Updated! Trump Suspends H-1B, L-1, and More Visa Until End of 2020

Updated: The executive order is signed Monday, June 22nd, 2020. 

Key Takeaways:

1. This order mainly targets H-1B and L-1 visa workers. 
2. This doesn't affect people who are in the US already
3. au pair visa is not exempt

Did you hear this? As Trump administration continues to struggle with high unemployment rate among American workforce, the administration is expecting to make a bigger move on banning more work visas in the USA.

What is the latest immigration restriction from Trump administration?

This time, a new executive order that will suspend H-1B, L-1 and more temporary work visas is expected to be signed as early as this Saturday, June 20th, 2020. This restriction is expected to last until end of this year, 2020 but it can be extended when it lapses.

Who will be affected?

This executive order targets many temporary foreign workers, including:

• H-1B Visa: for skilled foreign workers
• L-1 Visa: for executives who work for large corporations
• H-2B: for seasonal workers (ex: hotel and construction staff)
• J-1 Visa" for research scholars and professors 
• Other cultural and work-exchange programs

Who will be exempt?

• H-2A agriculture workers
• Health care workers involved in treating COVID-19 patients
• Immigrants who are already in the United States

At this point, whether au pair visa will be exempt or not is unclear. *Update: au pair visa is not exempt. A broader exceptions might apply in the final executive order, including  areas of economics, public health, and national security and more areas.

Click here to read about the previous executive order signed by US President to halt immigration to the US for 60 days.

An official statement from USCIS states:

“Monday’s presidential proclamation temporarily restricts certain categories of visas from being issued to protect jobs for American workers while our economy recovers from the effects of COVID-19. This does not affect those currently working in the U.S. on valid H-1B or similar visas. The proclamation also does not prevent individuals in possession of valid visas prior to the effective date of the proclamation from entering or re-entering the country, if they have been abroad, provided they have not otherwise rendered themselves inadmissible. The U.S. will continue to honor these already valid visas as we help American workers get back on their feet.” – USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow

I can see how banning basic, lower level foreign workers might help the American workforce, however, I have to disagree on the H-1B, researcher, and other skilled visa bans. These visas are already very restricted and applicants have to go through a difficult test and process to make sure they don't compete with Americans in the US. Therefore, I don't really see how excluding these people from the workforce can help the US economy overall. What do you think about the news? 

Note that this is a developing story and the order is not signed as yet. We will wait to hear more about it soon!

Click here to read about my I-485 adjustment of status process>>