The United States is introducing significant changes to its H-1B visa programme starting Friday, January 17. The updated regulations, to allow highly skilled workers to stay in the US based on their employment status, form one of the final immigration policy reforms under the outgoing President Joe Biden administration.

The United States allocates H-1B and H-2A visas to employers to hire professional and non-professional workers, respectively, from other countries.

H-1B final rule also extends certain flexibilities for students on an F-1 visa seeking to change their status to H-1B to avoid disruptions.

Created in 1990 and intended for skilled foreign workers, the visa had until recently remained little known outside Silicon Valley, where technology companies use it to employ tens of thousands.

H-1B visas for international workers have been in the national spotlight. How many are there in? Where do they work? Here's what we know.

Major changes to the H-1B visa program will take effect on January 17, aiming to enhance efficiency in hiring foreign talent in the US.

Recent data indicates that U.S. companies are increasingly relying on skilled foreign workers, particularly in the tech sector. ・H-1B visa issuance in the U.S. has been steadily increasing, with a significant rise in 2024 ・The program aims to address talent shortages and drive business growth,