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USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

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Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#31

Post by mzs »

pslam wrote: post #17
PeterisP wrote: post #14

A big complaint seen about H1B process is that it's used to import cheap workers instead of great workers - i.e., not increasing USA quality, but allowing employers to decrease average wages by replacing supposedly expensive locals with cheaper H1Bs. There can be a simple solution - instead of measuring requirements for "highly qualified workers" by forced advertisements where companies try to get no 'qualified' peop…

> A big complaint seen about H1B process is that it's used to import cheap workers instead of great workers - i.e., not increasing USA quality, but allowing employers to decrease average wages. It is illegal to do that. As part of the H1B process, an employer must demonstrate that a temporary H1B worker will be paid the prevailing wage, using the hiring record of others in the same job role. It is extremely expensive…

Consultoconacorp needs people with six years of Go and Raspberry Pi experience. We looked and can't find them.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#32

Post by arenaninja »

I'm not an expert on the subject, but I distinctly remember Oracle's CEO complaining about H1B visas for our graduation speech. It was a stale speech, particularly when their company never even sent a Rep to our school's career fair. It took me months (7) to get a web dev position as a physics major, often because I was perceived as a weaker candidate. My git projects were never even looked at and I was once told to my face that the company doesn't hire physics majors for developer positions. Now, two months on the job, I've fixed runaway JavaScript code that ruined UX on various pages, decreased memory overhead by at least 50% as a starting point and extended a large open source project so it does more for us. These are just the projects out of my own initiative. In the meantime my physics friends are largely unemployed (all but two, me being one of those two) and no company wants any training at all. So forgive me if I'm all out of sympathy for these companies, even if I feel for the global workers affected, but I've seen first-hand the dehumanizing dismissiveness that you are treated with as an entry level dev

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#33

Post by krakensden »

manishsharan wrote: post #24

fyi - Exemption for U.S. Master's Degree: Under the law the first 20,000 H1B petitions that are filed on behalf of foreign nationals that have earned an advanced degree from a U.S. institution of higher education are exempt from the USCIS H1B quota. This essentially creates a separate pool of 20,000 additional H1B visa numbers each fiscal year that are available only to those foreign nationals who have earned a Maste…

Which is why there are master's degree mills for the people running bodyshops.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#34

Post by geebee »

pslam wrote: post #15
WildUtah wrote: post #5

It's long past time to put these up for bid instead of lottery. Companies that really need talent and will pay fairly for it are being held up by cheap CRUD labor sweatshop employers that file mountains of applications. If we met the serious needs first, measured reasonably well by willingness to pay, there would be more than enough visas. That's in addition to other reforms this program needs like the right to switc…

A bidding system would inevitably favor businesses with more resources to spend on employment. I'm not sure whether that would end up being a good thing. It's already extremely expensive to hire someone on an H1B visa, despite what myths may have been spread, due to legal and logistical expenses. There is an abuse I have however heard of (sorry no citation): obtaining H1B visas for employees you never intend to bring…

the problem with the "extremely expensive" claim is that you do get a worker who is somewhat captive in a tight labor market. It is inaccurate to claim, as some people do, that H1B holders can't switch jobs, but they do face much greater barriers (they can't just quit, enter a new field, start up their own business or consultancy... even changing to a nearly identical job in the same field requires new sponsorship).

If the visa were awarded directly to the immigrant in such a way that an H1B holder had essentially the same job mobility as a green card holder, I'd be more inclined to agree that the process is expensive. After all, you'd be paying big $$ to hire someone who has the right to quit the first day on the job.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#35

Post by glasshead969 »

shaohua wrote: post #25

God. This is depressing. Only 52% of chance getting a Visa. Who wants to buy a 2011 Mini Cooper? I am selling my car and ready to go back to China.

Its more than 52% because the number includes Higher degree exempt applications. For example if its a 90K + 30K cut, then regular quota has 65% chance and higher degree quota has around 86% chance. I wish you luck.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#36

Post by jdross »

ultimoo wrote: post #12
jdross wrote: post #7

It's insane. I have a coworker who is an unbelievably talented and respected developer both at my company and in the open source community. He has been working on a student visa after he graduated from an Ivy League school in computer science last year. That the U.S. is even considering deporting him is batshit crazy to me.

I had heard second-hand that international employees of reputable companies like Google etc. have preference for H1-B applications or for Green Cards, I forget which. But in case you happen to be working for a (large) well known company, there is a chance that the immigration team could leverage this (if they aren't already) for your co-worker.

We're waiting on the lottery for now, and have our legal team and friends thinking about what to do otherwise.

We're a relatively small company (~75) company, so it's quite disruptive.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#37

Post by tosseraccount »

pslam wrote: post #17
PeterisP wrote: post #14

A big complaint seen about H1B process is that it's used to import cheap workers instead of great workers - i.e., not increasing USA quality, but allowing employers to decrease average wages by replacing supposedly expensive locals with cheaper H1Bs. There can be a simple solution - instead of measuring requirements for "highly qualified workers" by forced advertisements where companies try to get no 'qualified' peop…

> A big complaint seen about H1B process is that it's used to import cheap workers instead of great workers - i.e., not increasing USA quality, but allowing employers to decrease average wages. It is illegal to do that. As part of the H1B process, an employer must demonstrate that a temporary H1B worker will be paid the prevailing wage, using the hiring record of others in the same job role. It is extremely expensive…

Basic microeconomics shows that by increasing supply of labor, prices for labor go down.

The law of supply and demand can not be repealed by the HR department of Micrsoft, Wipro or Tata consulting filling out some paperwork.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#40

Post by mahyarm »

cletus wrote: post #20

Wow, I had no idea the H1B system reverted to a lottery at some point. I thought it was just a first-come first-served system. That just... sucks. Just a note for those of you who are looking for foreign workers or if you're an Australian citizen: you can get an E3 visa (2 years, multiple entry, renewable ad infinitum). There is a cap for these too but AFAIK it's never been hit (in the 5+ year history). The E3 has tw…

You can also do something similar with TN visas with Canadians & Mexicans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TN_status

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