In 2019, there will be changes in how immigration is approached. Throughout 2018, there were several changes that made it harder for people to come to America. In fact, there have been no favorable actions taken toward highly skilled immigrants in the entire term of the current president.
As a result, there are people who hold H-1B visas who are scared to try to change their jobs. They worry that they will be denied or have a long wait for an approval, since processing times currently take up to 10 months and won’t resume until February 2019.
How has the current administration made immigration for highly skilled individuals harder?
The current administration has increased the number of denials for immigrants who are killed for work in America. Some employers have reported getting approval to bring in an immigrant on an H-1B visa, but they then find that there is as little as a day to do so based on the expiration period. This is unfair treatment, but it’s hard to combat without a court order.
The president issued an executive order called the “Buy American and Hire American,” order, which also led to an increase in petition denials. There is also talk of rescinding the right for H-1B holders’ spouses to obtain employment authorization documents, meaning that around 100,000 spouses would no longer be able to work freely in the United States, even if they could enter legally.
What is the good news for 2019?
The good news is that there is a new chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, and this representative is pro-immigration. The incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee is pro-immigration as well. That means that there is a likelihood that the number of H-1B visas approved will increase in the future, though there may be more restrictions on how a company outsources its jobs.
There are so many changes happening with immigration during the Trump administration that it’s vital that you stay up-to-date with them on a daily basis. Your attorney can help you learn more about the options you have for coming to America and can help protect you if you’re already working here. While the current administration does not appear to be pro-immigration, there is always a need for skilled laborers and workers, so there are ways to help you get into the United States and to do the work that you intend to complete.
