2 lakh Indians stuck in United States after Trump announces H1-B visa curbs

Two lakh Indians in America are stuck in limbo after President Donald Trump announced the suspension of US visa for 60 days last week.

Indians could lose their legal status by June after their H1-B visa expires.

The US is the worst affected country by the coronavirus pandemic in the world right now. Its deplorable condition has becomea nightmare for the H1-B visa holders who can be forced to leave the country.

In the last five weeks, more than 26 million Americans have lost their jobs. This accounts formore than 15 percent of the country'sworkforce.

Unemployment filings have also shot up by a whopping three thousand per cent. This includes a vast majority of H1B visa holders.

While jobless Americans are entitled to unemployment benefits, H1-Bholders do not have a cushion.

It is noteworthy thatan H1-B visacomes with strict conditions.It is tied to a specific location and an employee. Alayoff means the personis no longer eligible to hold the visa.

Indians who have lost their jobs have 60 days to find a new one.

Unfortunately,this is the worst time to find a new job because the world is fighting a pandemic.

Although Indians filed a petition in the White House regarding the extensionof the grace period from 60 to 180 days. But, the petition was closed due to lack of support.

US President Donald Trumphas ordered a temporary freeze on immigration. He has always taken a firm stand against immigration.

Ever since he tookoffice, the number of non-immigrant USvisas issued has declined every year.

Two lakh Indians contend for one lakhforty thousand green cards which US issues in a year.The US NGOs have also been demanding to suspendnew H1-Bvisas for a year so that unemployed Americans can find the means to sustain theirlivelihood.

Any future curbs would effectively end the American dream for several Indian citizens who are the biggest beneficiaries if the H1-B visa.