India’s information technology (IT) industry and hundreds of thousands of H-1B visa holders in the US — a significant majority of whom are Indian nationals — heaved a huge sigh of relief: The proclamation did not eliminate the 65,000 H-1B visas for fiscal year 2021. However, H-1B workers, who number more than half a million, are not out of the woods yet. But once in power, Trump largely avoided talking about the H-1B programme. But now, with more than 33 million jobs vanishing in less than three months, the voices of H-1B critics are resonating more than ever. In the meantime, H-1B workers and the Indian IT industry should pray for the best but expect and be prepared for the worst.

Source: Hindustan Times June 06, 2020 14:03 UTC