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USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

uscis.gov

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Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#41

Post by tosseraccount »

joonix wrote: post #21
pslam wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

The biggest H1B employers are large IT consulting companies that do a round-robin of cheap Indian IT workers to work in the US and then go back home. The prevailing wage requirement is not grounded in reality. If it were, why would you bring IT consultants from India rather than hire domestically?

Oh my! You are right: http://www.businessweek.com/table/08/0305_h1b.htm (business week) shows that the H-1B is used mostly by Indian Outsourcing companies. It's the "outsourcing visa".

If companies want to outsource there is little capital controls preventing them. There doesn't need to be these "inexepensive labor" U.S. government provided subsidies for big companies in the form of guest workers.

I'd recommend vaccinations for expatriate managers and not more "outsourcing visas".

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#42

Post by WesternStar »

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…

We could also eliminate first past the post hiring by having a defined period for H1-B submissions and only letting in the highest paid 100000 that are submitted.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#43

Post by eliben »

tptacek wrote: post #39

We were warned months ago that for all intents and purposes, we'd have one day to get H1B paperwork in; the cap was hit almost immediately last year, too.

Not true. Last year the cap was reached in mid-June (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f...)

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#44

Post by tptacek »

eliben wrote: post #43
tptacek wrote: post #39

We were warned months ago that for all intents and purposes, we'd have one day to get H1B paperwork in; the cap was hit almost immediately last year, too.

Not true. Last year the cap was reached in mid-June ( http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f... )

Are our immigration attorneys crazy, or am I mixing up last year and a year before?

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#45

Post by c0mpute »

Sigh, this lottery reminds of those grim years of 2007/08 when the lottery was in effect. The demand then was largely due to the "bodyshopping" companies filing H1s even when they did not have a valid client. USCIS cracked down on them in the following years. Now it appears the general demand for IT has gone up.

Here is the distribution of H1-bs amongst companies last year (the cap was filled on June-11th I think).

http://www.myvisajobs.com/Reports/2013-H1B-Visa-Sponsor.aspx

Look at the number of offshoring companies in that list! And look at the average salaries they pay (still higher than the stipulated 60k I think). I am also aware of some of these offshoring companies who file for h1 and then don't bring the person to US in the year (they reserve it for future).

There should be some way to weed out these Indian offshorers who file for h1 and never use it.

Good luck to all who are hoping to get a H1! (that includes me)

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#47

Post by tosseraccount »

untog wrote: post #28
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…

Up for bid would be terrible news for the startup industry. It would be impossible for any startup (that desperately needs developers) to hire outside of the country.

If you want to help the startup industry, then how about making health insurance portable for the people over 35 that the start up industry won't hire? Then they could start their own garage based firms and compete the with the Sand Hill Road backed companies.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#48

Post by c0mpute »

tptacek wrote: post #44
eliben wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not true. Last year the cap was reached in mid-June ( http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f... )

Are our immigration attorneys crazy, or am I mixing up last year and a year before?

eliben is right. Last year the visas were available until June. The year before that it was sometime in November, and the year before that it was sometime in December. But, based on last year's pattern all attorneys predicted it would be reached on April 1st this year.

IIRC, it was in 2007/2008 when the cap was reached on day1.

Re: USCIS Reaches 2014 H-1B Cap

#49

Post by product50 »

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…

What about industries such as design, crafts or acting? They also hire H1Bs but cannot afford as high salaries as software engineering firms.
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