New Evidence USCIS Policies Increased Denials Of H-1B Visas

USCIS data show the "Buy American and Hire American" executive order signed by Donald Trump on April 18, 2017, set in motion policies that made it more difficult for foreign-born scientists and engineers to gain H-1B visas and other types of employer-sponsored visas. At the same time the Trump administration has launched a trade war premised, in part, on worry that China will pass the U.S. in the technologies of the future, Trump officials are guaranteeing America will not have the talent to produce such technologies by blocking the entry of foreign-born scientists and engineers. New data show that in 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied many more H-1B petitions and issued numerous costly Requests for Evidence to stop highly educated foreign nationals from working in America. "Soon after Donald Trump issued the'Buy American and Hire American' presidential executive order on April 18, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services started to increase both the Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials for H-1B petitions for high-skilled foreign-born professionals," according to a new report from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). Data obtained by NFAP from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show the impact of the administration's efforts, particularly in the 4th quarter of Fiscal Year 2017 (which started July 1, 2017).