H-1B Visa: The US government shutdown that began on October 1 has completely halted the H-1B visa process, severely impacting Indian citizens.

H-1B Visa: The US government shutdown, which began on October 1st, has completely halted the H-1B visa process. This has had the greatest impact on Indian professionals who are H-1B visa beneficiaries. According to statistics, Indian professionals constitute over 71% of H-1B visa holders.

The US Department of Labor issues the necessary LCA (Labor Condition Application) before approving any H-1B visa application. However, the department's operations have been halted due to the shutdown. 

A new visa cannot be issued.

According to immigration lawyers, no new H-1B visas will be granted if employees did not obtain LCA approval before the shutdown. Furthermore, visa status changes will also be impossible. Silicon Valley immigration lawyer Sophie Alcorn said this will most likely impact new applicants. However, ongoing cases will not be affected because the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operates on a fee-paying basis and is not dependent on congressional budgets.

Increased concern for employees and their families

The shutdown has impacted the lives of thousands of tech workers and their families. The legal status of many employees depends directly on government approval. Startup companies are facing uncertainty regarding their employees, including founders who are themselves on visas. Recruitment and visa renewals for highly skilled workers have come to a complete halt. Those with O1 visas, which are granted to those with special abilities in science, arts, or business, are facing similar uncertainties as the shutdown has slowed and disrupted immigration processes.

H1B visa fees hiked 

There is no set date for the government shutdown. President Trump recently announced an increase in visa fees for new H-1B visa applicants to up to $100,000. He also plans to change the lottery system to prioritize higher-paid workers. The shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. local time on October 1st and has no set end date. The previous prolonged shutdown, during Trump's tenure, lasted 35 days, the longest in four decades. Unless Congress agrees on funding, Indian professionals working in the US will have to wait indefinitely.