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U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

wsj.com

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Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#511

Post by BobbyJo »

maest wrote: post #333
jimbo808 wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's clear you are not considering the long-term effects of labor policy. If we want a stronger domestic workforce, the answer is to incentivize Americans to develop the skills we need and to train them when they do not already have those skills. Mass importing foreign labor is not a substitute for building and investing in the domestic workforce.

Btw, this is analogous to the argument for positive discrimination: Preferentially treat one group of people (non-white/women/Americans) even if in the short term the revealed preference of businesses is to hire a different group of people (white/men/immigrants), such that, in the long term, the first group of people can develop the necessary skills to compete with the second group. Short term pain for long term gain…

The arguments can be the same but have entirely different hidden variables that make it fine to use the argument in one context and not the other.

Also, this ignores that the government works for citizens, no matter their race. Promoting racial equality among citizens is a function that the government might undertake. Pursuing policies that favor citizens over non-citizens falls in line with that same reasoning.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#512

Post by ks2048 »

yalogin wrote: post #37

This one doesn’t mention tourist visas, so I am guessing they will be issued? I don’t get what benefit they see by inconveniencing and potentially harming folks that are already in the country legally to just live their lives. I get that this administration’s goal is to completely shut down all immigration and potentially even remove folks here legally too but there will be a cost to bear for the country because of t…

"tourist visas" is in the sub-headline.

"The State Department and Department of Homeland Security are reviewing all B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas, he said."

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#513

Post by itake »

nostrebored wrote: post #505
ra0x3 wrote: post #375

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think the situation is quite simple. Companies want the best candidates they can get, and the larger the recruitment pool, the better. Respectfully, this sounds terribly naive.

Having worked at a few large companies, this was the case at all of them. I do think there is a messy middle of companies built on vibes.

There are 2 issues:

1/ Employment provides training and experience. If the h1bs are given access to the jobs (training and experience), then is it the American's fault that they are no longer considered "best"?

2/ h1b increases labor supply, not the demand. More supply, means lower wages for everyone.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#514

Post by foltik »

15155 wrote: post #458
scoofy wrote: post #440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, anyone who is still defending this administration isn't even trying to have a conversation in good faith. I have a Republican friend who appreciates the Supreme Court Justices, and then suddenly has zero clue about any news story involving the administration, and shrugs off the war. This despite meticulously following Benghazi hearings when it was someone he wanted to dislike. He would rather Trump be Romney,…

> defending this administration "Leave to renew" has been policy for decades.

> isn't even trying to have a conversation in good faith.

What about the sweeping halt of all legal immigrant visa processing?

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#515

Post by ModernMech »

dzonga wrote: post #19

the current admin are working hard to destroy the U.S as if they're foreign agents. not only are they making it hard & unbearable for families of US citizens & PR holders to be together. while at the same time - discouraging talent to come to the US at a crucial time when talent is at a premium due to A.I development. last the backwards energy policy of banning renewable energy.

> the current admin are working hard to destroy the U.S as if they're foreign agents.

They are insurgents. These people are Confederates.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#516

Post by itake »

yodsanklai wrote: post #347
sinecure wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was never about talent. It's about companies hiring foreigners on h1b visas at below market wages where their life in the USA is contingent on their job performance forcing them to work harder and longer than their peers to remain in the country. It's a situation that only benefits companies, while harming US citizens who have to compete with the lower wages of foreigners.

I work in a global company. As an interviewer, I don't even know if the person I interview is a US citizen. I don't even know if they live in the US or another country, and I'm probably not allowed to ask. I just rate their performance. And everybody is paid the same. I think the situation is quite simple. Companies want the best candidates they can get, and the larger the recruitment pool, the better. If tomorrow yo…

If the h1bs are given access to the jobs (training and experience), then is it the American's fault that they are no longer considered "best"?

Google (and friends) famously have teams composed of a single national origin (or caste...). What does that say about their hiring bar?

Google (and friends) are already expanding the Shanghai and Zurich offices.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#517

Post by [deleted] »

rayiner wrote: post #388
shostack wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cruelty is the point.

It’s not “cruelty” to have and enforce rules. The words “temporary” and “nonimmigrant” is plastered all over the laws that govern these visas. People shouldn’t have treated them as permanent immigration visas. And employers shouldn’t have mislead employees into thinking these were permanent immigration visas. It’s like saying that it’s “cruelty” to remove someone who uses a 2 hour parking spot as their permanent car…

[deleted]

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#518

Post by cheonc720 »

testbjjl wrote: post #507
NeutralWanted wrote: post #429

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speak for yourself, I voted for exactly these policies.

But will remain anonymous and are okay with the collateral damage. My suspicion is that competition makes you feel insecure. I was born and raised in SF, and I see this not only with immigrants but also from people who feel violated by migrants. There is a spectrum. It’s ugly, short sighted and unhelpful. It’s what it takes to make the valley, but people love pulling up ladders. At least, behind an alias, you’re will…

> But will remain anonymous and are okay with the collateral damage.

Have you worked at a tech company in 2026?

Plenty of engineers, born in India/China and working in Silicon Valley, are openly anti-immigration. And I also support them since I agree with them.

Pull up the ladder once you’ve made it.

Nothing new.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#519

Post by green_wheel »

Razengan wrote: post #396
trgn wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> to enforce artificial borders and deny everyone this basic freedom. a very postnational view, humanist in a way, lipsius or erasmus would recognize it. that sort of individuated cosmopolitanism only works for educated men and women with means, who have or have the capacity to self-actualize. not for the masses. the nation is still a cradle to protect and nurture the commonwealth, and given that they took hundreds t…

> and given that they took hundreds to sometimes thousands of years to form, i don't think borders are artificial in the least. "Borders" as they are treated today began barely 200 years ago, and only started being enforced so strictly since WW1 and then even worse after WW2. For the vast >95% of human history, if you could walk to somewhere and survive there, you could live there. The real ironic shit is that most o…

> For the vast >95% of human history, if you could walk to somewhere and survive there, you could live there

For 95% of human history we were hunter gatherers living in extremely sparsely populated areas.

Re: U.S. State Department pauses immigrant visa applications

#520

Post by sandmn »

ElProlactin wrote: post #387
486sx33 wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not until all Americans who can work have jobs

And what do you do about the people who only want to work in jobs that they're not qualified for, and who have unrealistic expectations about pay, benefits, work demands, etc.? Is every natural-born American entitled to a job that pays what they want, for the hours they want, in the location they want, regardless of their qualifications for the job?

But isn't that how market supposed to work? Company offers to pay x for the job, can't find anyone for x, so it raises salary to x+y.

I would understand logic of bringing people from other countries when there is a shortage of workers but with current market it doesn't seem to be the case.

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