H-1B and Other Visa Ban Relaxed : Trump Allows the Entry of Foreign Workers with New Rules – Details

After more than a month since the Trump administration banned the entry of certain non-immigrant H-1B and L1 visa holders, the administration has now relaxed certain rules. These relaxations are now allowing H-1B visa holders to enter the United States to return to the same jobs that they had prior to the ban of the visa.

Further, dependents of the H-1B Visa holders, i.e. spouses and children can now travel to the U.S. as well. The State department advisory said, “Travel by applicants seeking to resume ongoing employment in the United States in the same position with the same employer and visa classification.”

The advisory further mentioned that it is important to facilitate the “immediate and continued economic recovery of the United States.” In order to do so, travel by senior-level managers, technical specialists and other H-1B visa holders can now return to their workspaces. In particular, the U.S. has allowed public health workers and other health care professionals and researchers to enter the country in order to battle the on-going pandemic.

"Travel supported by a request from a US government agency or entity to meet critical US foreign policy objectives or to satisfy treaty or contractual obligations. This would include individuals, identified by the Department of Defence or another US government agency, performing research, providing IT support/services, or engaging other similar projects essential to a US government agency," said the State advisory.

The U.S. had previously banned H-1B Visa holders from entering the country after an increase in the unemployment rate was reported. Several business giants including Facebook, and Twitter had filed a lawsuit against this move. These relaxations have come as a sigh of relief.