Texas Governor Asks US Agencies, Universities to Freeze New H-1B Visa Petitions
New Delhi: Texas Governor Greg Abbott on January 27 asked state agencies and universities to freeze new H-1B visa petitions, amidst reports that the US has pushed fresh interview slots for Indians to 2027.
These visas have been under the radar since US President Donald Trump, under his stringent immigration agenda, imposed a new $100,000 one-time fee for new applicants of the visa.
"As noted in President Trump’s proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, the federal H-1B visa program was created to supplement the United States’ workforce – not to replace it," Abbott said in a letter to state agencies.
H-1B visas are a mainstay of Indian workers specialising in scientific vocations as they allow for highly-skilled professionals to work in the US.
"In light of recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program, and amid the federal government’s ongoing review of that program to ensure American jobs are going to American workers, I am directing all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions," Abbott added in the letter.
Abbott wrote that the pause will last until May 31, 2027. The only exceptions will be allowed for cases where the Texas Workforce Commission will give written permission.
Texas agencies will need to submit a report on the number H-1B petitions by March 27, 2026.
Two days ago, Business Standard had reported how visa offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata have stopped showing regular interview availability.
The Immigration attorney Emily Neumann said in a post on X that she had not seen any new visa interview slots open for India in the past 50 days. She warned H-1B holders currently in the US against travelling to India for stamping.
Immigration attorney Emily Neumann wrote on X that the authorities are "trying to deny visas whenever they can."
"It is a completely different world from what we saw during the Biden administration. This administration does not want to give you visa,” Neumann said.
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