The H-1B conundrum has triggered speculations that other visa categories also will face some heat from the Donald Trump administration — limiting the entry of foreigners in the United States. In a major H-1B overhaul, the administration announced $100k fee, an astronomical hike in the H-1B visa fee. The fee will have to be paid by the companies that apply to hire H-1Bs and won’t affect existing H-1B visa holders. But international students in the US are now losing their sleep as their future of getting hired by companies once they finish their courses will become bleak once they become H-1Bs. International students on F-1 visa will not have to pay any increased fee because of the H-1B fee revision but when they enter the workforce after completing OPT (Optional Practical Training) and move to H-1B through employer sponsorship, their chances of getting hired will significantly reduce. Big tech firms may pay the $100,000 fee to hire foreign employees, but the chance of international students getting jobs in startups and mid-sized firms will become less likely.
What is the process of switching from H-1B to Green Card?
Existing H-1B visa holders have been spared from the recent overhaul but they are now looking for permanent residency to escape any further action from the administration. To get a Green Card, the employer will have to be willing to sponsor the applicant, proving that there are no qualified US workers available for the job. The employer files Form I-140 with USCIS once the Perm (Program Electronic Review Management) or labor certification is approved. Then the applicant has to wait for the backlog to clear up while maintaining the H-1B status.H-1B can be extended beyond 6 years if your green card process is underway. The Green Card process can take years depending on the country from where the applicant is from.
