On December 31, 2020, President Trump extended the freeze on H-1B Visas for Computer Occupations through March 31, 2021. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. It affects workers in a wide variety of fields, including tech workers who want to enter the country on H-1B visas, seasonal workers in the tourism industry and certain au pairs on J-1 visas.
The freeze was originally enacted in April 2020, using 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act which suspended the entry of of many immigrants. Additional limitations were added in June 2020, limiting H-1B, L-1, and other temporary visa holders. Litigation to stop the June 2020 proclamation stopped the additional limitations for many employers, however, U.S. consulates are dealing the difficulties due to the ruling’s impact.
Both proclamations were extended through March 31, 2021. The unemployment rate for Computer Occupations, stood at 3.0% in January 2020 but fell to 2.3% in November 2020.
