Anyone familiar with recent changes to H1 policies? With the current administration's focus on immigration, it's an issue that can affect our industry heavily. I had a fellow engineer stuck in India for months recently waiting for a 'stamp' before he could come back to the US. Not sure if it's normal or if rules are getting tighter
Do you need to get a new stamp every time you change a company?
Yes. H1 is authorization to work for a specific company in a specific location. Any changes require either amendment (no stamping) or H1 transfer to new company (requires stamping on visit to India)
I see. I still haven't gotten my stamp on H1B (starts in Oct). If I want to move to another company after my H1B begins in Oct, should I first need a stamp for my current company and then move to the new company and get another stamp?
It's pretty normal, this has been happening for the last 2 years. Fang engineer friends of mine from MIT and Stanford also got delayed 1-3 months for this. Believe it or not, none of my consulting company friends had this extra vetting.
The immigration laws mean nothing in America. The administration has unrestricted power to deny anyone from entering the US. If you are in removal proceedings inside America, there is a fake court under Jeff Sessions providing a little bit of due process. But H1B holders can be legally denied entry for no reason.
What was the reason he got stuck? Technically nothing changed yet with the H1 policies other than rigorous screening for consulting type jobs.
They put him through extra vetting... a basic interview asking who do you work for, what kind of work do you do, etc. But it took 3+ months. Not consultancy he is full time in US
*including for consulting type jobs. As OP mentioned, consulting type jobs are not the only ones being screened rigorously