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H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

economist.com

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Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#131

I went through the entire comment thread and feel like you guys are missing a lot of the H1B benefits by focusing just on tech and the effect of the Indian consultancies. Most PhDs, specially in STEM, math, stats, econ, etc. are not American. And almost all of them end up with a H1B visa at some point if they remain in the US. It might be lottery based if you go to work at any firm, or quota-free if it is in academia…

Even Melania Trump came on H1B to the US.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39632182

But H1B abuse needs to stop. It would even help you if there was a proper alternative​.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is happening all over the US with all sorts of companies. I have seen entire departments minus management go this way, its not just a Microsoft phenomenon. BI is the most saturated area in my experience.

MSFT has the biggest lobbying presence in DC and all tech companies follow MSFT's lead. The history is that during Bill Clinton's Presidency (in the 1990's), there was an attempt to split MSFT up into 3 because of alleged monopolistic behavior. MSFT responded by building up the most formidable lobbying operation DC has ever seen from any Tech company. After the threat of splitting up MSFT was defeated, they turned th…

How exactly do either of those acts contribute to current problems?

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#133

Well, I am currently on F1 student visa. I have done my internship at Blackberry as a Security R&D Intern I was offered a full time position for Information Security Analyst. But I couldn't get that offered position because I don't have a GC or Citizen ship. Recently, I have interviewed for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for a CSE1 role The duration of the role is for a year. I am with in my opt. Unfortunately…

I am on F1 as well and I can agree that finding a job is hard on that visa. But I don't care anymore since I am leaving soon anyway :)

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#134
post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually Google spends more on lobbying than Microsoft, and has for a while now. http://www.pcworld.com/article/3024945/major-tech-companies-... Google spent almost twice as much as Microsoft in 2015, for example.

It is good that other companies are catching up. But, MSFT got the AWICA and AC-21 acts passed decades ago, which directly resulted in indentured servitude. MSFT lobbyists are the founders and architects of the "indentured servitude".

I'm starting to find the "indentured servitude" thing really pretty irritating. Comparing being a highly paid tech worker with some issues changing jobs to an illegal form of (essentially) slavery is ridiculous.

I also don't really see how either act causes the problems you are describing.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#135
post #30

Easiest solution is to inflation adjust min salary of $60,000 set back in 1989 and have the limit follow inflation. Lawmakers have this tendency to not build in inflation adjustments(eg: AMT tax limit,min wage) which causes lot issues down the road.

Or give the visas to the jobs with the highest 85,000 salaries instead of using a lottery.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#136

I went through the entire comment thread and feel like you guys are missing a lot of the H1B benefits by focusing just on tech and the effect of the Indian consultancies. Most PhDs, specially in STEM, math, stats, econ, etc. are not American. And almost all of them end up with a H1B visa at some point if they remain in the US. It might be lottery based if you go to work at any firm, or quota-free if it is in academia…

Thing is, nobody wants that effect. We want the PhDs. What we do not want it companies that bring in cheap barely-qualified labour for cost-cutting. This hurts the people brought in (they are stuck in bad jobs with bad pay and no way out). This hurts the local workers who cost too much compared to this effectively-slave-labour. The hard part changing the rules such that PhDs and other productive uses of H1B do not su…

"This hurts the people brought in (they are stuck in bad jobs with bad pay and no way out)."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i agree with everything you said except for this part. many of the indian workers are still better off economically than they might otherwise be, even if they are not as well off as their american counterparts.

in any case, we should let every person seeking higher education in the US work indefinitely in this country, not just PhDs. in fact, anyone who wants to work hard should be allowed in. all such workers will accrue a net economic benefit, as the new workers will generate more value than they consume.

the problem with this (playing my own devil's advocate) is that it neglects to account for the status disruption it generates for the incumbent workers. the current H1B visa program happens to account for this by it effectively being indentured servitude, which limits the status of these foreign workers. i don't like this fact, but i believe it's why the H1B visa program is actually palatable in the US.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#137
post #11

As a european there is almost 0 chance of going In the us. H1B go to indians, low paid jobs to mexicans. I dont mind either of them, but allowing europeans in would be less discriminatory.

I can get why Americans are pissed off by H1Bs going to Indians. Why are you pissed off? You go through the same lottery process as Indians, no? I would think that there is a percentage of the spots going to people who put in multiple applications, but that affects everyone equally (and that sort of fraud is an equal opportunity employer).

Indian consulting companies flood the application pool. Basically throwing a bunch of applications at the wall and some of them will stick. The companies don't care which stick as long as some stick.

How is that fair to individual applicants?

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#138
post #75
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My company sponsored my O1 and yes I'm a Chinese national. I'm starting my EB1, thanks for the advice!

Isn't EB1 reserved for "exceptional" people? I was under the impression that it was the "famous person" visa.

So's the O-1. That's why it doesn't have a lottery or cap like the H-1B. Top people in science and engineering qualify for them too, in addition to the top people in athletics and arts (the more traditionally "famous" people).

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#139
post #31
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How many Musk-like or Brin-like individuals have come through TCS or Wipro or Infosys on a H-1B so far? You don't know, these people are forced to be in underpaid H1B slavery for decades and are not be able to use business opportunities.

I understand what you're getting at and don't intend to be cruel. Unfortunately, huge employers don't flinch at leveraging natural human sympathies as a convenient way to beat down support of policies that might increase domestic labor's bargaining power. I intend to make a little fun, but not at H-1B workers. Only at journalistic shilling. [edit - fixed grammar mistake which mangled intended meaning]

this journalistic shilling is a fun game! I'm no journo but here's a stab at it:

These laws against sewing in sweatshops will only lead to them moving abroad and taking the jobs with them. A better change would be to allow them to stay, but ensure they feed their workers properly. For within these sweatshops may lie the next JFK or Rockefeller of fashion design!

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#140
Americans don't get PhDs because graduate schools are flooded with applications from those trying to gain entry to the US. Once in industry foreigners tend to hire only members of their own race further discouraging Americans from pursuing advanced degrees.

I think it's disgusting that you say you're contributing to my country as though, without you, these positions would go unfilled because Americans aren't intelligent enough.

If this is what you believe you most certainly are not welcome.

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