Indian-American lawmakers advocate for domestic H-1B visa renewals

A group of Indian-American US lawmakers, including representatives Ro Khanna (D-California), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Virginia), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois), have urged the US Department of State to reinstate and expand the domestic H-1B visa renewal program. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they emphasised the benefits of allowing H-1B visa holders to renew their visas within the United States, highlighting reduced disruptions for workers and increased efficiency for employers.

The domestic visa renewal program, which permits certain non-immigrant visa holders to renew their visas without leaving the US, was previously piloted from January 29 to April 1, 2024, processing approximately 20,000 H-1B visa applications. The lawmakers argue that reinstating this program would alleviate backlogs, reduce financial burdens on workers, and provide greater certainty for US companies relying on skilled foreign talent.

However, this initiative has sparked criticism from some supporters of the "America First" ideology, including people like Laura Loomer and Steve Bannon. They contend that the H-1B program undermines American workers and should be curtailed. Online reactions have included calls to end the H-1B program and critiques of lawmakers supporting the renewal initiative.

The debate underscores ongoing discussions in US politics regarding immigration policies and their impact on the domestic labour market.

(With inputs from TOI)