Washington, 7 January: Trump administration announced that it was not considering any proposal that could force deportation of thousands of H-1B Visa Holders by denying them extensions beyond the maximum permissible period of six years. Most of the H-1B Visa Holders were Indians, waiting for their permanent residency.

“…USCIS is not considering a regulatory change that would force H-1B Visa holders to leave the United States by changing our interpretation of Section 104(c) of AC-21, which provides for H-1B extensions beyond 6 years limit. Even if it were, such a change would not likely result in these H-1B visa holders having to leave the United States because of employers could request extensions in one-year increments under Section 106(a)-(b) of AC-21 instead,” said Jonathan Withington, Chief of Media Relations at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency that overseas H-1Bs, in a press release. He further confirmed that the agency is considering a number of policies and regulatory changes to carry out the President’s Buy American, Hire American Order but with a thorough review of employment-based Visa programmes.

According to media reports, Immigration Voice, an advocacy voice for a better deal of H-1B workers said it was anticipated. “We are ECSTATIC to share this Breaking News,” it informed on their Facebook page. It continued to acknowledge the decision quoting as a Great Development.

The Trump Administrators announcement came as a major relief to Indian H-1B holders eagerly waiting for their green cards who were at risk of deportation if the proposal to end granting an extension to Visas under this programme was accepted. It could result in self-deportation of an estimated 500,000-750,000 Indian Americans.

A large number of Indians are employed with top IT companies in America such as Microsoft, Facebook, Google and many other sectors. Green Card is sponsored mostly by US Companies. Whereas, Indian IT Companies such as Infosys and Wipro, do not sponsor Green Card to its H-1B employees. Once the stipulated time period is over, they send them back to India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2018 07:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).