What Will Happen to Indian IT's H-1B Visa Woes in 2020?

The Indian IT industry could suffer from delay in grant of H-1B visas by the US in 2020 due to lack of clarity in the new registration process, said immigration attorneys. They also predicted an increase in uncertainty as Donald Trump seeks a second term in November.

The new system which will be followed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from April will require companies to register in advance the names of employees who need the work permit. The agency will then select which of the candidates can apply for the visa.

“Customarily, the H-1B ‘season’ runs from early March to the second week of April. Now, it will run from early March (when the registration begins) to at least until the end of July 2020,” said Neil A Weinrib, a US-based immigration lawyer.

“Essentially, this means that USCIS will take even longer to adjudicate (on) these cases and many companies and foreign nationals may miss the October 1 start date,” he added.