Trump administration toughens work visa renewal rules

Under the new guidance, the burden of proving the eligibility of the request for extension will rest with the applicant.

The Trump administration has changed the rules for the renewal or extension of non-immigrant visa categories such as H-1B and L-1, which are popular with Indian companies based in the US.

US President Donald Trump during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (Reuters)

“The previous policy instructed officers to give deference to the findings of a previously approved petition, as long as the key elements were unchanged and there was no evidence of a material error or fraud related to the prior determination,” the US customs and immigration services said on Monday.“The updated policy guidance rescinds the previous policy.”

Under the new guidance, the burden of proving the eligibility of the request for extension will rest with the applicant, “regardless of whether USCIS previously approved a petition”.

The US grants 85,000 visas under H-1B programme that allows US and US-based companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers for positions employers are unable to fill locally.

While the number of such visas have not changed, the Trump administration has changed rules and regulations to make hirings difficult.

US President Donald Trump has also ordered a review of the entire legal work visa system to prevent abuse and fraud to protect American jobs from being outsourced to foreigners, a concern voiced by both Republicans and Democrats.