The H-1B visa could be transformed into a temporary teaching credential under a new policy vision clarified by Scott Bessent. This clarification follows comments from Donald Trump that were widely seen as a “softening” on immigration. Bessent explained the new strategy is about “knowledge transfer,” where foreign experts come, “train the US workers,” and then “return home.”
The initial confusion was sparked by Trump’s own words. He had defended the need for skilled immigrants, arguing that America needs to “bring talent into the country” and that Americans “have to learn” skills they currently lack. This led to speculation that his administration was preparing for a more open immigration policy for high-tech workers.
Bessent, however, dismissed the “softening” narrative. He explained that the former president’s vision is not about long-term immigration but about a short-term, high-impact training program. The goal is to use foreign expertise to bridge a critical skills gap in the domestic workforce.
Under this “train-and-return” model, skilled foreigners would be granted temporary visas, lasting perhaps three to seven years. Their primary responsibility would be to transfer their specialized knowledge to American colleagues, effectively working themselves out of a job.
Bessent argued this is a “home run” for industries like shipbuilding and semiconductors, where America has lost its edge. “An American can’t have that job, not yet,” he stated, justifying the need for these temporary trainers. Once the training is complete, the American workers would “fully take over,” making the US workforce self-sufficient.