In a move that could significantly affect Indian professionals, US lawmakers have introduced the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at tightening rules around foreign worker visas.
The legislation, introduced by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, proposes:
Prioritizing H-1B visas for STEM graduates
Stricter wage and recruitment requirements for employers
Increased penalties for wage violations
Tighter restrictions on L-1 visas, including limits on outplacement and stronger oversight
The bill is designed to curb “visa fraud and abuse” while ensuring “protections for American workers.” Senator Durbin argued that US firms are “laying off thousands of American workers while filing thousands of visa petitions at depressed wages,” calli