Full Version: Reduction in H1-B Visas
This Story as reported by Reuters is an encouraging sign in that finally lawmakers are beginning to see the long term damage caused by the excessive H1-B visas that have been killing the IT industry here in the U.S.
Do you feel that the reduction in such visas will prove beneficial to the domestic economy or will companies now look to move operations off shore altogether to avoid the limitations as described in the article?
QUOTE
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is about to cut the number of employment visas it offers to highly qualified foreign workers from 195,000 to 65,000, immigration experts said on Monday.
Do you feel that the reduction in such visas will prove beneficial to the domestic economy or will companies now look to move operations off shore altogether to avoid the limitations as described in the article?
It may employ some US born high tech workers, unless those under the H1-B visas were also making less than their US counterparts. In that case, I think it will just accellerate the shifting of jobs overseas.
I read the article, and there are a few things that bother me about the executives that were interviewed. (Note: bold type is my emphasis).
And in the very next paragraph:
I find it hard to believe that with we are not, and cannot produce enough people in our own educational system, technical schools, or in on-the-job training. We apparantly have the capacity to teach and train these people, as we are doing it with foreign students.
Are we really so deficient in educating and training our own students in engineering and computer jobs, that we have to import 200,000 foreign students and employees each year?
I read the article, and there are a few things that bother me about the executives that were interviewed. (Note: bold type is my emphasis).
QUOTE
"We expect that we will continue to sponsor H-1B employees in the future for the simple reason that we cannot find enough U.S. workers with the advanced education, skills, and expertise we need ," he said.
And in the very next paragraph:
QUOTE
Elizabeth Dickson, director of immigration services for the Ingersoll-Rand Company, speaking on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said: "In the near-term, we simply must have access to foreign nationals. Many of them have been educated in the United States. By sending them home, we are at best sending them to our own foreign plant sites, and at worst to our competitors."
I find it hard to believe that with we are not, and cannot produce enough people in our own educational system, technical schools, or in on-the-job training. We apparantly have the capacity to teach and train these people, as we are doing it with foreign students.
Are we really so deficient in educating and training our own students in engineering and computer jobs, that we have to import 200,000 foreign students and employees each year?
The IT sector has been hit hard by outsourcing and I find it difficult to believe that companies were motivated by the level of expertise foreign workers offered but rather were attracted to the savings they would realize by utilizing such resources.
During preparations for Y2K many companies began to discover this cheaper labor resource and when the threat passed a glut of programmers/analysts both domestic and foreign allowed companies to begin using the cheaper labor to perform the duties of their higher paid permanent employees.
I would also concede that the reduction in the number of visas is a form of protectionism but I feel it is necessary to try and salvage a profession that has left many little alternative but to change career paths entirely.
During preparations for Y2K many companies began to discover this cheaper labor resource and when the threat passed a glut of programmers/analysts both domestic and foreign allowed companies to begin using the cheaper labor to perform the duties of their higher paid permanent employees.
I would also concede that the reduction in the number of visas is a form of protectionism but I feel it is necessary to try and salvage a profession that has left many little alternative but to change career paths entirely.
QUOTE(Young at heart @ Sep 22 2003, 03:33 PM)
QUOTE
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is about to cut the number of employment visas it offers to highly qualified foreign workers from 195,000 to 65,000, immigration experts said on Monday.
Do you feel that the reduction in such visas will prove beneficial to the domestic economy or will companies now look to move operations off shore altogether to avoid the limitations as described in the article?
I think this is wrong because there are some people abroad who want to work in Tech jobs in the states because they want a better life won't get it now. This hurts the motto "America: Land of oppurtunity"
Granted, it will help employment issues here in the states but it is hurting foriegners who want a better life
QUOTE(goamerica @ Sep 22 2003, 11:23 PM)
I think this is wrong because there are some people abroad who want to work in Tech jobs in the states because they want a better life won't get it now. This hurts the motto "America: Land of oppurtunity"
Granted, it will help employment issues here in the states but it is hurting foriegners who want a better life
Granted, it will help employment issues here in the states but it is hurting foriegners who want a better life
Let it hurt them. Just who is the US supposed to be working for in this instance, it's own citizens, or the call centers and high-tech industries in India?
If the US government can't even provide "opportunity" for the people born and raised here, why should we be concerned about providing opportunities for the rest of the world?
If foreigners want a better life, they can either create it for themselves at home, or go through the regular INS process for becoming citizens. I don't see why we have to "fast-track" these folks at the expense of our own employees.
I've written to my two senators and rep (all Repubs) on this issue and received a letter back from one senator and the rep.
Both give the line that the US labor pool isn't smart enough to do the jobs filled with H-1B and L-1 visa holders. But both promise to take a good, long look at how these visas are being used.
Back when I was employed in high tech, a lot of programmers were from India on the H-1Bs and L-1s. This was during the booming 90s, and sure enough, it was tough to find US citizens to fill these slots. Now the Indians are gone and so are the slots.
However, the H1-*** NOTICE: THIS WORD IS AGAINST THE RULES. FAILURE TO REMOVE IT WILL RESULT IN A STRIKE. *** and L-1s are still being used by corporations, and these corporations lobby hard to increase the numbers caps for the visas. What is the motivation?
It certainly makes no sense to import high tech workers when so many are out of work now. If the slots aren't being filled, maybe the employers are too picky? Or maybe they percieve IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) graduates as far superior to their US counterparts?
Or maybe it is to save $$ on the bottom line.
My Republican rep thinks the L-1s are for management slots.
I personally think a lot of fraud is going on to save $$ on the bottom line. Guess I don't trust corporations to be fully honest about what they do.
Lots of other people feel the same way. If you want to join with us, check this site out:
TORAW
Both give the line that the US labor pool isn't smart enough to do the jobs filled with H-1B and L-1 visa holders. But both promise to take a good, long look at how these visas are being used.
Back when I was employed in high tech, a lot of programmers were from India on the H-1Bs and L-1s. This was during the booming 90s, and sure enough, it was tough to find US citizens to fill these slots. Now the Indians are gone and so are the slots.
However, the H1-*** NOTICE: THIS WORD IS AGAINST THE RULES. FAILURE TO REMOVE IT WILL RESULT IN A STRIKE. *** and L-1s are still being used by corporations, and these corporations lobby hard to increase the numbers caps for the visas. What is the motivation?
It certainly makes no sense to import high tech workers when so many are out of work now. If the slots aren't being filled, maybe the employers are too picky? Or maybe they percieve IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) graduates as far superior to their US counterparts?
Or maybe it is to save $$ on the bottom line.
My Republican rep thinks the L-1s are for management slots.
I personally think a lot of fraud is going on to save $$ on the bottom line. Guess I don't trust corporations to be fully honest about what they do.
Lots of other people feel the same way. If you want to join with us, check this site out:
TORAW
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