The impact of U.S.’s crackdown on skilled migrant labour, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The U.S. administration under Donald Trump has intensified its crackdown on employment-based immigration, including suspending several firms from the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program.
• A significant increase in the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 was imposed in September 2025, though federal courts later struck it down in June 2026.
• Major Indian IT companies and other tech giants like Microsoft and Adobe were among those suspended from the PERM program, though their share of applications had already declined.
• Indian professionals account for over half of PERM applications and more than 20,000 annually apply for U.S. citizenship via Form I-140 with advanced degrees.
• A July 2024 Congressional Budget Office analysis projected that immigration could add $1.2 trillion in federal revenues from 2024-2034, primarily through income and payroll taxes.

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Detailed Insights:

• The U.S. government justifies its stricter immigration policies as an effort to encourage companies to hire more U.S. workers.
• Data indicates that these crackdowns could negatively impact the U.S.'s access to skilled workers and prove counterproductive in the long run.
• Employment-based migration, particularly through the H-1B program, allows highly skilled foreign workers to take temporary jobs in the U.S.
• Processes like PERM certification and Form I-140 are crucial steps for these workers to achieve permanent residency via a Green Card.
• Applications for employment-based Green Cards have been declining under the Trump administration, with family-sponsored preferences dominating permanent residency grants.
• The suspension of major tech firms from PERM is expected to have limited immediate impact as these companies had already reduced their application filings.
• The eligibility for Form I-140 often requires a U.S. master's degree or higher, or a bachelor's degree with five years of specialized work experience.
• Skilled migrants contribute significantly to the U.S. economy as both students and employees, generating substantial tax revenues.
• Continued restrictions on migrant workers could deter international investments and corporate activities outside the U.S.

Key Concepts Involved:

• H-1B Visa: A non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.
• Permanent Labor Certification (PERM): A process overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect U.S. workers.
• Form I-140: An Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker filed by a U.S. employer with USCIS to classify a foreign worker for employment-based immigration.
• Green Card: A Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) that grants lawful permanent residency in the United States, allowing individuals to live and work permanently.