Texas halts H-1B visas at state universities, agencies, affecting Indians

Houston (US), 28/1: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies and public universities to immediately halt new H-1B visa petitions, tightening hiring rules at taxpayer-funded institutions, a step likely to impact Indian professionals.

The freeze will remain in effect through May 2027. The directive issued on Tuesday said that the state agencies and public universities must stop filing new petitions unless they receive written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission