A new bipartisan bill in the US Senate seeks to change the rules for H-1B and L-1 visas. Senators Chuck Grassley (Republican) and Dick Durbin (Democrat) introduced the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act. The Bill targets “visa fraud and abuse” and aims to protect American workers.
The Bill proposes stricter wage and recruitment rules for employers. It prioritizes H-1B visas for workers with STEM degrees. It also adds heavy penalties for wage violations.
Why the Bill Matters?
The H-1B visa allows foreign professionals to work in speciality jobs in the US. It usually covers three years and can be extended to six. More than 70% of H-1B visas go to Indians, especially in the IT sector.
The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer employees to their US branches. Indian IT giants like Infosys and TCS are among the largest sponsors of H-1B and L-1 visas. Any change in these rules will directly affect Indian professionals.
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Strong Reactions from Lawmakers
Senator Durbin said, “Major companies are laying off thousands of American workers while filing thousands of visa petitions for foreign workers at depressed wages and poor working conditions. Congress must step in to protect American workers and fix our broken immigration system. Senator Grassley and I will work to make this bipartisan bill the law of the land.”
The push comes weeks after former President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. The White House claimed the move would stop “systemic” misuse of the programme. Immigration agencies also plan to tweak the visa lottery to benefit higher-paid workers.
Expert View on the Bill
Nicole Gunara, Principal Immigration Attorney at Manifest Law, said the new law would make hiring foreign talent more expensive. “These changes would increase compliance requirements and likely make H-1B hiring more expensive, particularly for companies that have relied on lower wage levels or contract-based staffing.
For L-1 visas, which are used for transferring employees within multinational companies, the bill closes existing gaps by limiting outplacement, raising oversight standards, and adding wage and displacement safeguards,” she said.
Gunara added that this could force companies to hire foreign workers directly instead of using contractors. However, she also noted that only 5% of over 300 immigration bills introduced between 2015 and 2024 became law.
What It Means for Indian Professionals?
If passed, the Bill will make it harder for Indians to get work visas in the US. Higher application costs, more compliance checks, and stricter oversight will discourage many companies.
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Impact on US-India Tech Ties
This move could also affect US-India tech relations. Many American firms rely on Indian IT talent for projects in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Stricter visa rules could push Indian professionals to look towards Canada, the UK, or Australia, which are offering easier migration pathways for skilled workers.
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