U.S. Resumes Issuing Visas for Foreign Workers

American consulates around the world have once again begun issuing H-1B visas, as well as other visas, which will permit people to legally work in the United States. A ban was placed on these visas being issued during the coronavirus pandemic, which was meant to curtail the spread of the virus and limit the economic impact on American workers. By resuming the issuing of these visas, however, more people will be able to seek employment with American companies.

What Are H-1B Visas?

H-1B visas are a type of legal immigration document that are issued to people who come to the United States to work in a specialty occupation. To obtain an H-1B visa, a prospective employee must have at least the equivalent of four years of higher education from an accredited college or university. In addition, they must be sponsored by the company that wishes to employ them, with their legal immigration status tied to their employment. A variety of different industries make use of H-1B visas to attract foreign workers to their companies, with the most notable being the tech industry, which often seeks foreign workers as engineers or programmers.

Why Were H-1B Visas Not Being Issued?

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, the previous presidential administration placed a broad moratorium on visas being issued, with some limited exceptions. This meant that most people who wanted to seek a visa to work in the United States could not do so. In addition to H-1B visas, this moratorium also affected those seeking H-2B, H-3, H-4, L-1A, L-1B, and J-1 visas, which are different classes of visas used for various types foreign workers.

The Impact of the Moratorium

As a result of this policy, many people who thought they would be coming to the United States to work found they could no longer do so. This was inconvenient for the employers who wanted to bring these workers over to the United States, but it was especially devastating to the workers who found themselves stuck and unable to work. For the past year, they could not even begin the application process to come legally work in the United States, keeping them from the economic opportunities they were counting on.

The End of the Moratorium

With the end of this policy, foreign workers can once again begin the process of seeking H-1B visas and other forms of legal immigration status. Consulates in other countries will begin accepting applications and scheduling interviews, and space is likely to fill up quickly. That is why, if you are looking to immigrate to the United States, you should consult an immigration lawyer as soon as possible, to help guide you through the process.

The Drucker Law Firm has represented clients in immigration cases for more than 40 years. Our experienced team of lawyers will work with you to address all of your concerns and needs. If you are seeking legal immigration status or have an issue related to immigration, please give us a call at (718) 458-1489 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation.