After President Donald Trump on Friday took moves to reshape the H-1B visa program , a White House official is clarifying some of the details.
Here’s what to know about the work visas, and how Trump’s proclamation could affect thousands of workers:
What is an H-1B visa?
Big picture view:
The H-1b visa is a non-immigrant work visa that lets U.S. employers hire foreign workers with particular skills for a specific time. These visas are created for people who are in industries that require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Typically, the jobs are in fields like technology, finance, engineering, and architecture, according to the American Immigration Council .
By the numbers:
Historically, H-1B visas have been doled out through lottery. This year, Amazon was by far the top reci