U.S. Suspends Work Visas until End of 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday to suspend the issuance of visas allowing foreign nationals to work in the U.S. until the end of 2020. The decree applies to most categories of visa applicants: both highly qualified specialists, hired mainly by American companies from the high-tech industry, and seasonal workers not employed in agriculture. According to representatives of the White House, this decision was made in order to provide jobs for Americans who lost their jobs due to the suspended economic activity in the United States as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The ban will not affect medical workers and workers employed in the food industry. The current presidential decree extends the visa ban imposed in April. He was in force until September. The White House estimates that this measure will prevent more than 500 thousand foreigners from entering the country. The Migration Policy Institute, a non-governmental organization, believes that the ban will affect 325 thousand foreigners. Those who have already received visas will be able to enter the United States. The decision of the White House was sharply criticized by representatives of several major American companies and lawmakers arguing that the United States is experiencing a serious shortage of highly skilled workers, especially engineers and programmers. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has expressed “disappointment” with President Trump’s decision. A spokesperson for Twitter called the decision “short-sighted, undermining America’s economic asset”. Republican senators Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn urged the president to reconsider the decision. The Wall Street Journal writes that the president’s decision could be challenged in court. According to opinion polls, the vast majority of US residents believe that immigrants mostly get jobs that Americans are not interested in.