The Joe Biden administration has announced new steps to make it easier for US college graduates with job offers to get work visas.
This move helps the US economy by keeping skilled workers here. It makes the visa process faster and tries to bring the best talent to the United States.
The administration will make the process simpler to help recent graduates get their visas quickly.
The US Department of State will share new rules by July 18. These rules will guide officers on when to suggest that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) give a waiver, which lets them skip some requirements. These waivers can speed up getting a visa while still keeping the safety checks.
Last month, the administration said they would help international students who finished US colleges and got job offers. They want these students to get visas faster if they meet the rules.
About the employment-based nonimmigrant visas
An employment-based nonimmigrant visa allows people from other countries to work in the US for a while. Usually, the company that wants to hire them starts the process. The most common type of these visas is the H-1B visa.
If a person does not get the visa at first, the officer usually explains why. Some people might be able to get a waiver, which gives them another chance to get the visa. The DHS and the US Customs and Border Protection’s Admissibility Review Office handle these waiver requests.
Before applying for an H-1B visa, the employer must get approval for a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once approved, the employer gets a Notice of Action (Form I-797). The person who wants to work in the US can then apply for their visa. They need to fill out the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160) and schedule an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
In the year 2023, USCIS and the Department of State gave out over 192,000 employment-based immigrant visas. This is the second year in a row that they made sure no visas went unused.
We still don’t know how these new steps will change the process for nonimmigrant visas during the election year.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s new plan is a big step to make the US more attractive for skilled graduates. By making the visa process simpler and giving clear guidelines for waivers, they hope to keep top talent in the country and strengthen the workforce.