I am computer programmer Bill Gates, let me in !!
Posted on 05/20/2009 10:11:08 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Once the most sought after H-1B American work visa is still having nearly 20,000 slots open seven weeks after the US Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) started receiving applications for the financial year 2010 beginning October this year.
The USCIS on Tuesday said it has so far received approximately 45,500 H-1B petitions counting toward the Congressionally-mandated 65,000 cap. As such, the USCIS would continue to accept petitions subject to till the cap is reached.
This is in contrast of the previous few years when the USCIS had to resort to computerized draw of lots as it received petitions outnumbering several times more than the Congressional mandated cap of 65,000 within the first few days after it started receiving H-1B applications.
USCIS said it has received approximately 20,000 petitions for the advanced degrees category. However, it would continue to accept advanced degree petitions since experience has shown that not all petitions received are approvable, the USCIS said in a statement.
Congress mandated that the first 20,000 of these types of petitions are exempt from any fiscal year cap on available H-1B visas.
For the fiscal 2010, the USCIS started receiving H-1B petitions from April 1. In the first five working days, it received 42,000 H-1B petitions. In the month and half since then, USCIS has received just 3,500 more H-1B petitions, indicating the slump in demand for H-1B work visas.
This is mainly attributed to the current economic crisis, high unemployment rate in the US and also partly to the anti-H-1B sentiment prevailing in the United States at present.
Under the stimulus package, US companies which receive federal money are prevented from hiring foreign workers under H-1B visas.
Further the US department of homeland security has launched investigations into alleged fraud cases related to H-1B visas and has tightened the application approval process. At least two legislations are also pending in the US Congress, which if passed would make H-1B visas tougher for foreign technology professionals.
Wow.
I suppose one reason for this is because for a long time the EMPLOYEE paid the fees associated with the visa and now the employer pays the fees. It is a long and costly process for employees . . . easier to bring them here on a J visa.
With 8.9% unemployment, we need to reduce these anyway, instead of advertising that we have open slots.
Why they are being brought here? To undercut wages for
US citizens. Thats the only reason. Theres no shortage of
Software Engineers here.
Agreed. But the economy must be much worse than advertised if companies don’t even want to hire foreign workers to undercut American wages.
Translation: The jobs simply aren’t there at any price.
ping
I work in academia/science and our department receives MANY employment inquires from around the world - especially from China and India. These individuals tend to be VERY good employees and their salary is approved by the state before hiring is allowed. In other words, no longer can they work for minimum wage . . . their salary, job title and position responsibilities are reviewed and approved or NOT approved.
Sadly, many Americans are used to a “free lunch” attitude in the workforce. Seldom do we have an individual from China or India try to take advantage of their employeer. So it really is not a matter of paying less . . . it is getting more for your money.
I'm glad you hold your fellow American in such high esteem. You are a great American, your spirit and pride really show through. Makes me tear up....
“Sadly, many Americans are used to a “free lunch” attitude in the workforce.”
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While this may on occasion be true, I have also seen poor management and HR practices are often blamed on lazy, incompetent American IT workers.
i.e. “lazy, incompetent American IT workers.” /SARC
I’m glad you hold your fellow American in such high esteem. You are a great American, your spirit and pride really show through. Makes me tear up....
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Sorry but many of the younger generation has learned to be protected and pampered. Ask anyone that owns a business. Individuals in China excel in just about anything and do not mind working hard to have a life in a free country. Facts are facts.
While this may on occasion be true, I have also seen poor management and HR practices are often blamed on lazy, incompetent American IT workers.
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It is MORE than ocasional. Yes, poor management and HR practices CONTROLED BY STATE and FEDERAL rules and regs are often to blame. I have an employee that misses AT LEAST one day a week because of illness. He is on FMLA and gloats to other employees how “no one can touch him” because of FMLA. I go to work with a sinus headache . . . he stays home while someone else does his work. This senario is played out far more than one might realize.
FMLA is Family Medical Leave Act. I suppose it was created for a very good purpose but like most Federal programs has turned into a monster and there are ways to take advantage. Once they are on, they are on and nothing you can do about it. No way . . . no how. Then they take a job of someone very willing to be at work and doing their job. I know many deserve to have this program but happen to know more that have used it to their advantage and could not care less about the employer.
I do just that at every opportunity.
Good to hear.
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