The second lottery for H-1B visa would provide another chance to hundreds of Indian IT professionals who could not make it in the first random selection.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows American companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

In June 2020, Donald Trump instituted Proclamation 10052, ceasing the processing of non-immigrant H-1B, L-1, H-2B, and J-1 visas, based on the alleged potential risk to the labour market.

If the rule is imposed, workers on the H-1B would receive at least the 35th percentile of the prevailing wage for their job type and location, compared to the 45th percentile initially

The new legislation proposes to overhaul the H-1B visa program by making necessary changes in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said it has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap.

Spouses of Indian professionals on H-1B visas, mostly women, are the biggest beneficiary of the Obama-era rule that gave employment authorisation cards.

The twin developments on the final day of 2020 encapsulated how Trump has made US immigration policy more restrictive without support from Congress.

Facebook sponsored the visa holders for 'green cards' authorizing them to work permanently.

It also removes an offset that reduced the number of visas for individuals from China.