Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

H-1B visa restrictions may impact job creation

U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO calls ban an attempt to restrict legal immigration

THE U.S. HAS suspended the entry of workers on the H-1B and some other non-immigrant visa programs, ostensibly to protect American jobs according to President Trump. However, proponents of the visa program, such as the U.S. India Business Council, say the ban will inhibit job creation and investments in the U.S.

The ban extends from June 24 to Dec. 31, according to Trump’s proclamation. In justifying the ban, Trump said more than 20 million Americans have been out of work due to the pandemic.


“The May unemployment rate for young Americans, who compete with certain J nonimmigrant visa applicants, has been particularly high — 29.9 percent for 16 to 19-year-olds, and 23.2 percent for the 20-24-year-old group,” the proclamation said. “The entry of additional workers through the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L nonimmigrant visa programs, therefore, presents a significant threat to employment opportunities for Americans affected by the extraordinary economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.”

The H-1B and H-2B visa programs are designed to allow U.S.-based companies to hire foreign workers for long term or temporary jobs. Proposed legislation now aims to restrict the former program but streamline the latter.

The U.S. immigration agency said there were an estimated 583,420 H-1B authorized work permit holders in the country as of September 2019. Every year, the U.S. issues 85,000 new H-1B visas in addition to renewing those that have lapsed. The visas are typically issued for a period of three years. In recent years, Indian nationals have received about 70 percent of all the H1-B visas issued.

Visitors to the U.S. can carry out business travel using other visas, said Sheela Murthy, founder of the Murthy Law Firm specializing in immigration cases and based out of Maryland.

“If some of those people have other visas, let’s say tourist visas, the way the proclamation is written, for them there may be a potential legal loophole to enter the U.S. on that visa and attend meetings or travel on vacation as per the visa requirements, and within the legal time frame necessary to avoid fraud allegations, file for a change of status within the country legally, to switch from their existing visa to H-1B,” she told The Hindu newspaper. “Most of the current H-1B petitions would not anyway be effective until Oct. 1, which is the start of the fiscal year 2020-21 for the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service. If some of these applicants happen to be abroad, they are not going to get the visas to travel to the U.S. on H-1B status.”

“I think that the US has benefited greatly over the years by successive waves of immigration and most particularly the skilled workers that have been coming in under these H-1B visas and L-1 one visas that have enabled necessary talent to come in and augment American workers in support of technology fields,” said Nisha Desai Biswal, president of the U.S. India Business Council.  “So, in curtailing the program, I think it is actually going to impede the upskilling of American workers to be able to take on many of these jobs.”

“This proclamation is a severe and sweeping attempt to restrict legal immigration,” said Thomas Donahue, CEO, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Putting up a ‘not welcome’ sign for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other workers won’t help our country, it will hold us back.”

More for you

Trump reviewing 55 million us visas
Getty Images

Trump reviewing 55 million visas

Summary:

  • The Trump administration says it is reviewing more than 55 million visa holders.
  • Reviews cover a wide range of visas for law enforcement and overstay violations.
  • The administration also suspended worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION is reviewing more than 55 million people who hold valid U.S. visas for potential violations. It is expanding a policy of “continuous vetting” that could result in revocation and deportation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree Funds Rio Las Vegas Renovations | $176M CPACE Loan
Photo credit: Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Peachtree originates retroactive CPACE loan for Rio Vegas

Summary:

  • Peachtree Group originated a $176.5 million retroactive CPACE loan for a Las Vegas property.
  • The deal closed in under 60 days and ranks among the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.
  • The company promotes retroactive CPACE funding for commercial real estate development.

PEACHTREE GROUP ORIGINATED a $176.5 million retroactive Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy loan for Dreamscape Cos.’s Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The deal, completed in under 60 days, is its largest credit transaction and one of the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.

Keep ReadingShow less
Spark Acquires Home2 Suites Wayne, New Jersey
Photo Credit: Hunter Hotels

Spark acquires Wayne, N.J., Home2 Suites

Summary:

  • Spark acquired the 120-key Home2 Suites by Hilton Wayne in Wayne, New Jersey.
  • Hunter Hotel Advisors facilitated the transaction with DC Hospitality Group affiliates.
  • The 2020-built hotel is near William Paterson University and less than 20 miles from Manhattan.

SPARK GHC RECENTLY acquired the 120-key Home2 Suites by Hilton Wayne in Wayne, New Jersey, from affiliates of DC Hospitality Group. Hunter Hotel Advisors facilitated the deal for an undisclosed amount.

Keep ReadingShow less
Global hotel construction pipeline reaches record 15,871 projects in Q2 2025, with U.S. and Dallas leading growth
Photo Credit: iStock

Report: Global pipeline hits 15,871 projects

Summary:

  • Global pipeline hit a record 15,871 projects with 2.4 million rooms in Q2.
  • The U.S. leads with 6,280 projects; Dallas tops cities with 199.
  • Nearly 2,900 hotels are expected to open worldwide by the end of 2025.

THE GLOBAL HOTEL pipeline reached 15,871 projects, up 3 percent year-over-year, and 2,436,225 rooms, up 2 percent, according to Lodging Econometrics. Most were upper midscale and upscale, LE reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
HAMA Launches 20th Student Case Competition in USA
Photo Credit: iStock

HAMA launches 20th student case competition

Summary:

  • HAMA is accepting submissions for its 20th annual student case competition.
  • The cases reflect a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.
  • Teams must submit a financial analysis, solution and executive summary.

THE HOSPITALITY ASSET Managers Association is accepting submissions for the 20th Annual HAMA Student Case Competition, in which more than 60 students analyze a management company change scenario and provide recommendations. HAMA, HotStats and Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting are providing the case, based on a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.

Keep ReadingShow less