A final rule related to the filing of H-1B visas has been posted in the Federal Register, asserting that the change will result in greater efficiency, lower employer costs and applicants with better job skills.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows senior living operators and other firms to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise, such as computer programming and data management.
The final rule introduces an electronic registration requirement for petitioners. In addition, the program’s selection process will be adjusted so that all registrations are first applied to the current 65,000 visa cap. Following that, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will select from the remaining applicant pool to fill the degree limit. The changes are expected to favor foreign workers who earned their degrees in the United States.
The new rule is scheduled to take effect April 1. The electronic registration requirement will be suspended for the fiscal year 2020 cap season, however, the USCIS announced. The changes align with guidance to implement President Donald Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” strategy.
