> The H-1B program is essentially the only way for most skilled immigrants to enter the US. Suspending the H-1B program is effectively a near-blanket ban on skilled immigration.
The H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa, and there has been a blanket ban on ALL (not just skilled) immigration since April 22, which the same order that added a handful of work-related nonimmigrant visas to the ban that we are discussing also extended at least to the end of the year.
So, no, it's not a “virtual” ban on “skilled” immigration, it's part of an actual ban on all immigration plus certain non-immigrant entry.
Again, it’s dual intent and is functionally the only way for skilled immigrants to get green cards to become citizens outside of family unification (which the admin also wants to abolish).
“Dual intent” refers to a nonimmigrant visa which does not prohibit applicants from intending to apply for an immigrant visa without leaving the country when they apply for the nobimmigrant visa (suspicion of this “immigration intent” is grounds for denying other nonimmigrant visas.)
> and is functionally the only way for skilled immigrants to get green cards
It's not a way for anyone to get a green card, which you can only do with an immigrant visa. It is, however, a way to get into the US while trying to qualify for an immigrant visa. (Or while already qualified for one for which there is a long delay.)
I wasn't aware we were playing a game of contradiction, but you were not contradicting me before I started not contradicting you, so I'm not sure why you are pointing that out.
For those who are baffled by this (I think this is right...)
An immigrant visa is one that permits (in principle, perhaps subject to removal of conditions) lawful permanent residency in the U.S.
A green card is a document that proves immigration status as a lawful permanent resident.
You don’t need actually to have received an immigrant visa to be a lawful permanent resident because you can also achieve that through adjustment of status.
A non-immigrant visa is one that does not permit permanent residency.
A non-immigrant visa that permits dual-intent is one that can be held concurrently with an application for an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to a category of permanent resident.
You brought up the fact that the H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa when I mentioned that it was how many skilled immigrants entered the country (while waiting to become eligible for a green card). If you were not trying to contradict me, then you were raising an entirely irrelevant point and not contributing to the conversation.
The H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa, and there has been a blanket ban on ALL (not just skilled) immigration since April 22, which the same order that added a handful of work-related nonimmigrant visas to the ban that we are discussing also extended at least to the end of the year.
So, no, it's not a “virtual” ban on “skilled” immigration, it's part of an actual ban on all immigration plus certain non-immigrant entry.