Trump extends ban on H1B, other work visas; tech firms say damaging to the US

Early on Tuesday India time, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending the ban on immigrant and non-immigrant worker visas until the end of this year.

Work visas, including the coveted H1B and H2B, as well as certain other categories of H4, J, and L visas too shall remain suspended until December 31, 2020, an official release said.

The ban on the entry of non-immigrant workers with H1B visas is likely to have the biggest impact globally, and especially on Indian information technology (IT) companies and workers.

The order also replaced the current system of awarding H1B visas by lottery with a system that privileges applicants who are paid more than others.