Posted on 08/16/2010 12:13:31 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Slamming the critics of H-1B, a US think-tank and corporate America have suggested removal of Congressional cap on this popular work visa programme and allow markets to determine number of skilled foreign workers eligible to work in the country.
"The best policy for the United States is one that sides with freedom and innovation, not restriction. It is a policy where the H-1B cap is either eliminated or set high enough that we can let the market decide on the number of new skilled foreign nationals who work in America each year," a report said.
The 81-page report titled "Regaining America's Competitive Advantage: Making our Immigration System Work" has been jointly prepared by US Chamber of Commerce, which is the top representative body of the American businesses, American Council on International Personnel, an eminent think-tank.
US PresidentBarack Obama on Friday signed into law a new 'Border Security Bill' proposing a steep hike in some categories of H-1B and L-1 visa fees which is expected to badly hurt Indian IT firms which may have to shell out an additional USD 250 million annually for the next five years.
"The best policy would ease the way for employers to sponsor high skilled individuals for green cards by exempting from labour certification and current employment-based immigrant quotas many who now languish in 6 to 20 year queues," the report said.
"Allowing top talent who graduate from US universities to gain a green card directly will help US employers retain the world's leading future innovators," the report said.
The report has come out with some very interesting finding about H-1B visa programme, according to which popular foreign work visa has been a key factor in US' competitiveness and its economic growth.
Who is in a better position to determine which employees are most likely to make Apple, Amazon or other US companies successful? Is it critics of immigration, government bureaucrats, or the companies themselves?" the report said.
Findings of this report show that leading US companies cite the role played by highly educated foreign nationals in the success of the organisation.
Noting that the critics argue US has too much talent entry of high skilled foreign nationals should be blocked, the report says real immigration-related problem is that many talented people have not been able to stay in US after graduation because of low quotas for H-1B visas and employment-based green cards.
"H-1B visas are a large source of scholarship money for US students, with H-1B training and scholarship fees levied on each petition (and renewal) having funded more than 53,000 math and science college scholarships for US students through the National Science Foundation," it said.
"There is little evidence high skilled foreign nationals on H-1B visas are in general paid less than their American counterparts," the report said.
The report said critics who insist H-1B professionals are hired to "save money" fail to note that in addition to legal requirement to pay H-1B visa holders higher than prevailing or actual wage paid to US workers, employers must pay significant legal and government fees.
The American Council on International Personnel estimates combined H-1B and green card sponsorship costs (government/legal fees) can exceed USD 35,000 for one person.
"Critics also ignore that the labour market is global and if US employers were interested only in lower labour costs they would shift all their work overseas," it said.
Read more: India not taking American jobs: US Chamber - International Business - Business - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/India-not-taking-American-jobs-US-Chamber/articleshow/6319071.cms#ixzz0wnUxK4jI
I talked to Indians here in the U.S. who are upset, because their jobs were offshored to India. Most of th H1-B workers are looking to stay here.
they aren’t even using up the entire allotment of visas now....because there ARE NO JOBS!!!
If employers need to hire foreigners then they should advocate for returning our immigration system to one based on merit rather than familial relationships.
Of course then these employers would actually have to follow the law and pay these immigrants real prevailing wages. Unlike the low wages they currently pay the average H1-B employee.
And also, they wouldn't be able to dangle the green card carrot over these folks to keep them in line like they currently do H1-B employees. Employees who are often stiffed and abandoned by their employers just before the employer is required to fork out the time and fees necessary to get them their green cards.
More lies from self-interested human scum. For more examples google Goldman-Sachs or Tom Delay.
Yes, I agree. But just watch, some of the free traders on FR will come along and defend this BS.
Yes, I agree. But just watch, some of the free traders on FR will come along and defend this BS.
So if they do a few phone interviews that don't go so well. Or even better, if they require all sorts of skills that no one human can hope to have, and only desperate H1-B folks are willing to lie about, then they can hire H1-B's at will.
Down with Section 1706 Enslavement! Freedom for US Computerists! No More IT Plantations!
This young man's wife was pregnant with twins when she learned the twins had perished in the womb - this was the day before he was scheduled to fly back to the West Coast to work.
The foreign-owned company that "owned" him threatened him with the loss of job and sudden return to India if he didn't leave his wife behind and travel to the West Coast that night.
He was forced to leave his very disturbed wife in limbo, still carrying the fetuses, while he spent the week on the other side of the country.
Americans should not be tolerating such things.
Like they will actually close the borders.
Funny, a friend’s place of employment just gathered up all of the IT workers to tell them they’re being laid off for Indian outsourcing.
From what I’ve seen, that’s more of a threat to jobs than H1-Bs.
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