Excellent post and article...thanks much for posting.
Just for the record, I am in favor of completely eliminating ALL guest worker programs at all levels, from toilet cleaners to astrophysicists.
However, I want to make if easier and more efficient for talented and skilled people, which apparently would include yourself, to come here legally as IMMIGRANTS.
"Permanent residence" should be as a citizen designate or naturalized citizen of the US.
As a US consultant, you would be free to negotiate the best rate you can with a company, and I would hope they pay you very well for your expertise.
As Ive said on other threads, the H1b / L1 programs have effectively cut the bottom out of the market for wages and rates, unfortunately, the cost of doing business here does not get cut as well, UNLESS you participate in the program yourself.
The object of "politics as usual" in DC, is to allow a highly restrictive tax, investment, regulatory and business climate to exist in general for ALL business, large and small, but then to give preferential end around relief in the way of give aways such as the H1b program, to certain favored political contributors.
Example...two big loopholes in the program are how the so called "prevailing rate" is calculated, (up to the company to decide) and the fact the the Dept of Labor has no effective enforcement powers. Dept Labor just verifies that the forms are filled out correctly, but they dont care if its complete BS.
The other travesty is the fact that the H1b program also dovetails in with the liberal inspired and SBA managed Small Disadvantaged / Minorty Business 8A setaside programs.
This is why people from overseas like to come over here and setup job shops which employ mostly H1b people from their native country, and they go out and get government setaside contracts.
I know, I get calls from time to time from these shops, looking for American CPM talent to help manage the programs, many of which are total cluster___. I can barely understand the contracting agent at the company in some cases.
Gotta have that token American presence for the edification of the American taxpayer you see!
Thank you for your compliment. The reason I'm on an H1B is for permanent immigration. I was hired on a TN visa (under NAFTA, I'm from Canada). However, it is strictly non-immigrant. The first step for permanent residencey was to adjust status to the H1B, then proceed with an employment based green card application. As the system stands right now, it takes several years to be approved for an employment-based immigrant visa if you are outside the U.S. Most employers and potential recruits can't wait years for a job. By coming in on a temprorary work visa, employment can start upon approval, which is a few months for the H1B, or immediately at the port of entry for Canadians on a TN visa. So for Canadians, the route is TN --> H1B --> green card --> citizenship. NAFTA allows Americans and Canadians (professional degree holders) work relatively easily in each others countries.