Senate immigration bill increases H1-B visa yearly cap from 65,000 to 115,000 with option of 20% increase every year!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The Senate Judiciary Committee of the United States has voted to significantly increase the number of H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers as part of a controversial Immigration Bill that faces a tough fight in the Congress before it becomes law.

This measure to double the number of temporary visas to H-1B skilled-workers to 115,000 -- with an option of raising the cap 20 per cent more each year -- was buried in the Senate's giant 300-page Immigration Bill that got approved 12-6 on Tuesday.

[...]

The provision for highly skilled workers was introduced after high-profile studies warned that the United States was not producing enough mathematics and science students and was in danger of losing its global edge in innovation to India and China.

The proposal on H-1B visas, as approved by the committee, would increase the annual cap of H-1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 beginning in 2007 while keeping all those existing exemptions. It effectively would boost the number of H-1B visas to nearly 300,000 a year.

http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/mar/29visa.htm

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The H1-b numbers issue is one where "turning BACK the calendar" would be a good solution. The quotas for H1-b's were put in place AFTER the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (later transmogrified to NAFTA by including Mexico) was signed--due to an expectation that there would be a large number of "close-by" professionals willing to take up temp jobs. Basically, prior to 1990 there was NO H1-b quota.

Of course, the "substitution of TC/TN for H1-b" logic failed when some number of TC/TN holders started converting to H1-b (if you look at the H1-b numbers table, guess who comes in third place--CANADA! Unlike "fresh" applicants from India, China, etc. the majority of H1-b's issued to Canadians are by conversion of TN-1's).

Basically, they still will not admit that they made a mistake in imposing the quota (on some strange expectations) in the first place--so they increase the quotas to cover!

[almaty 19]

i think it is a good idea..america needs an influx of intelligentsia...and lacks it..india produces top-knotch engineers, It personnel, and customer service reps..(joking about the last one) ..and that is just one country..allot of rural america is served by doctors not born in america...

Edited March 29, 2006 by almaty2004

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

i think it is a good idea..america needs an influx of intelligentsia...and lacks it..india produces top-knotch engineers, It personnel, and customer service reps..(joking about the last one) ..and that is just one country..allot of rural america is served by doctors not born in america...

I don't like this news because it threatens my livelihood. And depresses wages in IT.

[almaty 19]

i think it is a good idea..america needs an influx of intelligentsia...and lacks it..india produces top-knotch engineers, It personnel, and customer service reps..(joking about the last one) ..and that is just one country..allot of rural america is served by doctors not born in america...

I don't like this news because it threatens my livelihood. And depresses wages in IT.

i understand that point..and i think it is a way to depress wages and allow the employer mosre flexibility in getting a cheaper employee ...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

i think it is a good idea..america needs an influx of intelligentsia...and lacks it..india produces top-knotch engineers, It personnel, and customer service reps..(joking about the last one) ..and that is just one country..allot of rural america is served by doctors not born in america...

I don't like this news because it threatens my livelihood. And depresses wages in IT.

i understand that point..and i think it is a way to depress wages and allow the employer mosre flexibility in getting a cheaper employee ...

One thing I don't understand about IT hiring is this... my company puts out job postings and then waits for months... looking for the PERFECT candidate... when they could have very easily hired one of the people who came in for interviews and trained him/her at little cost....

I worked for an Indian consulting firm once.. they brought in H1Bs from India and placed them with clients.. they would get specifications from client reps saying they need a body with skill A, B and F. My employer would then find the closest candidate, "fix" his resume to have A, B and F.. put them through some basic training so they can answer basic questions.. and send them on their way.

[Mirorgate 0]

Increasing the H1 is good for skilled labor...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/29/who.are.i...s.ap/index.html

from the article:

Illegal immigrants are more likely than American citizens to hold jobs but less likely to have high school diplomas.

So raising the quota for H1B though.. doesn't really address their issue.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Increasing the H1 is good for skilled labor...

It was the "default" for skilled professionals prior to NAFTA. The set of professions covered by H1-b overlaps (but not identical to) that covered by TN-1. Basically, the quota was established (as I stated earlier) AFTER the Free Trade Agreement was signed.

