Bill in U.S. Congress seeks to end H-1B visa as route to green card

📌 Summary:

• Republican Congressman Chip Roy introduced the "American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act" in the U.S. Congress (June 4, 2026), seeking a major overhaul of the H-1B visa programme
• The draft would end the H-1B visa as a pathway to permanent residency (green card) in the U.S.
• It also seeks to scrap the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which lets foreign students work in the U.S. for a limited period after graduation
• Such curbs would significantly affect Indian skilled professionals and students, the largest beneficiaries of H-1B and OPT

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR — Indian diaspora and skilled migration; impact of U.S. immigration policy on India; India-U.S. ties and remittances.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• H-1B is a U.S. non-immigrant visa for specialty (skilled) occupations
• OPT allows F-1 student visa holders temporary work authorisation after graduation
• Indians are the largest recipients of H-1B visas

🔑 Key Term: H-1B visa — a U.S. work visa allowing employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialised knowledge.