H-1B Visa Program Again Under Fire

[OhioChick]

2010-02-22

Economic Policy Institute claims some companies are using the H-1B visa program to transfer work overseas and to take advantage of cheaper guest worker labor.

Despite claims to the contrary, many tech firms are using H-1B visas to fill temporary positions and not as a pathway to permanent citizenship, according to a new study by the Economic Policy Institute.

"Some H-1Bs and L-1s visa holders do make it to permanent residence, but many employers never plan to sponsor employees for permanent residence," report author Ron Hiras writes. "These employers are using the H-1B and L-1 visa programs for purely temporary purposes, and their share of the H-1B and L-1 visa numbers is large and increasing."

Tech leaders have long championed the idea of using H-1B visas as way to bring the best and brightest to work permanently in the United States. Former Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has repeatedly told Congress, "It's doesn't make sense to keep the smart people out."

Carly Fiorina, an adviser to John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008, current Republican candate for the U.S. Senate and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, recently said, "It is in our economic interest to have really smart people wanting to come here. And so what’s wrong with the H-1B visa system today, among other things, is that we curtail that program so tightly that the limits that Congress allows for H-1B visa entrance are usually filled within one week. So we have to find a more practical system for allowing smart, hardworking people to come into this country, and it should be our goal to get them to stay here forever."

More: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Government-IT/H1B-Visa-Program-Again-Under-Fire-419107/

[proudohioan]

1. But, but,

how else are these corporations going to grow and remain competitive? It's just not fair to them!!!

I would say check out this snow, but I'm in Asia right now, so I wouldn't know anything about it!

[OhioChick]

2. Those CEO's need their bonuses.....

Asia, huh? Well...eat your heart out...I'm in Maldives. :)

[proudohioan]

4. Dumb question:

What or where is Maldives?

:)

[OhioChick]

6. A paradise on earth...

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS306US306&q=maldives

:)

[proudohioan]

8. Mmmmm....doesn't that look nice!!!!

:hi:

[Larkspur]

3. CEO's and senior VP's make more money than IT folks, so companies should be outsourcing

the CEO's and senior VP's if they really want to save money.

[proudohioan]

5. Hey, we got a winner over here!!!!

:thumbsup:

[OhioChick]

7. That's a plan that I can live with....

I remember reading that you lost your contract job. I hope that you've found something else right now.

[Larkspur]

9. They've extended it for another at least 1 more month and possibly 2

My boss is working to get a longer extension but he's dealing with the budget politics. There is some money for tech stuff for the group, so he's working on a business plan to use it to extend my contract. There is a lot more work to do on the environment they use, so it's not "welfare".

[OhioChick]

10. I'm glad to hear that you're still working....

Hopefully within the next few months, they'll bring you back full time. Obviously, your replacement(s) can't do your job. My fingers are crossed for you.