The U.S. Republican Party has proposed to cancel the H-1B visa exemption for university professors and higher education staff.
According to a report from the U.S. media outlet Newsweek, Republican Representatives Tom Tiffany and Andrew Clyde recently introduced the "Colleges for America's People Act" (referred to as the CAP Act), which would end the long-standing H-1B visa cap exemptions that U.S. colleges and universities have enjoyed.
If this bill is ultimately passed, all potential foreign employees, including school administrators and professors, would have to compete within the standard 65,000 visa cap.
Currently, the annual cap for the H-1B visa program is 65,000 visas, with certain categories of institutions, including universities, enjoying some exemptions. Additionally, there are 20,000 visas available for applicants who hold a master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution.
The Republican lawmakers' proposal of the "Colleges for America's People Act" aims to eliminate the H-1B visa exemption for university professors and higher education staff, which could have far-reaching implications. The competition for H-1B visas is already very intense, and removing the exemption would place potential foreign employees in a more severe competitive environment, possibly affecting American universities' ability to attract international talent.
U.S. universities rely on international talent to drive academic advancement in the context of globalization. If this bill passes, it may negatively impact the development of U.S. higher education and scientific research, but it might be beneficial for countries that send talent abroad.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838940935258188/
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