US aims to issue more than 10 lakh visas to Indians in 2023 – H-1B and L visas, the most sought-after by Indian IT Professionals to be prioritised

In a move to strengthen ties between the United States and India, the Biden administration has announced that it will prioritise visas for students and working professionals during the summer 2023.

This measure is also According to a senior official, the US visa office will provide more than ten lakh visas to Indian citizens this year.

The official further reaffirmed the Biden administration’s commitment to processing all student visa applications from Indian applicants for the next fall semester.

This decision comes after talks between the two countries’ leaders, as well as increased demand from Indian students and professionals seeking to study and work in the US.

Expectations from this decision for Indian Students & IT professionals:

The decision is expected to facilitate greater cultural exchange and collaboration between the two nations.

According to a spokesperson for the US State Department, the priority processing of visas for Indian students and workers will be implemented immediately, with a goal of expediting the application process and reducing wait times.

This will help ensure that qualified individuals can begin their studies or work as soon as possible.

The move has been welcomed by Indian students and professionals who have been struggling to obtain visas due to the on-going pandemic and travel restrictions.

The US declares that it will grant 10 lakh visas by 2023:

In terms of international students coming to the United States, India ranks second in the world.

Many see it as a positive step towards enhancing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the areas of education and innovation.

• By the end of this year, the US visa office expects to have granted over 10 lakh Indians US visas.
• Due to the high demand for Indian IT specialists, this year’s visa priorities will be work (L & H-1B visas) and student (F visa).
• The second-largest source of students going to study in the US is India.
• Employers and businesses with US locations are able to hire foreign specialists with H-1B visas for jobs that demand a high level of technological know-how.

The US and India have a long history of cooperation, and this move is seen as a continuation of efforts to deepen the relationship between the two nations. It is hoped that the prioritisation of visas for Indian students and workers will lead to increased collaboration and exchange between the two countries, ultimately benefiting both nations and contributing to global progress.

Everything you must know about Student Visa (F-1):

• For students to quality under F-1 Visa, they must prove that they are able to support themselves during their stay in the US. This is because their prospects for legal employment are limited.
• Foreign nationals may study in the United States (in an academic or language training program) with the use of an F-1 visa, a non-immigrant student visa type.
• F-1 students must continue their whole course of study. Unless they have applied for and been permitted to stay and work for a period of time under the OPT program, they may stay in the US for up to 60 days after their academic program is finished.
• Extensions of stay and status adjustments may be allowed within the United States, but F-1 visas are exclusively issued by American embassies and consulates abroad.
• Since there are few opportunities for legal employment for F-1 students, they must demonstrate their ability to support themselves while they are in the country.

H-1 B Visa for the USA:

• The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa. This allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations on temporary basis.
• This visa category is commonly used to bring in foreign workers who possess specialised knowledge or advanced degrees to work in fields such as science, engineering, and information technology.
• To obtain an H-1B visa, the employer must sponsor the foreign worker and file a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• The employer must demonstrate that the foreign worker possesses the required qualifications for the position and that the position meets the requirements for a specialty occupation.
• There is an annual cap on the number of H-1B visas that can be issued each year, and the application process can be highly competitive. The application process typically opens in April each year, with the visas becoming available on October 1st.

Conclusion:

Many Indian students who pursue their education in science, technology, engineering, and math have aspirations of studying and working in the US. After the pandemic, the USA granted 82,000 applications for student visas for Indians in 2022. Though they had to wait at least 210 days for an H-1B work visa, students who applied for “OPT” Optional Practical Training (A temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study) exposure or work authorisation after graduation if they had to.