Indian Workers Seeking US Visa Extensions

Sectors ranging from travel and tourism to retail and hospitality are taking a hit as social distancing norms and lockdown in different countries of the world are in full swing. The anxiety has increased among Indian workers in the US about losing work status owing to soon expiring visas or delayed extensions.

Immigrant workers like those working in healthcare services are in fear of unemployment. They now hope for a provision to pass so that they can continue their stay and their jobs without the fear of re-locating during the crisis.

Most of them include doctors, researchers, and nurses, who are at the frontlines of fighting the coronavirus and other professionals involved in healthcare services.

Yes, we have been advocating to include the reasonable provision to automatically extend the status of tax-paying law-abiding skilled immigrants because of USCIS offices being closed. This is called ‘’Do no harm’’ provision, meaning no new immigrant gets the advantage/benefit from the current situation, but at the same time, the current pandemic will not hurt anyone either.” Aman Kapoor from immigration voice said.

However, a visa-related provision inserted in phase 3 coronavirus bill has been successfully been taken to the house by Immigration Voice, an immigration-related non-profit organization, and are now waiting for the provision that extends the validity of all visa petitions & employment authorization documents inserted into the Senate package too.