US Visa Changes: Indians looking for jobs in America should also know about the changes in visa rules. America has also announced new changes regarding the most popular H-1B visa. Most Indian citizens go to America for jobs through this visa.

US H-1B Visa Changes: People going to America to study or work should be aware of the new visa rules. From January 1, 2025, many changes will be made to reduce the long wait for visa appointments at the US Embassy in India. At the same time, the US ‘Department of Homeland Security’ (DHS) is also going to make a big change in the H-1B visa program. These changes will make the visa process easier and faster for Indian tech professionals.

Talking about the new rules for visa appointments, now the appointment can be rescheduled once without paying any additional fee. But if you reschedule for the second time or miss the appointment, you will need a new appointment. For this, you will again have to pay a non-refundable fee of $185 (about Rs 15,730). The US Embassy has said that people should arrive on time on the day of the appointment so that the visa process continues smoothly and no one faces any problems.

Changes in H-1B visa rules

The US H-1B visa was being misused, to prevent which the government has made some changes so that only skilled professionals can get work permits. From January 17, 2025, applicants applying for an H-1B visa will have to prove that their academic qualification is directly related to the job they are applying for. Due to the new rules, it will be difficult for those who do not have any specialization to get an H-1B visa.

In simple words, for IT sector jobs, you will get an H-1B visa only if you have a degree in Computer Science or Engineering. Also, now the process of H-1B visa extension will become easier. Immigration officers will be able to process the extension request based on earlier approvals. In this way, the paperwork will be reduced and decisions will come quickly. At the same time, now it will also be strictly checked whether the companies are following the terms of the H-1B program or not.

Interview Waiver Program Expanded

The Interview Waiver Program has been expanded. In this way, people who have previously applied for a US visa will no longer need to give an interview. This will reduce the waiting time. Old records will be used to process new applications. The new rules will benefit the most those who travel to the US often or have a good visa history. The visas of these people will be renewed easily.

These changes in the H-1B visa program show that the US government is committed to meeting the needs of key industries, including the tech industry. India is a major source of skilled workers for Silicon Valley and other US tech hubs. Therefore, these changes are considered an important step to reduce the backlog and meet the needs of high-demand sectors like IT.