Now, 20,000 more H-1Bs for Indians

Economic Times
The recent US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) decision to issue 20,000 new H-1B visas till September 2005 is not just good news for Indian and other foreign students passing out from American universities with masters or higher degrees. In fact, contrary to its earlier decision, USCIS issued a press release last week stating that it will process additional petitions for H-1B professionals for FY 2005 and that the available numbers will be applied to all qualified H-1B non-immigrant workers , and not just to those individuals holding a master’s or higher degree from a US institution of higher learning. Late last year, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 established the new H-1B cap exemption, providing 20,000 visa numbers for foreign nationals with qualifying advanced degrees from US universities. The new development is contrary to previous USCIS guidance, which had indicated that the new number would only apply to advanced degree graduates and only prospectively beginning March 8, 2005. more...