WASHINGTON: H-1B visa holders and other temporary foreign workers in the United States could face a major new hurdle as the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period currently available to some workers after their employment ends.
According to a government notice published online on Thursday, the proposed rule by the Department of Homeland Security would remove the 60-day period that allows certain immigrants, including skilled workers on H-1B visas, to remain in the US after losing their jobs while seeking new employment or a sponsor.
Under the proposed regulatory change published in the Federal Register, H-1B holders and certain other temporary work visa holders could be required to leave the country immediately after their employment ends.
The move could pose a challenge to major US technology companies that rely heavily on foreign workers.
The H-1B programme provides 65,000 visas annually, along with an additional 20,000 visas for workers holding advanced degrees. The visas are generally approved for periods ranging from three to six years.
Before President Donald Trump announced a new fee, employers seeking H-1B visas for foreign workers typically paid between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on various factors.
Trump defended the new fee in a presidential proclamation, saying the H-1B programme had been deliberately used to replace American workers with lower-paid and lower-skilled labour rather than address genuine shortages.
The fee does not apply to foreign nationals already in the US on student visas who later obtain H-1B status. Such individuals typically make up a significant portion of new H-1B beneficiaries.
Following the introduction of the fee, relatively few employers have paid the amount. According to a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official, the agency had received only 85 such payments by February 15, based on documents filed in March.
The Trump administration has also ordered stricter scrutiny of H-1B applicants and proposed a new visa selection system that would give preference to workers with higher skills and salaries.
At least three lawsuits have been filed challenging the $100,000 fee, including one by the US Chamber of Commerce.
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