Context:

Recently, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his support for H-1B visas, emphasizing that he has always been a supporter of the program.

More on the news:

• The support for H-1B visas aligns with the views of Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and other tech leaders advocating for an expansion of the H-1B program to attract more global talent. 
• However, many Republican Party (US political party) Members argue that such visas threaten American jobs and advocate for prioritizing domestic workers.

What Is the H-1B Visa Program?

The H-1B visa program enables American employers to hire skilled foreign workers in speciality fields requiring advanced knowledge, such as technology, engineering, and education. 

The U.S. Department of Labor describes the program as a means to fill roles that cannot be met by the domestic workforce, allowing temporary employment of qualified foreign individuals.

The H-1B visa can be issued for a maximum of six years at a stretch. 

Eligibility: To be eligible for an H-1B visa, you must meet the following requirements: 

• Have a bachelor's degree or higher in the field you're applying for or an equivalent foreign degree in a relevant field. 
• Have specialized training or experience that's equivalent to a bachelor's degree (high level of technical knowledge).
• Employer must be willing to sponsor you and prove there is no qualified U.S. worker for the role.
• Have a valid passport. 

Caps:

• The US government has capped the total number of new H-1B visas at 65,000 each financial year.
• An additional 20,000 visas can be given to those who have obtained a master's or higher degree from U.S. institutions.
• H-1B workers employed at higher education institutions, non-profits or government research organisations are not covered by the cap.

H-1B Visa Approvals status of Indians: 

• Indians have consistently been the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B program In FY 2023.
• Indian nationals accounted for 72.3% of all approvals (2.79 lakh of a total of 3.86 lakh). Chinese nationals were a distant second with 11.7%.

Occupations & Compensation:

• Computer-related occupations accounted for 65% of all H-1B visas in 2023, followed by architecture, engineering and surveying (9.5%) and education (6%). 
• The median annual compensation for H-1B visa holders in 2023 was $118,000