The Trump administration is proposing a hike in the H-1B visa application fee to increase funding for the expansion of an apprentice programme, which trains American youths in technology related activities, Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta told US lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testifying before a\n Congressional committee on annual budget of the Department of Labour \nfor the fiscal year 2020 beginning October 1, 2019, Acosta, however, did\n not give details of the proposed increase in H-1B filing fee and as to \nwhich categories of applicants it would be enforced on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn FY \n2020, the Department\u2019s budget includes USD 160 million to continue our \nexpansion of apprenticeship programmes, along with a proposal to \nincrease H-1B fee revenues to fund additional apprenticeship \nactivities,\u201d Acosta said in his testimony on May 2 before the Senate \nAppropriations Committee Subcommittee on Labour, Health and Human \nServices, Education and Related Agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acosta told lawmakers \nthat last year the Department of Labour had launched the first-ever \nsector-based apprenticeship grant funding opportunity to invest USD 150 \nmillion to expand apprenticeships in those in-demand industry sectors \nmost often filled by individuals on H-1B visas, such as information \ntechnology, health care and advanced manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But given \npast experience, the Indian IT companies, which account for a large \nnumber of H-1B applications, are likely to face the additional financial\n burden because of this proposed increase in H-1B filing fees.The H-1B \nvisa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign \nworkers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical \nexpertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of \nthousands of employees each year from countries like India and China .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs\n a result of this private sector match requirement, educators have a \ngreater incentive to join with industry to ensure curricula address the \nneeds of our ever-changing workplace, investing in the latest \ntechnologies and techniques, and providing more in-demand opportunities \nfor Americans,\u201d Acosta said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On July 18 last year, the Department\n of Labour had announced USD 150 million in H-1B funds to support \nsector-based approaches to expanding apprenticeships on a national scale\n in key industry sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus is on industries reliant on \nH-1B visas. It aims at expanding apprenticeships and increase the level \nof apprenticeship activity among a range of new employers within these \nindustries, particularly small- and medium-sized businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acosta\n also told lawmakers that the Labour Department has also made changes to\n the H-1B application forms to ensure greater transparency and better \nprotect American workers from employers seeking to misuse the \nprogramme.In fiscal 2018, the Department concluded 649 non-immigrant \nvisa programme cases and found violations in 553 of those cases.
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