US election results impact on H-1B visa holders: With counting of votes underway for the crucial US elections, Indians are closely monitoring potential changes to the H-1B visa program and its yearly 85,000-visa limit under either candidate’s – Donald Trump or Kamala Harris – administration.
Changes to immigration policies are anticipated regardless of the election outcome. Incidentally, Indian corporations have already decreased their reliance on H-1B visas while US companies increase their domestic recruitment efforts.
Donald Trump’s Immigration Stance
The Republican candidate remains opposed to the H-1B program, believing that it disadvantages American workers. His previous term was characterized by increased visa rejections. His administration attempted to implement higher minimum wages for H-1B holders in 2020, but courts blocked this initiative.
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Kamala Harris’s Immigration Views
The Democratic nominee supports progressive immigration policies and backs work permits for H-1B spouses. Her campaign focused on reducing unfair backlogs, highlighting that 95% of green card applicants originate from China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam. She has not specifically addressed nation-specific green card limitations.
Why are H-1B visas important?
The H-1B visa enables US employers to hire foreign professionals for specialized roles temporarily. Initially popular among technology and IT service providers, the program has encountered stricter regulations since Trump’s presidency, including significant fee increases.
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USCIS has increased the registration fee to $215 from $10 and the application fee to $780 from $460. Additionally, a new $600 ‘asylum fee’ applies to H-1B and related petitions, substantially raising total expenses.
Work visa regulations have become increasingly strict over the last ten years. USCIS data shows eligible registrations decreased by almost 40%, dropping from 758,994 for FY24 to 470,342 for FY25. This reduction stems from their new ‘beneficiary-centric’ strategy to combat fraud. Total registrations decreased from 780,884 to 479,953 in this period.
