Overview
- Vice President JD Vance, speaking Tuesday at the University of Georgia, said the H‑1B program has “a lot of fraud” and urged new citizens to think of themselves as Americans.
- In remarks Wednesday, he credited the administration with “massive” cuts in fraudulent visas and fewer H‑1B approvals, arguing the curbs keep new graduates from facing low‑wage competition.
- Recent policy shifts include a $100,000 fee on certain new H‑1B petitions in late 2025, February 2026 rules that favor higher‑paid roles, and an April 1 move to wage‑based selection using an updated Form I‑129.
- Tech layoffs, including Oracle job cuts on March 31 and reductions at Microsoft and Amazon-related teams, have left many H‑1B workers racing to find new jobs before their short grace period ends.
- A student’s question on years‑long green‑card waits tied to per‑country caps framed the exchange, showing how backlogs and stricter vetting now shape daily life for many Indian professionals.