, the consular section should not allow new appointments for student or exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J categories) until further guidelines are issued. The ban applied to F, M, and J visa categories, which mostly cover international students and exchange visitors. Interviews later resumed, but social media checks and security rules have been tightened.
The number of Indian students is going to fall by 70%
The number of Indian students studying in the U.S. has declined by 70%, driven by a blockage of visa slots and a sudden increase in visa rejections due to the Trump administration’s policies on international students.
Due to these difficulties, many students are now looking for study options in other countries.
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