New H-1B visa rules could dampen Indian techies’ American dream

NEW DELHI : Already hit hard by high rejection rates, H-1B visa applicants from India might have a tougher time this year as the Donald Trump administration has changed rules for application and processing of the non-immigrant visa. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will close the initial registration for H-1B visa on March 20 while applications will start from April 1. The new rules will not only increase the time taken to process a visa but will also increase the cost.

New York-based immigration law firm Davies & Associates said the new rules will delay visa processing as the process that used to run from early week of March to the second week of April will now extend from early March to at least the end of July.