US President Donald Trump on Monday&nbsp;signed an executive order that suspends&nbsp;work visas for all H-1B and H-4 till the end of the current calendar year.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-likely-to-sign-executive-order-restricting-h-1b-visas-by-monday-307434">US President Trump likely to sign executive order restricting H-1B visas by Monday</a>

However, those already in the US with these visas will not be affected by the executive order. Foreign students eligible for Optional Practical Training (OTP) after they graduate from an American institute will also remain unaffected.&nbsp;

L1 visas (used for intracompany transfers) and J1 visas (used by researchers and doctors) will be suspended except those working on coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

In April, the US president had temporarily halted the issuance of US green cards to some foreigners.

Trump, who has maintained a hardline stance on immigration and used that to appeal to his voters, has been accused of using the pandemic to promote his political agenda.

According to the officials, the executive order signed by Donald Trump will free up 525,000 jobs for American workers.&nbsp;

Donald Trump has ordered to replace the current lottery system with a merit-based system that will favour those who are offered the highest wages as a part of much broader reform for the H-1B visa holders.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order that suspends work visas for all H-1B and H-4 till the end of the current calendar year. Also read: US President Trump likely to sign executive order restricting H-1B visas by Monday However, those already in the US with these visas will not be affected by the executive order.

US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order that suspends work visas for all H-1B and H-4 till the end of the current calendar year. Also read: US President Trump likely to sign executive order restricting H-1B visas by Monday However, those already in the US with these visas will not be affected by the executive order. Foreign students eligible for Optional Practical Training (OTP) after they graduate from an American institute will also remain unaffected. L1 visas (used for intracompany transfers) and J1 visas (used by researchers and doctors) will be suspended except those working on coronavirus pandemic. In April, the US president had temporarily halted the issuance of US green cards to some foreigners. Trump, who has maintained a hardline stance on immigration and used that to appeal to his voters, has been accused of using the pandemic to promote his political agenda. According to the officials, the executive order signed by Donald Trump will free up 525,000 jobs for American workers. Donald Trump has ordered to replace the current lottery system with a merit-based system that will favour those who are offered the highest wages as a part of much broader reform for the H-1B visa holders.

President Donald Trump signs executive order to suspend H-1B visas

Indians account for 93 percent of the total number of visas issued under H4 category by the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The H4 category permits the spouse of an H-1B visa holder to work in the US.

Replying to a question raised by a Rajya Sabha member about US government move to prevent the spouses of H1B visa holder to get the visa, Jaishankar said that the Donald Trump administration has indicated that it "may review it sometime".

"Ability of spouses of H1B visa holders working in the US to work was introduced in 2015. This category of visa is covered in H4 visa. Indians today account for 93 per cent of a total number of visas issued in this category," said Jaishankar.

"There is a court order to the effect to continue the program. Trump (US President) Administration has indicated that it may review it sometime," he added.

H-4 employment authorisation document (EAD) is an Obama-era rule of 2015 that allowed job opportunities to qualified spouses of H-1B visa holders. The Trump administration has publicly said and also in its court filing that it wants to revoke work permits to H-4 visa holders. Early this month, a US court refused to strike down the H-4 EAD rule.

Meanwhile, when nominated member Swapan Dasgupta asked the External Affairs Minister about the government's position on the work visas, Jaishankar said that New Delhi is constantly in touch with Washington, to persuade them that tapping into "Indian pool talent" will be beneficial. He also noted that numbers of H1B visas have been going up in the last few years even though the rejection rate is coming down.

"We are constantly in touch with the American system, the American government and members of Congress to persuade them that tapping into the Indian talent pool is for our mutual benefits and in that, we have been successful in large measure... Actually, if you look at the number the numbers of H1B visas has been going up in the last few years even though the rejection rate is coming down," he said.

He also pointed out that the number of visas that Indian companies have applied for has come down and denial rate has also gone up.

"Number of visas that Indian companies have applied has come down and denial rate has also come up but they have gone up for all companies, not just Indians companies," Jaishankar said&nbsp;

Indians account for 93 percent of the total number of visas issued under H4 category by the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Indians account for 93 percent of the total number of visas issued under H4 category by the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The H4 category permits the spouse of an H-1B visa holder to work in the US. Replying to a question raised by a Rajya Sabha member about US government move to prevent the spouses of H1B visa holder to get the visa, Jaishankar said that the Donald Trump administration has indicated that it "may review it sometime". "Ability of spouses of H1B visa holders working in the US to work was introduced in 2015. This category of visa is covered in H4 visa. Indians today account for 93 per cent of a total number of visas issued in this category," said Jaishankar. "There is a court order to the effect to continue the program. Trump (US President) Administration has indicated that it may review it sometime," he added. H-4 employment authorisation document (EAD) is an Obama-era rule of 2015 that allowed job opportunities to qualified spouses of H-1B visa holders. The Trump administration has publicly said and also in its court filing that it wants to revoke work permits to H-4 visa holders. Early this month, a US court refused to strike down the H-4 EAD rule. Meanwhile, when nominated member Swapan Dasgupta asked the External Affairs Minister about the government's position on the work visas, Jaishankar said that New Delhi is constantly in touch with Washington, to persuade them that tapping into "Indian pool talent" will be beneficial. He also noted that numbers of H1B visas have been going up in the last few years even though the rejection rate is coming down. "We are constantly in touch with the American system, the American government and members of Congress to persuade them that tapping into the Indian talent pool is for our mutual benefits and in that, we have been successful in large measure... Actually, if you look at the number the numbers of H1B visas has been going up in the last few years even though the rejection rate is coming down," he said. He also pointed out that the number of visas that Indian companies have applied for has come down and denial rate has also gone up. "Number of visas that Indian companies have applied has come down and denial rate has also come up but they have gone up for all companies, not just Indians companies," Jaishankar said

Indians account for 90% of H4 visas issued by US: S Jaishankar

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President Donald Trump signs executive order to suspend H-1B visas

Indians account for 90% of H4 visas issued by US: S Jaishankar