The H-1B visa allows American companies to hire skilled foreign workers. President Trump, who had previously criticised the H-1B, has now spoken out in favour of this type of visa. His retraction has provoked division within the Republican party.
The H-1B visa
The H-1B visa for the USA allows American companies to hire skilled foreign workers. Although the new President Trump previously criticised this visa, he has now spoken out in its favour. His retraction is provoking a split within the Republican party.
The H-1B visa is adressed to inmigrants with certain occupations requiring specific knowledge or skills. This type of visa was created to allow US companies to hire foreign, skilled employees who would not otherwise be able to stay in the United States. These inmigrants may be doctors, photo models or people working on projects on the US Department of Defence. Applicants for this type of visa must have completed at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent. The H-1B visa is mostly used by the IT companies located in the Silicon Valley, as they need to attract foreign workers.
The H-1B visa is crucial for the United States.
According to many sources, the H-1B visa is crucial for the American economy. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and advisor to the US president, Trump, is one of the defensors . According to the entrepreneur, the United States cannot do without foreign skilled workers. Musk, who comes from South Africa, speaks from his own experience, as he arrived to the US on an H-1B visa himself. According to Musk, the H-1B visa has been at the source of the founding of Tesla and SpaceX.
H-1B visa disagreement
US president, Donald Trump, has long kept a low profile regarding the H-1B visa. Whereas on the past he was critical of this type of visa and said it was unfair to US workers, he states now that he fully supports the H-1B visa programme. He indicated that many H-1B visa holders also live on his properties.
Not everyone in the United States is happy with the H-1B visa. According to its detractors, this visa would be an obstacle to the curbing of immigration to the United States. They fear that immigrants on H-1B visas take jobs that could also be filled by US citizens. Many Donald Trump supporters want the H-1B visa to be abolished. Maintaining or expanding the H-1B visa programme would run counter to the tough immigration policies Trump announced during his election campaign. In addition, opponents argue that tech giants are becoming too powerful thanks to this visa programme.
Differences between the visa and the ESTA
Travellers wishing to work for a company based in the US always need a visa, which may be an H-category visa or another type of work visa for the United States. Generally, business travellers do not need to apply for a US visa. They can use the ESTA. The ESTA is a digital travel authorisation that can be easily applied for online. Travellers who meet the ESTA requirements do not need to make an appointment at the US consulate and can submit their ESTA application online.