US companies turn to ‘remote hiring’ over H-1B uncertainties
Updated: Jan 16th, 2025
Amid the brewing tensions regarding the uncertain future of the H-1B visa, companies in the US are taking to remote hiring given the high cost of securing a visa for foreign workers.
According to reports, several US employers are opting for remote workers to avoid the administrative burdens and uncertainties of the H-1B programme, especially with the new Trump administration taking office.
The H-1B programme allows US-based companies to bring skilled workers from abroad into specific industries. Still, it comes with significant fees that vary depending on the type of petition and the employer’s status.
However, before Donald Trump’s inauguration, employers and workers are bracing for potential changes under the new US administration that could impact the already contentious H-1B visa programme.
According to a report, many US employers are opting to hire remote workers as a way to bypass the H-1B process altogether. The report claims that employers are seeking alternative visa paths, largely due to the administrative burdens and uncertainties of the current programme.
The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on Friday (January 17, 2025) modernising and improving requirements for the H-1B nonimmigrant and H-2 nonimmigrant visa programmes.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will also publish a revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker on Friday, reflecting combined changes associated with the two final rules.
“The H-1B final rule modernises the H-1B programme by streamlining the approval process, increasing its flexibility to better allow employers to retain talented workers, and improving the integrity and oversight of the programme,” said USCIS.
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