How Will Trump’s ‘Merit-Based’ Visa Policy Affect Indians in US?

“Trump is trying to revert many policies – from taxes to health care to women’s rights to illegal immigration”

Trump’s demand to implement changes in the current visa programs may have a great impact on the futures of young Indians studying and working there. 

(Photo courtesy: IANS)

US President Donald Trump is no stranger to sparking panic with his tweets announcing plans to implement new policies. In a tweet following the Manhattan terror attack, Trump called for the abolishment of the green card lottery system.

Also Read: Fact Checking Trump’s Post-Manhattan Attack Blame Game

I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program. I’m going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program. The program “sounds nice”. It’s not nice. It’s not good.

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, in tweet

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While Trump’s anti-immigrant campaign is not new, his appeal to abolish the system which has provided academic and professional opportunities to many immigrants, comes as a startling proposition.

His insistence on implementing new visa policies earlier this year, which are more ‘merit-based’, had already sparked ripples of fear among the working Indian community in the US.

Also Read: 40% Decline in US Visas For Pakistanis; 28% Increase For India

While doing away of the green card lottery system won’t affect the Indians studying and working in the US in particular, there is a high possibility of this affecting other visa programs that they are currently on. 

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For instance, a good percentage of Indians working in the US are on their H-1B visa. In 2016, The Hindu reports, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that they received 2,36,000 H-1B petitions within five days of opening the process, more than three times the number of mandated cap of 65,000 in the general category.

In August, Trump had endorsed a longshot bill that was put forth by two Republican senators, which aimed to streamline merit-based immigration and cut legal immigration in half by 2027.

Migrant Students, Workers Wary

The Guardian had earlier reported that Trump’s executive order would call on government departments to introduce reforms to ensure that H-1B visas are awarded to the “most skilled or highest paid applicants”.

And while the administration has not carried out any major change in the H-1B visa system since, a new kind of insecurity has gripped foreign students and the working population there.

Also Read: Visas Discussed With Trump Without Using Term ‘H1B’: Sushma in RS

“I am afraid of his erratic nature affecting the visa programs that I am on,” Varunavi Newar, Associate Analyst at NERA Economic Consulting, New York told The Quint. “A few months ago, he removed premium processing for all applicants. Due to this, my visa application process was stretched out for a few months and was very stressful. But he re-instated it again now. This is great news, but this erratic behaviour and all this unpredictability causes a high level of general stress,” Newar said.

He removed and re-installed premium processing within a matter of months. What if he decides to remove something else next month which would affect me?

Varunavi Newar, Associate Analyst at NERA Economic Consulting, New York to <b>The Quint</b>

Indian students studying in the US say they are not insecure about the possibility of obtaining a job after graduation. With talks about streamlining the H-1B visa process doing the rounds, students say they’re mulling seeking professional employment elsewhere.

Also Read: Want to Study in US? You May Need to Reapply for Visa Every Year

“If you have the opportunity to work/study abroad, the US isn’t the only option. The rest of the world – from the UK to Asia to European countries to Australia – is an alternative,” Rhea Arora, a student in her final year at Washington College told The Quint.

Immigration rules constantly change, and the best thing any international/Indian student can do is be aware of the new rules and apply for work authorisation with enough time to account for last minute rule changes.

Rhea Arora, student at Washington College

“Personally, I’m going to focus on getting work for my OPT after graduation because I have that provision on my current F1 visa. After that, I’d need an H-1B visa and a company willing to sponsor me. But, that process is a year out from May 2018, so I’m trying to take it one step at a time,” Arora said.

Indians in the US say that the Trump administration could change its stance on any given day. Those who awaiting their visas say they’re worried won’t be processed. And those who have already received their visa are scared that it will be taken away.

Also Read: After SC Backed Travel Ban, US Visas to Six Muslim Nations Reduce

Rahul Dutt, a 2016 graduate from Clark University and who has been working there for the past two years told The Quint:

Trump’s comments increase the fear and anxiety of working here. I thought that once I got my visa I could stop worrying, but this new round of changes creates even more uncertainty.&nbsp;

“On top of that, traveling back to India is riskier than ever. The last thing I want is to be turned away at the airport for no fault of my own,” Dutt said.

Also Read: Trump Administration Orders ‘Increased Scrutiny’ for Visas

Earlier, Trump claimed that the H-1B visa scheme allows international companies in America to hire foreign workers for lower pay than their American counterparts.

Also Read: Don’t Blame Trump, He Isn’t The Reason For Your H-1B Nightmare

“I’m currently on my H-1B visa. I am a journalist here in New York City covering social justice issues. I’m not worried about Trump only because one year into his presidency we can agree that he has passed many executive orders but the final decision rests with the Supreme Court,” Sriyanka Ray, Producer at Brooklyn Independent India (BRIC), told The Quint.

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Trump has his finger in many jars, trying to take away the rights of many people, trying to revert many policies – from taxes to health care to women’s rights to illegal immigration. I think the F1 and H-1B visa will be lower on his list of things to do.&nbsp;

Sriyanka Ray

Also Read: Twitterati Breaks Loose as Trump Tables New H-1B Visa Bill

While Trump’s attempt to change existing visa programs in order to limit the number of legal immigrants hasn’t had a globally defining outcome as of yet, things look tense for the Indians who have crossed many oceans to go build a life there.

Also Read: Fearing Tougher US Visa Rules, Indian IT Firms Rush to Hire Locals