Major changes in the USA Immigration 2022
Table of Contents
1. US Visa Changes and Updates 2021
0.1. New H1-B Visa Rules;
0.2. US H2-B Visa Cap Hit;
0.3 Expansion of work permit eligibility for L-2, H-4 and E dependents;
2. 2021 Policy changes in 2022;
0.1 Biden reverses Trump's plan on immigration law;
0.2 Travel restrictions;
0.3 International Entrepreneurship Rules re-introduced;
0.4 Changes to USCIS.
Throughout 2021, there have been many significant changes in immigration to the United States, particularly as a result of the continued growth of COVID-19. Nevertheless, most visas are still being applied for, and immigration to the United States is on the rise.
During his first year in office, President Biden has made significant changes to the U.S. immigration system, ranging from changes within the various immigration agencies to major developments.
1. US Visa Changes and Updates 2021
0.1 New H1-B Visa Rules:
In early 2021, USCIS announced a final rule that would modify existing lottery methods to change the H-1B visa cap selection process and prioritize wages to protect the economic interests of U.S. workers. This will ensure that the most skilled foreign workers can benefit from the temporary employment program.
0.2 US H2-B Visa Cap Hit:
USCIS has announced that employers will no longer be able to hire foreign workers under the H-2B visa department in the first half of FY 2022. This is because the mid-year H-2B visa cap expired on September 30, 2021. This means that any H-2B visa requests for a job start date before April 1, 2022 will be rejected unless they are granted a waiver.
0.3 Expansion of work permit eligibility for L-2, H-4 and E dependents:
USCIS has been instructed to increase work permit eligibility for L-2, H-4 and E dependents as the year draws to a close.
2. 2021 Policy changes in 2022:
0.1 Biden reverses Trump's plan on immigration law:
After taking office, President Biden lifted the fridge on the green card that former President Trump announced in 2020. Biden said in his statement that "closing the door to legal immigrants does not advance the interests of the United States."
0.2 Travel restrictions:
The United States was at the forefront of the continued development of COVID-19 throughout the year 2021. There were several updates on countries that were temporarily banned from entering, the need for vaccines, delays in processing, and so on.
0.3 International Entrepreneurship Rules re-introduced:
In May 2021, the Biden administration announced plans to promote their program and revive international entrepreneurship rules. DHS later announced that it would reinstate the IER program, as it "goes hand in hand with the spirit of welcoming entrepreneurs in our country."
The move comes as a response from venture capitalist firms, who have called on the administration to support the program and enable thousands of potential start-up founders to move or stay in the United States to grow their businesses.
0.4 Changes to USCIS:
As part of a broader effort to be more inclusive and transparent, USCIS has implemented a number of significant improvements. In March, the agency changed the word "alien" to "non-citizen" or "unregistered non-citizen" in its policy to identify immigrants. It added that it would introduce a new method of calculating processing time for immigration applications to see if it could make them "more accurate, timely and understandable".
The Senate also made history by appointing Ur Jadoo as the next director of USCIS, the first woman and the first person of Arab and Mexican descent to run the agency.
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