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Foreign workers looking to gain quick access into the U.S. through the skilled-workers visa program known as H-1B may have a difficult time starting April 3.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said earlier this week it will temporarily suspend the fast-track processing of these visas, restricting applicants from paying an added $1,225 for a 15-day response. Though many companies are wary of the new administration's immigration policies and its ripple effect on the labor market and economy, the suspension has nothing to do with the revised travel ban President Donald Trump signed into effect Monday, the Wall Street Journal reports. Instead, USCIS officials said the suspension will allow it to improve the overall processing system.
The overall impact of this suspension for H-1B visa applicants will be minimal. Suspending fast-track processing, officially called premium processing, means applicants must wait the standard three to six months before learning the status of their applications — the timeline varies depending on the job being sought. The program operates on a lottery-based system, so faster processing and written checks do not guarantee approval.
As the country awaits further insight into Trump’s immigration policies, commercial property developers are faced with similar uncertainties as the politically contentious E-B5 visa program nears its April deadline. EB-5 rules could survive in their current form, given the freeze Trump issued on all rules proposed under the Obama administration, or could be killed.
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