Google has urged the Department of Labor to update immigration policies, making a case for including AI and cybersecurity as scarce occupations.

The company stresses that current policies lack the flexibility to meet the urgent demand for tech talent in the United States.

Google advocates for revising Schedule A to incorporate AI and cybersecurity roles, noting that it hasn't been updated in two decades.

By updating Schedule A, Google argues that green card processing times could be reduced by about a year, expediting the hiring of skilled tech workers.

This push for immigration reform is driven by a nationwide shortage of AI specialists and the intense competition for tech talent among leading companies.

Google has temporarily halted green card applications until at least Q1 2025, citing stringent immigration policies, a move echoed by other tech giants seeking easier immigration for skilled workers.

The broader AI industry's growth is being hampered by restrictive US immigration policies, which are pivotal in attracting and retaining global talent.