H-1B visa system recently went through a complete overhaul with the application fee increasing to $100k.This has sent shockwaves to the new applicants, visa holders and countries.
A recent social media post has sparked a wave of discussion about the future of skilled worker visas and explains that O-1 visa is now becoming an alternative.
What is an O-1 visa?
O-1 visa is for people who are exceptionally skilled or talented in fields like science, arts, education, business, sports, or entertainment. It allows them to work in the US temporarily in their area of expertise.
The visa is typically granted for up to three years, with the possibility of yearly extensions. Although it does not directly lead to permanent residency, it does allow holders to apply for a green card while they’re in the US, if they meet the requirements.
Additionally, certain assistants and family members of O-1 visa holders can join them in the US under related visa categories.
What does the post explain?
A recent social media post has sparked discussions about the future of skilled worker visas in the U.S., particularly the O-1 visa. H-1B, long used by foreign professionals to work in the US, has been facing problems, mainly because the lottery system is becoming more competitive and the number of applicants keeps growing.
O-1 visa has become more popular, but some people are concerned that it might face the same issues as the H-1B. They worry that as more and more people apply for O-1 visas, it could eventually become as difficult to get as the H-1B, with the possibility of a lottery system.
The user wrote, “When everyone is extraordinary, no one is,” suggesting that if too many people are labeled “extraordinary,” the visa could lose its exclusivity. The post also criticised the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), calling it “incompetent” in handling both legal and illegal immigration.
‘O-1 visa is not a cookie’
Netizens posted their comments on the post. A user noted, “Lol you’re talking as if USCIS hands O1 visas like cookies.” Another claimed,”For legals we provide a greencard for you and your family assuming youre actually that guy. And we should know who that guy is in like 5 min. Werner von braun or someone who is vital to the country.”
“The 100k rule will just create a market for illegal crossings from Indians in Canada and Mexico,” opined a user. “Just end the damn visas, clear up the current GC backlog and issue GCs to all H1b’s and just be done with this damn program,” stated a user.
“L1 is one of the most abused visas. Amazon is one of the biggest employers to use it to get relatively cheap labor from across the world. It is better than H1B for employers because it has no cap, and employees on L1 cannot change employers,” wrote a user.
(This story is based on a post shared by a social media user. The details, opinions, and statements quoted herein belong solely to the original poster and do not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. We have not independently verified the claims.)