Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlines dramatic change: skilled immigrants welcomed—temporarily—to upskill US workforce
The Scott Bessent-led US Treasury this week clarified a major shift in the H-1B visa approach under Donald Trump’s administration. The new directive states that foreign skilled workers will be allowed to enter the U.S. with the primary aim of training American workers, after which they will return to their home countries.
The announcement comes amid renewed debate over the effectiveness and fairness of the H-1B visa system, particularly in industries such as technology, manufacturing and defence. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reaffirmed visa programmes will continue but promised tighter enforcement.
What this means
- Companies may still hire skilled foreign workers—but primarily for temporary assignments focused on transferring skills to U.S. workers.
- The policy signals a shift in narrative: from filling gaps in the U.S. labour pool to boosting U.S. workforce capacity.
- The “train-and-return” model may complicate career paths for H-1B holders seeking long-term stay or green cards.
- India, which supplies a large number of H-1B visa holders, could see broader consequences if U.S. firms adjust hiring strategies.
Why it’s significant
The H-1B programme has long been central in global talent movement and U.S. tech staffing. This policy update could reshape employer behaviours, immigration flows and geopolitics of skilled labour.
