Increased H-1B Visa Scrutiny Under Trump's Administration

If you're an H-1B visa applicant or aspirant, brace yourself for longer wait times, higher denial rates, and unexpected hurdles. Immigration experts warn that during US President Donald Trump's second term, applicants should anticipate heightened scrutiny, extended processing periods, and additional paperwork requirements.

What Should Indians Be Prepared For? A Pew Research Centre study highlighted a 15% rejection rate in 2018 under Trump's first administration, a figure that dropped to 3% during Biden's tenure. Indian nationals, as the primary beneficiaries of the H1-B programme, faced significant impacts from these rejections.

Alternative Visa Options Amidst H-1B Challenges

With the H-1B visa process becoming increasingly daunting, applicants are exploring alternatives like the L-1 visa for intracompany transfers and the EB-5 investment visa. Interest in the O-1 visa, for individuals with exceptional abilities, has also seen a notable increase.

Immigration specialists note a 50% rise in EB-5 applications since January, alongside growing inquiries about L-1 and O-1 visas. These trends reflect not only the challenges of the H-1B lottery but also a strategic pivot to avoid its complexities.