Expressing worry over large-scale layoffs within the tech business, a gaggle of lawmakers from the Silicon Valley have written to the USA Citizenship and Immigration Services to verify high-skilled immigrants can stay within the nation even after dropping their jobs.
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This workforce of immigrants possesses talents which are extremely treasured in as of late’s knowledge-based financial system and “forcing them to leave the US is harmful to our nation’s long-term economic competitiveness”, they stated of their letter to USCIS Director Ur Jaddou.
The letter has been despatched by means of Congressmen Zoe Lofgren, Ro Khanna, Jimmy Panetta and Kevin Mullin. Lofgren has been a former Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
“This issue is of great importance to our constituents because layoffs in the tech sector have accelerated in recent months. The number of tech jobs lost since the beginning of 2023 has already surpassed the total number of layoffs in 2022,” the letter stated.
It additionally requests that the USCIS unencumber information detailing the have an effect on of the layoffs on affected immigrants; inquire about whether or not the USCIS has issued steering to adjudicators in accordance with the layoffs; and prolong the 60-day grace length for laid-off H-1B holders to protected a brand new activity ahead of dropping their criminal standing.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits US corporations to make use of overseas employees in strong point occupations that require theoretical or technical experience.
The lawmakers requested the USCIS director to offer main points of roughly what number of H-1B visa holders have effectively maintained criminal standing after dropping their jobs and what number of have departed the rustic or accumulated illegal presence.
“We ask that you share any relevant data with us so we can better understand the impact of the layoffs,” in line with the letter.
“What are the approval and denial rates, broken down by visa category, for newly unemployed H-1B holders who have applied for the nonimmigrant visas listed in the December 19th USCIS fact sheet? Considering unemployed H-1B holders only have a limited 60- day window to secure a new visa, we request that you release this data publicly so these individuals can make informed decisions about which visas to apply for,” it stated.
The lawmakers requested roughly how lengthy it takes for the USCIS to procedure visa programs submitted by means of newly unemployed H-1B holders.
“While individuals are legally allowed to remain in the US as their visa applications are pending, we’re concerned about the potential consequences of processing times that exceed the 60-day grace period,” the lawmaker stated of their letter.
In such circumstances, immigrants can be required to leave the rustic in an instant if their visa programs are denied, they stated.
“This situation not only causes significant distress for the affected individuals but could also result in them accruing unlawful presence if it takes an extended period of time to get their affairs in order before departing the country. This could be held against them if they apply for a visa in the future,” the lawmakers wrote.
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The Congressmen requested are newly unemployed H-1B holders penalized when making use of for B-1/B-2 customer visas?
“Because B-1/B-2 visas are intended for short-term visits to the US, we are concerned that adjudicators will deny visas to laid-off H-1B holders, many of whom have lived in the US for years, on the grounds that these individuals do not have sufficient ties to their home countries to demonstrate that they intend to leave the US once their visas expire,” he stated.