H-1B Visa Update: More Than 200,000 Petitions Face Tougher Reviews
Immigrant workers could face longer processing times and increased scrutiny under a USCIS plan to undo a 2024 policy.
More than 200,000 H-1B visa petitions could undergo more stringent reviews under a proposed change by the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aims to eliminate the practice of deferring to prior approvals when processing H-1B and other work visa renewals, initiating the process anew even if the applicant, employer, and role remain unchanged.
This move comes amid concerns over potential long-term abuse by tech companies leading to the exclusion of American-born workers. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers would no longer be able to defer to previous approvals, thereby overturning any facts it previously determined to be true. This proposal, outlined in a Federal Register filing, is anticipated to impact around 208,000 extension applications yearly, with H-1B filings accounting for approximately 75 percent of those.
DHS claims that the current policy weakens oversight and may allow errors or fraud to persist into the new visa period. Critics argue that this change could harm U.S. companies, potentially prompting them to seek employment in other countries, thereby reducing competitiveness. The federal agency seeks comments on the proposal for a 30-day period before it can be finalized.
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