Stories

Kim Hart Apr 3
SaveSave story

Computer programmers may no longer be eligible for H-1B visas

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services quietly over the weekend released new guidance that computer programmers are no longer presumed to be eligible for H-1B visas.

What it means: This aligns with the administration's focus on reserving the temporary visas for very high-skilled (and higher-paid) professionals while encouraging low- and mid-level jobs to go to American workers instead. The new guidance affects applications for the lottery for 2018 fiscal year that opened Monday.

What comes next: Companies applying for H-1B visas for computer programming positions will have to submit additional evidence showing that the jobs are complex or specialized and require professional degrees. Entry-level wages attached to these visa applications will also get more scrutiny. The change appears to target outsourcing companies, who typically employ lower-paid, lower-level computer workers.

Lawsuits possible: Releasing this policy change at the start of the application filing window is going to rankle companies who used 17-year-old policy guidance to apply for this year's visas. Some companies may challenge the guidance on the grounds that USCIS didn't provide sufficient notice of the change.

UPDATE (6:15 pm Eastern): A USCIS spokeswoman said the guidance is "not a policy change" and is just clarifying existing policy for a Nebraska service center.

  • But an immigration attorney following this process said the memo would increase scrutiny for H1-B applicants for the computer programmer job category. The attorney added that most Silicon Valley companies don't hire entry level programmers, and so the real impact of the change would be felt by offshore companies. "It's not an unsubstantial development," he said.
  • There is some confusion over the impact of the new guidance. Bloomberg says it would "bring more scrutiny to [applications] for computer programmers doing the simplest jobs." Endgadget reports a misinterpretation of the guidance "caused many to panic" but programmers can still qualify for H-1B visas.
  • Separately, USCIS announced new measures today to rein in abuse of the H-1B program.

Related: Sign up for the Axios tech newsletter, Login.

Shannon Vavra 5 mins ago
SaveSave story

Trump suggests paper voting system to combat meddling

Donald Trump.
Donald Trump. Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images

President Trump offered his own solution to prevent Russia meddling in the 2018 midterm elections saying, "it's called paper." He suggested a "paper backup system" for voting when asked about how to combat Russia's meddling at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven of Sweden.

The reality: Trump isn't wrong that many states have a paper trail of votes — but not every state has a paper trail of votes right now. That means they are unable to verify with a 100% guarantee that the result of an election is exactly how voters cast their ballots. 5 states lack a paper trail in their voting systems and use solely electronic voting machines.

Haley Britzky 24 mins ago
SaveSave story

Sen. Alexander's school safety bill focuses on mental health

Sen. Lamar Alexander.
Sen. Lamar Alexander. Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images

Sen. Lamar Alexander spoke on the Senate floor on Tuesday about the "School Safety and Mental Health Services Improvement Act" that he is introducing on Wednesday with several other lawmakers.

Why it matters: Congress has been under pressure to offer solutions to gun violence in schools in the wake of the massacre at Stoneman Dougas High School that took 17 lives. The bill Sen. Alexander is proposing would make clear that schools can use federal funds to hire more counselors and enhance security.