Recently, the Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States have joined forces to send a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the permanent expansion of a pilot program from 2024. This program allows certain H-1B visa holders to renew their visas in the U.S. without having to leave the country.
The pilot program, initiated last year, permits 20,000 eligible H-1B visa holders to complete their visa renewals within the U.S., provided that their biometric data has been collected and can be reused. With the program nearing expiration, lawmakers are urging for its permanent adoption and expansion to encompass more visa categories in the future.
In a letter dated May 7 to Rubio, the bipartisan lawmakers emphasized the importance of expanding the State Department’s 2024 pilot program.
Georgia Federal Congressman Rich McCormick posted on the social media platform X on May 13, “I have joined the bipartisan effort to expand H-1B visas and enable other low-risk visa holders to renew in the U.S. It’s time to modernize our visa system by reducing costs, improving efficiency, and maintaining U.S. competitiveness.”
Former President Trump has previously stated his support for employment-based visas, especially the H-1B program.
However, there are differing opinions among right-wing individuals on the issue of H-1B visas. Conservative factions allied with MAGA (Make America Great Again) oppose the program due to concerns about job displacement and potential exploitation by businesses, while moderate Republicans view it as a tool to fill critical labor shortages, especially in the tech industry.
According to Newsweek, Benjamin Johnson, the executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association who supports the program, commented, “It provides the State Department with an opportunity to alleviate visa backlogs, enhance efficiency, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen America’s ability to retain talent.”
But a response from a user @godemperorcame on McCormick’s post represents the views of many opponents: “Absolutely not. It’s time to end the H-1B program. The U.S. does not lack tech workers. H-1B visas should only be used when citizens are incapable of fulfilling the position, including citizens with potential but lack experience. The use of H-1B visas is now too excessive.”
Tech, finance, and academia sectors still remain the primary beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program. In 2024, top companies including Amazon, Google, and Meta received approvals for thousands of H-1B visas. Reportedly, under Elon Musk’s leadership, Tesla utilized the program to bring in hundreds of skilled foreign workers.
The production team of “News Break”