Increased protection for H-1B non-immigrant visa holders

Citizenship and immigration services of United States will soon give more protection to H-1B visa workers. It will introduce a paperless technology to streamline visas and to improve the efficiency of the entire visa processing system.

The new set of proposals is part of President Obama's executive action on immigration to make the immigration and visa services more efficient.

However, the proposed changes do not mention anything about reducing visa backlogs, on a large number of legal residents waiting for permanent resident status. The issuing of green cards to the immigrants through the EB2 and EB3 route also remains the biggest concern.

The organization called South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) welcoming the updates says, it is pleased to see the announcement about expediting work authorization, creating economic opportunity for the immigrant victims facing domestic violence.

SAALT also welcomed the updates and clarifications about victims of U visa (victims of crime) & T Visa (human trafficking) programs to seek justice while remaining in the United States.

Job flexibility and documentation requirements regarding H-1B visa would include improvements by providing increased guidance for those who are seeking new employment and job flexibility, and also simplify the process.

The proposed regulation bill for H-1B visa holders include:

The H-1B workers can change jobs, receive promotions to the same or similar job that was the original basis for the permanent residency while they are waiting for green card.

To provide an increasing guidance for H-1B workers in job flexibility, including change of jobs or employers.

Extending grace period to non-immigrant workers whose authorized stay expires, because their jobs are terminated, to allow them to access other employment without losing non immigrant status.

Clarification about when H-1B non-immigrants may start working without licensure.