The suspension of H-1B and other non-immigrants visas by President Donald Trump is a big blow to the US industry and will undoubtedly impact

Washington: The suspension of H-1B and other non-immigrants visas by President Donald Trump is a big blow to the US industry and will undoubtedly impact the already fragile economic recovery process in the country.

President Trump on Monday issued the proclamation to temporarily suspend a number of popular non-immigrant visas, including the H-1B, H-4, H-2B visa, J and L visas. It will come into effect from June 24. The proclamation also extends till the end of the year.

H-1B visaThe US-India Strategic Partnership Forum President and CEO, Mukesh Aghi said, "Coming on the heels of the Covid crisis, the suspension of the non-immigrant visa program is a big blow to the US industry and will undoubtedly impact the already fragile economic recovery process here in the US. It also has the potential to do permanent damage to the US's reputation of attracting the best and the brightest.”

"We therefore urge the US administration to strengthen the program by increasing the number of allotted visas and by tightening the existing loopholes in the program,” Aghi said, a day after Trump issued a proclamation to suspend issuing of H-1B visas, which is popular among Indian IT professionals, along with other foreign work visas for the rest of the year.

Donald TrumpTrump said the step was essential to help millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the current economic crisis. The proclamation is expected to impact a large number of Indian IT professionals and several American and Indian companies who were issued H-1B visas by the US government for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1.

The proclamation unveiled by Trump temporarily pauses the issuance of certain new non-immigrant visas until December 31, 2020, which could be extended as necessary.