Controversial H-1B rule change scrapped

A controversial change to the rule that would have hindered international students seeking work in the United States after graduating has officially been scrapped.

The US department of Homeland Security has withdrawn the rule which would have replaced the current lottery system with a prioritization of applicants offered higher salaries.

The visa is “highly coveted” for international graduates in the states, allowing “employers or companies in the US to hire international graduates with a specific specialty” to work after they finish their course in the country.

“It is great news – [the modification] would have made it very difficult for recently graduated international students to gain H-1B status,” said Miriam Feldblum, executive director the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

“The President’s Alliance has been advocating for the withdrawal of the proposed rule since it was first introduced under the previous administration,” Feldblum continued.

The modification was first introduced under former president Donald Trump, with then USCIS deputy director for policy Joseph Edlow saying the program had been “exploited”.