Biden Administration to Ease Restrictions on Indians for Living and Working in the US

The Biden administration is reportedly planning to ease restrictions for Indians seeking to live and work in the United States. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit, the U.S. State Department is expected to announce a pilot program that would allow a limited number of Indian and other foreign workers on H-1B visas to renew their visas within the U.S., rather than having to travel abroad. This program could be expanded in the future.

Indian citizens make up the majority of H-1B visa holders, comprising 73% of the nearly 442,000 workers in fiscal year 2022. The aim of this initiative is to recognize the value of international mobility and explore various approaches to facilitate it. The State Department has been working on innovative ways to make these changes, although specific details regarding visa types and the launch timing of the pilot program have not been disclosed.

The pilot program is expected to start with a small number of cases, with plans to gradually expand it over the next one to two years. However, the exact scale of the program has not been defined yet. It’s important to note that these steps are subject to change and are not finalized until officially announced. The White House and the State Department have chosen not to comment on these developments.

The H-1B visa program annually provides 65,000 visas for companies in need of skilled foreign workers, with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for those with advanced degrees. These visas are typically valid for three years and can be renewed for an additional three years.