With the coming 2024 United States elections, there is a growing anxiety among the immigrants in the country with H1B visas. Many wonder: what would a second Trump term mean for those who are applying for H1-B visas?
The question arises from past experiences, especially when in his first term, the Trump administration implemented several changes impacting the visa process.
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On one social media platform, a user posted this concern: “I already got picked this year, and my petition is approved. I will be moving to the U.S.> by December, but does a Trump victory pose any risk to my status?” This anxiety isn’t unjustified.
During the Trump presidency, H1-B visas faced unprecedented scrutiny. Although the selections for an annual cap remained up to85000, the approval rate was considered to be much more stringent.
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The rejection rate of H1-B visa extensions increased manifold, especially for those cases whose reasons cited were “specialty occupation”. According to the recollection of of one user: “In 2018, my extension got denied despite a very genuine application from a top-rated company. It felt like pure luck who got approval.”
For many, the fear is not just about the new H1B applications, but whether the extensions or transitions to permanent residency (Green Card) will go tougher under another Trump administration.
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The takeaway, however, is that uncertainty builds up. One cannot predict precisely what policy changes may be there, but Trump’s track record in the past, those on H1-B visas are recommended to stay cautious. For the time being, it’s just wait and watch for immigrants and visa holders-just a little clarity for uncertain ones.
