Indian techies future tense as US intensifies H-1B visas scrutiny, Australia abolishes 457 programme

Indian IT professionals better labelled as software engineers in the corporate arena who aspire of getting a dream job with the top-notch multinational IT companies in the US and Australia could possibly be looking at gloomy days ahead.

The new world political order thanks to the recent change in the govt regime in the United States promises to initiate diplomatic steps which could possibly make the H-1 B Visa application process quite stringent.

There has been an ever-growing call amid the American top political administrators close the Trump administration to encourage homegrown American talent to occupy most of the IT jobs at all levels in the industry. 

Donald Trump government announced measures to step up scrutiny of H1B visa holders in the US

The $115-billion software services sector in the country will possibly have to deal with fresh restrictions after the Donald Trump government announced measures to step up scrutiny of H1B visa holders in the US. There are plans to prohibit visas to entry-level engineers too.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency (USCIS) on Monday said it would scrutinise petitions on three parameters — validation of employer’s basic business information, higher H1B employee ratio and employers petitioning for H1B workers who work offsite at another company or organisation’s location. There will be more scrutiny of fresh engineers who apply for these visas.

Read | Blow to IT professionals as US prez Donald Trump all set to sign executive order on reform of H-1B visa system

Australia abolishes 457 visa programme 

Australia on Tuesday abolished a visa programme used by over 95,000 temporary foreign workers, a majority of them Indians, to tackle the growing unemployment in the country. The programme known as 457 visa allows business to employ foreign workers for a period up to four years in skilled jobs where there is a shortage of Australian workers.

“We are an immigration nation, but the fact remains: Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs, so we are abolishing the 457 visa, the visa that brings temporary foreign workers into our country,” said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Also Read: No more jobs for Indians in Australia: 457 Visa programme abolished

TCS unfazed by possible changes to the H1-B visa regime

Unfazed by the possible changes to the H1-B visa regime, CEO of India's IT major TCS Rajesh Gopinathan has said the current discourse on the issue in the US is driven by emotions rather than economy and the best way to tackle it is through greater engagement.

Gopinathan favoured a policy of engagement with various stake holders on the issue of H-1B visas in the US. He noted that the discourse is currently driven by emotions rather than economy.   

Also Read: TCS seeks 'level playing field' amid US visa overhaul: CEO Gopinathan