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What is National Security Agreement? US Senate unveils deal providing major relief to H1B and H4 visa holders
Under National Security Agreement, around 100,00 work permits will be offered to the spouses of H1B visa holders and their dependent children.
In a major relief for H-1B visa holders, the US Senate has unveiled the "National Security Agreement" pertaining to H4 visa holders. Under this deal, around 100,00 work permits will be offered to the spouses of H1-B visa holders and their dependent children.
After lengthy discussions between the Republican and Democratic leaderships in the US Senate, the National Security Agreement was disclosed on Sunday. It also offers a solution for roughly 250,000 grown-up children of H-1B visa holders.
It is welcoming decision for the thousands of Indian tech workers who have been waiting a long time for a Green Card, without which their spouses wouldn't be able to work and their children face risk of deportation.
A Green Card, also called a Permanent Resident Card, is a document that shows that the bearer is authorised to reside in the US permanently. It is given to immigrants. The number of green cards that can be issued to citizens of particular nations is limited by per-country quotas.
“For too long, going back decades, the immigration system has been broken. It’s time to fix it. That’s why over two months ago I instructed members of my administration to work with a bipartisan group of Senators to – finally – seriously address the issue,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.
“Now we’ve reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it,” he added.
Other benefits to be availed by Indian-American immigrants under this deal
In another good news for Indian American immigrants, the bill offers ageing-out protection for children of long-term H-1B visa holders, as long as the children have retained H4 status for eight years.
With nation caps, it adds 18,000 more employment-based Green Cards annually for the following five years. It implies that 158,000 employment-based Green Cards will be issued annually by the US over the next five years.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House on Sunday night, this bill will allow work authorization to about 25,000 K-1, K-2, and K-3 non-immigrant visa holders (fiances or spouses and children of US citizens) annually and approximately 100,000 H-4 spouses and children of certain H-1B nonimmigrant visa holders who have completed immigrant petitions (temporary skilled workers).
This will eliminate the need for these individuals to apply and wait for approval before they can start working in the US.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
Occupations that qualify for the H-1B visa are typically in fields such as technology, finance, engineering, architecture, or more.
“It will expedite work permits so that those who are here and qualify can get to work more quickly. It will create more opportunities for families to come together – through short-term visits as well as increased permanent lawful pathways. It ensures the most vulnerable, unaccompanied young children, have paid legal representation,” Biden said.
Also Read: H1B visa renewal pilot program guide: Eligibility, how to apply and more
What is Bipartisan National Security Agreement?
According to the White House, the bill ensures that those who are here and qualify can get to work faster.
“It provides work authorisation to asylum seekers once they receive a positive protection screening determination. This will allow asylum seekers to begin to support themselves and their families in the United States much earlier than the current 180-day statutorily required waiting period, which only begins after an individual submits an asylum application,” it said.
“This will also reduce the resource strain on our cities and states who have been supporting asylum seekers during this existing waiting period,” the White House said.
For the first time in over 30 years, it raises the cap on the number of immigrant visas available annually by adding an additional 250,000 immigrant visas over five years (50,000/year).
Out of 250,000 visas, 160,000 of these will be family-based, and the other 90,000 will be employment-based, it said.
These additional immigrant visas expand lawful pathways to the United States, prioritising family reunification, reducing the time families have to spend apart, and getting US businesses access to additional workers.
The White House said the bill provides relief to over 250,000 individuals who came to the United States as children on their parents’ work visas. Notably, a significantly large number of them are from India.
“These individuals have resided lawfully in the United States since they were children and have established lives here in the US but have since “aged out” of continuing to receive lawful status through their parents and have no other means of lawfully remaining in the United States with their families,” the White House said.
“Noncitizens who lived lawfully in the United States as a dependent child of an employment-based nonimmigrant for at least 8 years before turning 21 will be eligible to remain temporarily in the United States with work authorisation. In support of family unity, the bill makes clear that certain noncitizens can travel to the United States on a temporary visitor (B) visa to visit their family members, it said.
The bill among other things, provides resources to help US allies and partners in the region build the capabilities necessary to address threats from an increasingly assertive China and to meet emerging challenges.
“It is critically important that we maintain our focus on the Indo-Pacific and preserve peace and stability,” it said.
The bill provides USD48.43 billion for continued US support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The White House has urged the US Congress to quickly pass the bill.
