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Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

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Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#541

Post by tekknik »

ReticentVole wrote: post #507
bdcravens wrote: post #381

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Much of what you say is true, but it's important to realize the H1-B is not designed with any of those benefits in mind. Its only purpose is to fill roles where there is no local talent.

The H1B is also not designed to support diversity or equality, which is crucial if we consider it a stepping-stone to long-term immigration (which many people want). It would seem reasonable to place an intake limit of 10% from any one country, and limiting males to a maximum of 49%. Right now, lets be honest, the H1B is giant immigration scheme for Indian males to get into the USA: 75% of applicants are Indian, and…

We shouldn’t focus on diversity for the sake of diversity. The purpose of H1-B is to attract talent but when you say a certain percentage need to be from a specific country, or of a specific sex or race then it’s not about talent (and is actually racist, “you’re not indian so you can’t have this job”). Why do we even tolerate ideas like this?

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#542

Post by tekknik »

yibg wrote: post #373
codelord wrote: post #313

Disclaimer: I'm an immigrant. There are companies like Cognizant/InfoSys/Tata/... whose business model is based on abusing the H1B system, and that's obviously wrong and I'm quite surprised they get away with it. I'm not defending that. To those who broadly argue against skilled visas, consider this: Most H1B immigrants are between 20-30 age range. The prime age to join the workforce. Think how much investment you ha…

Also (if we leave aside the abusers like InfoSys etc), employers pay an additional cost for H1B visa workers (comparable salary + the cost of sponsoring the visa itself). Presumably this means there is a net benefit to the American company doing the hiring to be hiring these H1B workers. Seems like a win-win situation here all around. If the concern is with abuse, then let's crack down on that.

What about the increased cost associated with an American not taking the same position? We have to pay their unemployment

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#543

Post by tekknik »

yibg wrote: post #538
amznthrowaway5 wrote: post #512

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but the big corp issue should also be addressed. Do you really believe a lot of big corp work couldn’t be done by other Americans? People like Zuck aren’t advocating for more h1bs under current rules out of the goodness of their hearts.

Of course it benefits FB, but I'm not convinced it's about cost. FB is almost constantly hiring, implying there are more open positions than available qualified candidates. That coupled with what seems like on par compensation for H1B employees + the added cost of sponsoring a H1B worker to me means it's about hiring enough qualified candidates rather than saving money. You can argue FB (and other FAANG companies) ca…

All those costs are written off as expenses when the company files taxes. Perhaps we should double the tax instead to cover unemployment for the american that didn’t get a job?

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#544

Post by wiseleo »

hintymad wrote: post #446
codelord wrote: post #313

Disclaimer: I'm an immigrant. There are companies like Cognizant/InfoSys/Tata/... whose business model is based on abusing the H1B system, and that's obviously wrong and I'm quite surprised they get away with it. I'm not defending that. To those who broadly argue against skilled visas, consider this: Most H1B immigrants are between 20-30 age range. The prime age to join the workforce. Think how much investment you ha…

I know this will probably be flagged or voted down, but at least please understand that I truly want to see people in the US get better and more equal. Here it goes: if the US wants to invest in local talent, the US had better invest heavily in education. And I'm not talking about an-iPad-per-kid kind of investment, but investment to hire great teachers, lots of them, to public schools to the point that tutoring scho…

There are not enough such teachers to teach 1:1. There are not enough people who could be drafted to be such teachers either. It would require a lot of altruism to work as a teacher whereas there are much higher paying positions in the private sector.

We have the technology to amplify a great teacher's lecture to millions. However, the education system relies on the model of interactive lectures given to a class of people of whom many are not acutely interested in the subject. Following that lecture, parents are drafted as involuntary teachers to help their kids with homework. If the student's parents have sufficient background, this works. Else, we end up with the situation where students continue to fall behind as their parents are unable to teach them.

We need to bootstrap our students' learning to the minimally accepted level that sustains self-directed learning. I would define that as mastery of arithmetics as first phase and algebra as second phase. However, we are talking about mastery that does not require a review, which means spending more time on in-depth training without jumping ahead.

Such classes should be separate from mainstream math classes so as to not to bore those of us who already have achieved that mastery.

I am working on this.

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#545

Post by tekknik »

codelord wrote: post #355
SomeoneFromCA wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is very strange that people in this comment section shout "nationalism, BAD" when someone says that skilled people should stay in their own country and potentially help these countries to grow out of poverty, and statements like the one you just made - essentially rob these country of talented people and bring them into US - is somehow not nationalistic and good.

