A group of influential US lawmakers has introduced a bipartisan legislation in the Senate aimed at sweeping changes to the H-1B and L-1 visa programs and bringing in more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers.
H-1B visas allow US companies to hire foreign workers, especially in occupations requiring technical expertise. Technology companies recruit thousands of employees every year from countries like India and China for this. L-1 visa is also a type of ‘work visa’ issued to professionals who wish to work in the country.
H-1B visa is issued to a person who wants to join a US company, whereas L-1 visa is issued to a person who is already employed by a company in another country and who wants to work for only one year. Relocating to US office. Two influential lawmakers, Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley, have introduced this legislation in the US Senate. At the same time, MPs Tommy Tuberville, Bernie Sanders, Sherrod Brown and Richard Blumenthal have supported it.
A media release Tuesday said the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act would reduce fraud and abuse in the immigration system, protect American workers and visa holders, and require greater transparency in recruiting foreign workers.
The bill also seeks to explain the hiring of L-1 and H-1B workers, new wage, hiring and verification requirements, and provide information about these jobs to employers seeking to hire H-1B workers, the release said. It is proposed to be posted on the website of the Department of Labor (DOL). The bill seeks to reform the L-1 program and proposes to mandate cooperation with the State Department in verifying foreign associates. Thousands of highly skilled foreign-origin workers, including Indians, have lost their jobs in the US due to recent layoffs at companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon.
According to ‘The Washington Post’, around 2,00,000 IT workers have been laid off since November last year. Industry insiders say 30 to 40 per cent of them are Indian IT professionals, a large number of whom are H-1B and L1 visa holders.
