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Context:

Trump supporters are divided on skilled immigration and H-1B visas, a popular path for Indian migration.

About the H-1B visa program

The H-1B visa program was established in 1990 to allow US employers to hire foreign workers for jobs requiring specialized knowledge and to fill gaps where qualified American workers are unavailable.

The visa is issued for up to six years, with the opportunity to apply for permanent residency. There’s an annual cap of 65,000 new visas, with an additional 20,000 for those holding advanced degrees from US institutions.

Debate surrounding the H-1B program

Supporters believe the program is essential to filling a shortage of engineering talent in the US.

Critics argue that tech companies exploit the H-1B program by hiring foreign workers at lower wages than what Americans would demand, especially for roles that don’t require the top-tier talent the program was designed for.

Data shows that a notable portion of H-1B petition approvals for Indian workers are for salaries below $100,000, fueling concerns that companies are using foreign labour to cut costs.

How do Indians benefit from the H-1B program?

Indians are the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program, with over 70% of the applications approved annually since 2015. This dominance has attracted criticism from some factions of Trump’s supporters, who argue that the influx of Indian workers is dangerous to American jobs, especially in the tech industry.

Elon Musk on the H-1B visa program

He has expressed support for the H-1B visa program, but also believes it is broken and in need of reform. He suggests raising the minimum salary for visa holders and introducing higher costs for employers to hire from overseas, making it more expensive to hire foreign workers than domestic ones.

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Source: 

Indian Express