Only a limited number of professional jobs can be filled through TN-1, even though there is no USCIS-defined numbers cap on this type (but--or maybe BECAUSE, as the applicant/holder must be Canadian citizen, whose profession is in a certain narrow set, it is self-capping).

from the article:

Illegal immigrants are more likely than American citizens to hold jobs but less likely to have high school diplomas.

So raising the quota for H1B though.. doesn't really address their issue.

During Clinton years, there was (temporary) raising of the quota in 1998-1999; it was only meant to alleviate a shortage of professionals--not even in the glister of the illegal immigrants issue.

[almaty 19]

i think it is a good idea..america needs an influx of intelligentsia...and lacks it..india produces top-knotch engineers, It personnel, and customer service reps..(joking about the last one) ..and that is just one country..allot of rural america is served by doctors not born in america...

I don't like this news because it threatens my livelihood. And depresses wages in IT.

i understand that point..and i think it is a way to depress wages and allow the employer mosre flexibility in getting a cheaper employee ...

One thing I don't understand about IT hiring is this... my company puts out job postings and then waits for months... looking for the PERFECT candidate... when they could have very easily hired one of the people who came in for interviews and trained him/her at little cost....

I worked for an Indian consulting firm once.. they brought in H1Bs from India and placed them with clients.. they would get specifications from client reps saying they need a body with skill A, B and F. My employer would then find the closest candidate, "fix" his resume to have A, B and F.. put them through some basic training so they can answer basic questions.. and send them on their way.

i noticed that in other area..i think it gives the HR dept. something to do, besides raising benefits cost to the employee every year

[Mirorgate 0]

So again we get a "feel good" action that does nothing. Damn but these ppl are on a serious power kick. There should be limits to congress/senate terms too... as in cant be one or the other for more than 2-3 terms. Period. We have a living (almost strangled) constitution.. we can amend that Now we just have to convince the ruling families that it needs to be done.

Increasing the H1 is good for skilled labor...

It was the "default" for skilled professionals prior to NAFTA. The set of professions covered by H1-b overlaps (but not identical to) that covered by TN-1. Basically, the quota was established (as I stated earlier) AFTER the Free Trade Agreement was signed.

Only a limited number of professional jobs can be filled through TN-1, even though there is no USCIS-defined numbers cap on this type (but--or maybe BECAUSE, as the applicant/holder must be Canadian citizen, whose profession is in a certain narrow set, it is self-capping).

from the article:

Illegal immigrants are more likely than American citizens to hold jobs but less likely to have high school diplomas.

So raising the quota for H1B though.. doesn't really address their issue.

During Clinton years, there was (temporary) raising of the quota in 1998-1999; it was only meant to alleviate a shortage of professionals--not even in the glister of the illegal immigrants issue.

[Garfield fan 0]

Sorry, but I'm lost here... How can an H1b increment solve the "illegal" immigrants issue ?? I thought these "illegals" were their main concern when they first talking about this bill.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Sorry, but I'm lost here... How can an H1b increment solve the "illegal" immigrants issue ?? I thought these "illegals" were their main concern when they first talking about this bill.

It can't. It won't. This provision was snuck in because the corporate masters of the azzholes who supposedly represent you and me, want it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Any word on whether the addt'l 50,000 H1B visa will be offset by scrapping the DV lottery that currently grants about 50,000 visa/year? There was talk previously on putting away with the DV program and I thought the coincidental increase by the same number currently issued under that scheme may not be coincidental at all.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Any word on whether the addt'l 50,000 H1B visa will be offset by scrapping the DV lottery that currently grants about 50,000 visa/year? There was talk previously on putting away with the DV program and I thought the coincidental increase by the same number currently issued under that scheme may not be coincidental at all.

The House bill scraps the lottery. Don't know if the Senate one does or not.

[Garfield fan 0]

Sorry, but I'm lost here... How can an H1b increment solve the "illegal" immigrants issue ?? I thought these "illegals" were their main concern when they first talking about this bill.

It can't. It won't. This provision was snuck in because the corporate masters of the azzholes who supposedly represent you and me, want it.

Aahhh, glad to realize that I'm not losing my mind like lots of people in the government bodies are.