US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday expanding a measure restricting visas to the US until December 31, 2020.
The order primarily affects H-1B visas, for high-skilled workers; H-2B visas, for seasonal employees; L-1 visas, for corporate executives; and J-1 visas, for scholars and exchange programs.
The new measures came into effect on Wednesday, 24 June but it is worth noting that there are broad exemptions for agricultural, health care, and food industry workers. In addition, the status of immigrants already in the US will not be affected.
The White House says the measures are needed to preserve jobs amid the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and estimates 525,000 American jobs will be saved or created as a result.
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