00:00And finally, shifting focus to the immigration crackdown under U.S. President Donald Trump.
00:06The bid to shake up America's H-1B visa system has reportedly cleared a big hurdle.
00:12A proposed rule that would change how the H-1B visas are allocated has cleared review by the White House's regulatory gatekeepers, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
00:27Now, under the current system, the H-1B visas are distributed via a random lottery.
00:34But the new rule would scrap the luck of the draw approach.
00:38Instead, applications would reportedly get a weighted selection, giving priority to workers who meet certain criteria, higher wages, advanced education and specialized skills.
00:51Federal regulators are expected to publish the proposed rule in the Federal Register soon.
00:58And that would kick off a formal public comment period, giving tech companies, advocacy groups and potential visa applicants a chance to weigh in.
01:08The proposed weighted selection concept echoes a 2021 Trump administration plan.
01:16That earlier plan faced opposition and was withdrawn by the forthcoming Biden administration.
01:23It also saw related regulations blocked in federal court.
01:28But now, the Trump administration is renewing its immigration crackdown at a breakneck speed.
01:35In recent weeks, President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have made it clear that they will prioritize domestic workers over immigrants on H-1B.
01:47Indians make up the largest share of the H-1B visa holders.
01:51In 2022, Indian Nationals secured 77% of the 320,000 approved H-1B visas.
02:00And in the fiscal year of 2023, this figure remained high at 72.3% of the 386,000 visas issued.
02:10Of over a million overseas students in the United States, over 331,000 came from India in 2023 to 2024 academic year.
02:22The fresh job seekers will be likely worst hit by the proposed H-1B revision.
02:29And that's because the new H-1B criteria will reportedly prioritize high salary workers.
02:35And the entry-level salaries are often placed in the lower wage tiers.
02:41For an international student in the United States, from India or anywhere else,
02:46entering the American workforce on an H-1B visa could become a lot more cumbersome than it already is.
02:55Industry insiders have been watching this closely.
02:58Many argue that the yet-to-be-notified rule could reward top-tier talent in the higher salary bracket.
03:07And critics, meanwhile, say it risks shutting out smaller companies and startups who rely on the lottery to compete while accessing incoming talent from overseas.
03:18It could also leave the lower wage applicants scrambling.
03:22If implemented, the overhaul could fundamentally reshape the U.S. tech labor market,
03:29shifting the balance toward highly paid, highly educated workers while reducing randomness in the visa lottery system.
03:37The visa lottery, as we know it, may be headed for a complete rewrite.
03:42And this remains a developing story, and we will keep you updated.
03:47We'll see you next time.
04:17We'll see you next time.
04:47Click on Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
04:51Be the first to know what's happening around you in your first language.
04:57First Post
05:17You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:21You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:23You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:25You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:27You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:28You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:29You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:31You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:33You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:35You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:37You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:39You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
05:41You're listening to Audio Track and select a language of your choice.
Comments