I left my country to escape a totalitarian regime. I think just because you are born in a place doesn't mean you have the responsibility to completely sacrifice your life. Humans collectively have an obligation to help lift poor countries out of poverty. The question is are you against immigration because you genuinely care about the poverty in my country?

Why do humans collectively have an obligation to lift poor countries out of poverty?

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#546

Post by amznthrowaway5 »

yibg wrote: post #538
amznthrowaway5 wrote: post #512

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but the big corp issue should also be addressed. Do you really believe a lot of big corp work couldn’t be done by other Americans? People like Zuck aren’t advocating for more h1bs under current rules out of the goodness of their hearts.

Of course it benefits FB, but I'm not convinced it's about cost. FB is almost constantly hiring, implying there are more open positions than available qualified candidates. That coupled with what seems like on par compensation for H1B employees + the added cost of sponsoring a H1B worker to me means it's about hiring enough qualified candidates rather than saving money. You can argue FB (and other FAANG companies) ca…

If companies like Facebook and Amazon had such a hard time hiring engineers, they wouldn't be cutting 10% of the workforce every year based on mostly political yearly reviews. That's why they are always constantly "hiring". Having visa workers that can be easily overworked is a huge bonus to try and force 80 hour work weeks and a toxic rat race.

The average engineer at these companies is not all that competent, the interview process is very noisy. I know many people barely able to write basic stuff like fizzbuzz, lots of them slither their way into middle or upper management.

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#548

Post by cylinder »

kamaal wrote: post #515
hintymad wrote: post #446

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know this will probably be flagged or voted down, but at least please understand that I truly want to see people in the US get better and more equal. Here it goes: if the US wants to invest in local talent, the US had better invest heavily in education. And I'm not talking about an-iPad-per-kid kind of investment, but investment to hire great teachers, lots of them, to public schools to the point that tutoring scho…

>>Here it goes: if the US wants to invest in local talent, the US had better invest heavily in education. As some one who worked in US and returned to India. Let me tell you immigrants will support this as soon as they get their US passports and Green Cards. It's just which side of the fence you sit on. Once these people have a stake in your country, they magically shift their loyalties to the exact opposite position…

yes I don't understand why people don't just stay in their countries for a while. people need to stop hopping around the world chasing $. leaving dangerous/unsafe places is a different matter. we are in a digital world and the work done in the Bay on h1b can be done from India. people can stay in their countries and build them up and keep the talent there. if US tech companies are desperate for talent they should just build engineering facilities in India and figure out the remote work situation. Honestly the talented Gen Z Indian youths aren't even fussed about moving abroad and have enough opportunity domestically, why should they put up with the hardship of being an immigrant where they are not wanted when they can stay near their parents and still work for Apple on interesting stuff?

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#549

Post by cylinder »

dpbriggs wrote: post #70
belltaco wrote: post #38

This is great news for Canada. Once the Covid situation resolves, if Trudeau doesn't give a lot of incentives for tech companies to build offices there Canada will miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Canada has already been benefiting from the recent restrictions on work visas and rejecting visas for no reason, for example by saying a forensic pathologist isn't a specialty occupation. https://www.npr.org/20…

Wouldn't TN visas be a workaround?

TN is for Canadian citizens working in the US. The opportunity for Canada is about (mostly Indian but other nationalities too) offering easy visas to skilled professionals so US tech companies can relocate them (or they can move independently) to Canada and not have to deal with the broken US system.

Re: Executive order expected to suspend H-1B, other visas until end of year

#550

Post by cylinder »

andrewgodwin wrote: post #8

I'm (worriedly) curious how this will affect people trying to change jobs on a H1-B, as technically you need to file a new petition each time, and I can see them somehow denying those too.

the entry ban will be for visa issuance at Consulates and entry into the US from abroad.

what you are talking about would require a rule-making process and/or statutory change. they are going to try that, but it will take longer and will be subject to judicial review.

AC21 lets you change employers without waiting for the petition to be approved. that's statutory. much harder to change as it would require Congress.

eventually, your visa label will expire. after that, if you need to travel overseas, you will need a new visa label and under this proposed exec order, if it's still active you will not be able to return. so you will have to avoid overseas travel entirely until the ban is lifted.

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