The H-1B visa program was never meant to replace qualified American workers,

[zork]

What do you think?

"The H-1B visa program was never meant to replace qualified American workers, but it was instead intended as a means to fill gaps in highly specialized areas of employment that cannot be filled by Americans," said Grassley, in a statement.

Grassley said the "abuse of the system is real, and media reports are validating what we have argued against for years, including the fact that Americans are training their replacements."

"There's a sense of urgency here for Americans who are losing their jobs to lesser skilled workers who are coming in at lower wages on a visa program that has gotten away from its original intent," Grassley continued. "Reform of the H-1B visa program must be a priority."

http://www.computerworld.com/articl...y-durbin-launch-new-h-1b-fight.html?nsdr=true

 

[Musburger1]

What do you think?


http://www.computerworld.com/articl...y-durbin-launch-new-h-1b-fight.html?nsdr=true

H-1B visas are to high tech as illegal immigration is to unskilled labor. The end result is to increase the corporate bottom line by increasing the labor supply which reduces wages. These strategies are used when capital is unable to relocate in China or other third world countries where there is cheap abundant labor. Bottom line: The wealthy who control capital continue to get wealthier as the middle class grows poorer. Competition is eliminated and power consolidates into fewer hands both in terms of wealth and political influence.

 

[Seattle Husker]

I'm curious, do either of you work in Tech? I've worked in technology companies and/or roles my entire career and personally have managed multiple direct/indirect reports through the H-1B process. Without the program it would have greatly restrained the growth of companies I worked at (i.e. Microsoft). Certainly there is some abuse of the program, particularly by consulting service companies (or bodyshops) but that is the exception from my anecdotal perspective.

The US doesn't graduate enough Computer Engineering and Computer Science majors annually to fill the need since the boom in the tech industry which has been one the primary drivers of our economy in the past 10-20 years.

 

[Musburger1]

I do not work in tech, but have read multiple articles where employees were actually tasked with training H-B1 people to replace them. The latest.
http://www.computerworld.com/articl...lege-conspiracy-in-layoffs-file-lawsuits.html

 

[Seattle Husker]

I do not work in tech, but have read multiple articles where employees were actually tasked with training H-B1 people to replace them. The latest.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3026332/it-outsourcing/disney-it-workers-allege-conspiracy-in-layoffs-file-lawsuits.html

Wait, they had to train the company they outsourced to and most assuredly got a handsome retention bonus (in addition to severance) while doing it? Say it aint so. Those 200-300 workers were likely replaced with a hybrid onshore/offshore model that will be much cheaper for Disney in the long run and will have penalties if the outsourcer doesn't meet specific SLAs. Most importantly, it's generally not a 1:1 model as that article suggests.

So, to apply for an H-1B you have to show that you searched for that role and couldn't find someone to fill it. I've had roles open for months before settling on someone that required an H-1B. Keep in mind, that visa application is not cheap. You also have to demonstrate that you are paying the H-1B candidate market rate. So, this isn't a play to pay someone under market either.

The unemployment rate for Software developers and IT professionals is <1.5% where I live (Seattle). It's lower in Silicon Valley. Clearly there aren't skilled American workers standing in breadlines while the Indians and Chinese consume the jobs.

I have worked extensively with HCL. They have a large offshore contingent. Guess what, so does Deloitte (45,000 in India), Accenture (65,000) and any other global American company. For cheap labor (not H-1B) they are hiring them in market and using them as an offshore resource.

 

[Joe Fan]

More Americans have a favorable view of North Korea (9%)
than want more immigration (7%)

http://www.gallup.com/poll/181667/americans-ratings-north-korea-remain-highly-negative.aspx

http://www.gallup.com/poll/181313/dissatisfied-immigration-levels.aspx