World Immigration News

What we know about US H-1B visas Trump supporters are clashing over

Release Date: 2024-12-31
Media: BBC
Summary: A debate has erupted among Donald Trump supporters over the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to bring in skilled foreign workers. Critics argue that it undermines American workers, while supporters claim it helps attract top global talent. Trump, who had previously criticized the program, now supports it, and tech billionaire Elon Musk also defends it, citing it as a way to attract the best engineering talent.

The H-1B visa program, introduced in 1990, caps the number of new visas at 85,000 annually, though exceptions for certain institutions mean more can be issued. In the 2023 fiscal year, about 386,000 applications were approved, with 119,000 new visas and 267,000 extensions. While the number of approved applicants has been consistent under both Trump and Biden, the program has faced criticism, particularly regarding high rejection rates under Trump’s administration.

Most H-1B visa holders work in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with 65% employed in computer-related fields. Top employers include Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple. The median salary for H-1B visa holders is $118,000, which is higher than the U.S. median for similar jobs, though experts argue that H-1B workers do not undercut wages.

The majority of H-1B visa holders are from India (72%), followed by China (12%). About 70% of these workers are men, with an average age of 33.
Tags: United States of America

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