Washington: A federal US agency responsible for processing of H-1B application for foreign IT professionals early on Saturday said it has reached the Congressionally mandated 65,000 visa cap for the 2018 fiscal year.
"US Citizenship and Immigration Services has reached the Congressionally mandated 65,000 visa H-1B cap for fiscal year 2018," an official announcement said.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services has also received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to meet the 20,000 visa US advanced degree exemption, also known as the master's cap, the statement said.
However, unlike previous years, it did not say how it is going to determine the successful applications, which in the past had been through a computerised draw of lots.
The USCIS has indicated that the US government is going to be tough and stringent in approval of H-1B visas this year.
Asserting that its multiple measures this week will further "deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse", the USCIS said the H-1B visa programme should help US companies recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country.
"Yet, too many American workers who are as qualified, willing and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged. Protecting American workers by combating fraud in our employment-based immigration programs is a priority for the USCIS," a statement had said.
The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows American firms to employ foreign workers in occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.
During his election campaign, President Donald Trump had promised to increase oversight of our H-1B and L-1 visa programmes.
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