The U.S. immigration system can be very complex, involving strict requirements, rigid quotas and difficult-to-understand procedures. The system is designed to address the needs of the country and serve the demand for both permanent and visiting visas. This year many of the applications for one type of visa will need to be rejected due to an unusually high level of demand.
Applications for visas under the H-1B classification for foreign workers in science, engineering and computer programming have hit an all-time high. This unique classification of a work visa is just one of many types of employment visas but it has become the most popular type of application. The number of applicants for the fiscal year 2016 has reached 233,000. These applicants are vying for just 85,000 spots, so potential workers have only a 36 percent chance of gaining admission to work in the United States.
Businesses want more flexibility
Many tech companies are lobbying for the federal government to raise the limits, arguing that they are missing out on top talent due to the quotas. Congress sets the limits and has refused to raise the cap, despite the aggressive and persistent lobbying. President Barack Obama has pushed for reform in immigration and raised certain caps on employee visas, but these changes mostly benefit entrepreneurs and foreign students. It appears unlikely that Congress will soon be making any substantial changes to the H-IB limits as the applications continue to pile up.
Obtaining a visa in the U.S. can be a time-consuming and difficult process. If you could use the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney, reach out to the team at the Law Office of K. Dean Kantaras in Florida.