WASHINGTON—The White House won’t renew a ban on H-1B and other work-based visas imposed last year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic that is set to expire Wednesday, according to three people familiar with the decision.
The ban blocked foreign workers on a range of temporary work-based visas from coming into the country. The Trump administration had imposed it in June, saying it was necessary to safeguard jobs for American workers as the economy sputtered and unemployment soared because of lockdowns designed to contain the coronavirus. On Dec. 31, then-President Donald Trump renewed the ban through the end of March.
The White House declined to comment on the ban’s expiration. Officials said President Biden doesn’t plan to speak about it publicly, instead focusing on his infrastructure package he plans to introduce Wednesday.
The decision to let the ban expire will benefit a range of companies, from technology to landscaping, that say there aren’t American workers who can fill their specific needs, especially as they plan for an improving economic outlook. Tech companies left jobs unfilled or hired preferred employees to work remotely from abroad. Seasonal employers, including landscapers, resort owners and summer camps, use other visa types covered by the ban to employ foreign workers for their busy seasons, and families use them to hire au pairs.
Even with the ban lifted, immigration experts say it will be tough for many of the blocked workers to come to the U.S., since pandemic travel restrictions remain in effect for most of Europe, Brazil, China, Iran and South Africa, and consulates in those countries for the most part won’t issue visas. Consulates in countries without blanket travel bans are still operating at reduced capacity, and in those cases, the State Department has instructed them to prioritize green cards over work visas.
The Link LonkMarch 31, 2021 at 10:30PM
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Biden Administration to Allow Work-Visa Ban to Expire - The Wall Street Journal
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