Washington: The Biden administration has proposed an increase in immigration fees, including H-1B visas. The H-1B visa is given to more skilled foreign workers and is quite popular among Indian tech experts. People will be able to give their opinion on the proposed rules for 60 days, after which it is expected to be implemented.
According to the proposed rule, published by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the fee for H-1B visa applications should be increased from USD 460 to USD 780, while the L-1 should be increased from USD 460 to USD 1,385.
The application fee for O-1 visas has been proposed to be increased from $460 to $1,055. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specific occupations that require conceptual or technical expertise.
Technology companies hire thousands of employees annually from countries like India and China. According to the proposed rules, the fee for H-2B petitions (seasonal, non-farm workers) is proposed to be increased from $ 460 to $ 1080. “Economists believe that the decision to increase fees for these visa categories goes against the wishes of US policymakers who want as many workers as possible to enter the United States legally,” Forbes said in a news report.