What is H-1B visa programme and who are its beneficiaries?

US President Donald Trump imposed new fees on H-1B visas on Friday as part of his wide-ranging crackdown on immigration.

- JOHANN M CHERIAN KANCHANA CHAKRAVARTY

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, in April. The H-1B visa lured a generation of Indian professionals to take part in the American dream, but a $100,000 fee has forced a rethink of the route.

(NYT)

Trump's executive order, which took effect at 12:01 am EDT on Sunday (11:01 am in Thailand), hikes the fee for H-1B visa applicants to $100,000 (3.18 million baht). It is a onetime fee applied only to new applicants and not holders of existing visas or those seeking renewals.

Here are some facts about the visa:

Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, the H-1B scheme enables US employers to temporarily hire highly skilled foreign professionals in specialised occupations, primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) fields.

It requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specialty, or its equivalent, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A prospective employer has to submit a petition to USCIS on behalf of the beneficiary.

This programme caps new visas at 65,000 every fiscal year, excluding 20,000 petitions from those who have earned a master’s or higher degree in the US, or those employed at an American institution of higher education or some nonprofit organisations.