Trump to seek changes in visa program to encourage hiring Americans

US President Donald Trump today will sign an executive order directing federal agencies to recommend changes to a temporary visa program used to bring foreign workers to the United States to fill high-skilled jobs. 

Two senior Trump administration officials who briefed reporters at the White House said Trump will also use the buy American and hire American order to seek changes in government procurement practices to increase the purchase of American products in federal contracts. 

Trump is to sign the order when he visits the world headquarters of Snap-On Inc, a tool manufacturer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.The order is an attempt by Trump to carry out his America First campaign pledges to reform US immigration policies and encourage



purchases of American products.

The order will call on those four federal departments to propose reforms to ensure H-1B visas are awarded to the most skilled or highest paid applicant.

H-1B visas are intended for foreign nationals in specialty occupations that generally require higher education, which according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) includes, but is not limited to, scientists, engineers or computer programmers. 

The government uses a lottery to award 65,000 visas every year and randomly distributes another 20,000 to graduate student workers. According US Citizenship and Immigration Services the number of applications for H-1B visas fell to 199,000 this year from 236,000 in 2016.