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In fiscal year 2024, U.S. immigration authorities approved over 97% of H-1B visa applications, the second-highest rate in a decade, according to the National Foundation for American Policy.
However, this success may decline under President-elect Donald Trump if his administration reinstates stricter immigration policies, affecting businesses that depend on skilled foreign workers, especially from India.
The H-1B program, created in 1990, allows U.S. companies to hire foreign specialists in fields like technology and healthcare. With 85,000 visas issued annually, Indian workers typically claim over 70%.
Supporters argue the program brings top global talent, while critics claim it undercuts U.S. workers. Controversial cases, such as Disney replacing U.S. staff with foreign workers, have fueled these debates.
However there is little doubt that the US needs many qualified foreign workers such as doctors and nurses to fill up shortages. Many of these immigrant health care workers may work in government facilities such as prisons, where local professionals prefer not to work.
During Trump’s first term, policies tightened visa requirements, leading to higher denial rates. Critics like Ira Mehlman from FAIR say the program has become a loophole for foreign nationals to gain citizenship, straying from its temporary worker origins.
Trump’s 2016 campaign called H-1B a “cheap labor program” and imposed rules to reduce visa approvals, many of which courts later blocked. Denial rates surged during his term but eased in later years.
Immigration lawyers expect Trump’s return could mean renewed scrutiny, delayed approvals, and more restrictions. However, Trump has also floated ideas like offering green cards to foreign graduates, and key allies like Elon Musk support the program. The new administration’s plans for H-1B visas remain unclear.
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Although the exact percentage is not known, H-1B visa approvals for applicants from Caribbean nations constitute a very small fraction of the total issued.
The B-2 Tourist Visa is the most common type of U.S. visa held by Caribbean citizens. This non-immigrant visa permits individuals to visit the United States for leisure, tourism, or medical treatment, typically for stays up to six months. This visa may also be necessary to be allowed to pass through US airports on the way to Canada or Europe.
Additionally, citizens of certain Caribbean nations, such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the British Virgin Islands, may be eligible for visa-free travel to the U.S. under specific conditions. For example, Bahamian nationals can enter the U.S. without a visa if they apply for admission at a U.S. preclearance facility in the Bahamas and meet certain requirements.
It’s important to note that visa requirements and eligibility can vary based on individual circumstances and the specific Caribbean country of citizenship.
Source: VOA, US Department of State.
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