United States is about to cut the number of employment visas

[Brundlefly]

h1-b visa quota reduced

H1-b visa quotas have been maxed out for several years and have gotten bipartisan support. (I've never understood why Democrats are for maxed quotas). This is the first time since mid 90's that the quota will be reduced - and substantially- to 65k. This is probably politically motivated with the election year coming up. They'll be maxed out again before long and outsourcing will be full speed ahead.

My favorite quote from the article:

But Patrick Duffy, Human Resources Attorney for Intel Corporation, said finding the best-educated engineering talent from around the world was critical to his company's future.

"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.

Boo Hoo. Hmm... He left one word out at the end of the sentence - "NOW". Thats all corporations care about. If his company took the money it paid to sponsor H1-b candidates and used it to develop U.S. bred talent in house, they would have access to US workers with comparable level of education - AND better communication skills AND there would be less technical resource loss because of increase in employee morale . As far as skills and expertise, how do you expect US workers to acquire these when upward advancement opportunities are minimized by offshore development?

[MikeH]

Not enough qualified domestic candidates means companies need to look abroad for talent?

Cut the visas -> cut the overseas talent...

I hope at the same time they are doing something to bridge the skills shortage domestically or a lot of companies are suddenly going to be hit by losing a lot of crucial overseas staff. Surely a gradual reduction would be more sensible?

Also what can companies do if the US as a country isn't providing enough people with "Advanced Education"?

Another protectionist measure, can't believe this Gov't even pretends to be pro Free Trade.

[Q Classic]

the us is providing plenty with high quality advanced education.

the students just don't tend to be american; they're often immigrants.

[chequita guevara]

All this will do is accelerate out-sourcing to overseas.

[Jack_www]

That is a bunch of crap. There are a lot of workers in the United States how are qualified in IT and other high education flieds. The problem is they want lots of money and if companies can get workers to come into the country they can pay them less. That is why they do it.

[Japher]

the students just don't tend to be american; they're often immigrants

That has nothing to do with the post though, which has to do with work visas and not educational visas. Nationalized citizens who came here are education visas are some of the smartest and most enthusiastic workers I know It is also a shame that we are going to be barring more immigrants from coming here and taking jobs away from lazy good for nothing people who would rather waste their education or not even bother getting one. This is definitly a shame and we will suffer because of it.

[DanS]

I find this policy silly. H1-Bs are normally talented, educated people. It's cutting off a major port of the brain drain that benefits us.

[MikeH]

But there's massive unemployment in the US at the moment, surely that should lead to a drop in expected salaries?

[DanS]

Maybe in the short term. But it is more important that we get all the smart and educated people in the door as we can. Over the long run, it will be hugely beneficial to us.

And there's not massive unemployment in the US. It's modest.

[Japher]

But there's massive unemployment in the US at the moment, surely that should lead to a drop in expected salaries?

The US citiizens demanding higher salaries isn't just a current phenomenon...

[Drake Tungsten]

Good. This will keep those foreigners from taking my job.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by MikeH
Not enough qualified domestic candidates means companies need to look abroad for talent?

There's tons of domestic talent however Americans generally want more money then the third worlders do so it's cheaper for companies to bring in engineers from India or China then it is to actually hire & train locals. You see right now we have litterally a sea of new college graduates who can't find jobs but the Intels would all rather hire someone from India who has 10 years experience and then pay him less then the new graduate would demand. It's time we understand Intel can only do this because we let them.


The government gives handouts and tax brakes to these companies by the bushel so now it's time for them to return the favor by hiring local people instead of importing cheap foreign labor.

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by MikeH
But there's massive unemployment in the US at the moment, surely that should lead to a drop in expected salaries?

A lot of these people come from India, a country that is not doing so well. So when you offer them salary that is lower then what most workers would expect, they will take it because it seems to be a lot of money to them.

[MikeH]

Originally posted by DanS
Maybe in the short term. But it is more important that we get all the smart and educated people in the door as we can. Over the long run, it will be hugely beneficial to us.

Yep, same here.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Good. This will keep those foreigners from taking my job.

Uhm, aren't you a foreigner, gaijin?