Is it true there is a new program that allows people to apply for a B-1/B-2 visa stamp in order to come to the U.S. and find a job?

Answer

No, this is not accurate. There is no new program that allows people to apply for a B-1/B-2 visa in order to apply for a job in the U.S. What you likely are referring to is an update from the USCIS regarding options for nonimmigrant workers who have been laid off. The USCIS indicated that laid off workers could change to B-1 or B-2 status, as searching for a job is a permissible activity on B-1/B-2.

Consular posts, which are responsible for adjudicating visa “stamp” applications, fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of State (DOS), not the USCIS. So, they are not bound by this update from the USCIS. Still, a consular officer certainly has the discretion to issue a B-1/B-2 visa to a foreign national seeking to apply for a job in the U.S. As with virtually all B-1/B-2 applications, however, they will be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. (01.Jun.2023)

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