India's envoy in Washington has said amid reports the Trump administration plans to cut down the scheme. "The H1B scheme has been crucial in making US companies competitive globally in increasing their client base, in increasing their innovation. And it is the Indian tech industry, which has actually been creating jobs here (in the US)," Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna told CNN on Monday.
"There is reports and analysis by very respected houses, which say that over 4,00,000 jobs have been directly and indirectly supported in the US," he said, adding that Indian tech companies have invested $2 billion in four years and paid $20 billion in taxes.
H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows American firms to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The tech companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.
"Out of every 100, H-1B visas have resulted in support for 83 jobs in the US... This is very important because the US companies nine out of the 15 top tech companies in India are American companies."
"Companies would also be prohibited from laying off American workers 180 days prior to and following the hiring of an H1B worker. These provisions ensure that qualified American workers are considered for jobs first.”
"To ensure that limited number of annual H1B visas go to the best and brightest workers, our bill priorities petitions, starting with foreign nationals who received advance science and engineering degrees right here in the US."
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