• Allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for specialty occupations requiring:
  • High expertise.
  • A bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor to address skill shortages in the U.S. workforce.
• Employment under H-1B is temporary but renewable.

• Purpose: Provides access to specialized talent unavailable domestically.
• Annual Cap: 65,000 new H-1B visas + 20,000 for workers with U.S. master’s degrees or higher.
• Exemptions: Workers in higher education institutions, non-profits, or government research organizations are not subject to the cap.

• Indians account for the largest group of H-1B beneficiaries (72.3% in FY 2023, ~2.79 lakh approvals).
• Fields:
  • 65% employed in computer-related occupations.
  • Others include architecture/engineering (9.5%) and education (6%).
• Median Compensation: $118,000 annually in 2023.

Trends and Policy Changes:

1. Admission Trends:
• Pre-COVID rise (2018: 5.70 lakh; 2019: 6.01 lakh).
• COVID-19 decline (2020: 3.68 lakh; 2021: 1.48 lakh).
• Post-COVID recovery (2022: 4.10 lakh; 2023: 7.55 lakh).
2. Denial Rates:
• Increased during Trump era (2016: 6%; 2018: 24%).
• Declined to 4% by 2021 and stabilized at 2% in 2022.
• High denials during Trump’s term were often overturned upon appeal.

PYQ:

[2020] Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries’. Comment with examples.