US ANNOUNCES NEW H-1B VISA RULES! BIG IMPACT TO INDIANS AND INDIAN COMPANIES - REPORT 

Just a month before the elections, US President Donald Trump's administration unveiled strict rules for immigration visas which are used widely by technology firms. The rules claim that the new system would be better for American workers.

According to NDTV reports, the Department of Homeland Security announced the new regulations for H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, which allow up to 85,000 immigrants annually. The sudden step is aimed at tightening immigration under the Trump administration, which sought to block the H-1B program last week by a federal judge.

The new rule impact three things:

- It will narrow the definition of specialty occupation.

- Additional documentation required by companies to prove that they need the H-1B workers to prevent them from displacing American workers.

- DHS’ power to enforce compliance would be enhanced through worksite inspection and monitor compliance before, during and after H-1B petitions are approved.

The rule is also likely to change minimum wage levels of H-1B workers. This would impact Indians and tech firms that employ a large portion of Indians as it is likely to make it harder for them to be eligible for an H-1B visa.

"We have entered an era in which economic security is an integral part of homeland security," acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement.

"Put simply, economic security is homeland security. In response, we must do everything we can within the bounds of the law to make sure the American worker is put first," the statement added.

The plan will be implemented after a 60-day comment period, and would also seek to require firms to make "real" offers to US residents before seeking to bring in foreigners and add new compliance mechanisms, NDTV further added.

Looking into visa programs, it has been widely used by Silicon Valley firms that helps to bring in engineers and other skilled workers, many coming from India. 

This big move came a week after US District Judge Jeffrey White in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction to block the government from ending the H-1B visa program.