Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

lofgren.house.gov

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 63 posts

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#51

Post by scarface74 »

rhapsodic wrote: post #7

As a software developer and a US citizen, this is to my advantage. I hope it quickly becomes the law of the land.

Depending on the company, I'm usually considered a "lead developer", architect, or some other title that requires me to spend 30-50% of my time either in meetings with business people, designing, planning, or mentoring. I have trained hard for those skills. I don't see companies outsourcing software engineers, if all a developer can do is sling code around without understanding system development and architecture, they are no less of a commodity than the factory worker getting outsourced.

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#52

Post by fedeoasi »

Retric wrote: post #31
tucaz wrote: post #17

"Unless dependent employers compensate their H-1B workers above the required wage level, they must make attestations regarding recruitment and non-displacement of U.S. workers" Does this mean that a company can pay below the 130k if it can prove that it's not possible to hire an American even with higher wages?

Yes, the 130k figure does nothing in practice.

And yet all the panic portrayed by the press is generated by the 130k figure.

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#53

Post by matt_wulfeck »

CodeSheikh wrote: post #11
EduardoBautista wrote: post #5

Section 8 provides a way to make it easier for students to immigrate by allowing dual-intent.

Yup this seals the deal for this proposal. If you are a student who obtains a degree at a USA college and if you can find a competitive job then "Welcome to the USA". So basically as a foreigner you have to be an above average student.

That's great news. I firmly believe we should be stapling greencards to the back of higher education diplomas.

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#54

Post by dogma1138 »

explainthisth wrote: post #42
rhapsodic wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You sure about that? Right now, consulting companies spam the lottery with shitty jobs. With the new system favoring quality $130k+ jobs there will be a bigger supply of good H1Bs to compete with. The supply is artificially set by law. The fact that they will cost $130K instead of whatever it was before will make it much easier for me to compete with them. It might also make it economically feasible for US companie…

It should make it easier for Americans to get the jobs Infosys is hiring for at $70k, and harder for Americans to get jobs from Google at $250k.

There's nothing wrong with working for Infosys. How many people you think are capable and want to work for Google?

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#55

Post by rhapsodic »

spapin wrote: post #40
rhapsodic wrote: post #26

I was a free market libertarian until about last week, when I finally got sick of being lectured and called names by tech billionaires. Now I'm for anything that helps me financially, and hurts these people. If the H1B program were abolished entirely, my compensation would shoot up there with doctors' and lawyers', and the tech billionaires would be slightly less rich. This measure doesn't go that far, but it's a ste…

It also seem likely that opening an office outside of the USA may become an interesting alternative. Then your wage and your job may be at risk. If impact to you is how you evaluate things, it would seem like there's room for worries.

> It also seem likely that opening an office outside of the USA may become an interesting alternative. Then your wage and your job may be at risk. If impact to you is how you evaluate things, it would seem like there's room for worries.

There are a lot of people on this thread who don't understand how the law of supply and demand works.

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#56

Post by rhapsodic »

explainthisth wrote: post #42
rhapsodic wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You sure about that? Right now, consulting companies spam the lottery with shitty jobs. With the new system favoring quality $130k+ jobs there will be a bigger supply of good H1Bs to compete with. The supply is artificially set by law. The fact that they will cost $130K instead of whatever it was before will make it much easier for me to compete with them. It might also make it economically feasible for US companie…

It should make it easier for Americans to get the jobs Infosys is hiring for at $70k, and harder for Americans to get jobs from Google at $250k.

> It should make it easier for Americans to get the jobs Infosys is hiring for at $70k, and harder for Americans to get jobs from Google at $250k.

Why would it make a qualified American developer less attractive to Google?

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#57

Post by rhapsodic »

tn13 wrote: post #36
rhapsodic wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's simple economics. H1B's increase the supply of developers in the US, relative to the demand. And that drives the price of developers (i.e. wages) down. I don't think any intelligent person can fail to understand that. To answer your question, I don't have trouble finding or keeping employment. This move will simply drive up my market value. So I'm for it.

> It's simple economics. H1B's increase the supply of developers in the US, relative to the demand. And that drives the price of developers (i.e. wages) down. I don't think any intelligent person can fail to understand that. The simple economics you are quoting will argue against protectionism. Even hypothetically assuming it will increase wages it will in turn make it costly to innovate and increase the cost of serv…

> The simple economics you are quoting will argue against protectionism. Even hypothetically assuming it will increase wages it will in turn make it costly to innovate and increase the cost of services for average American consumer.

You're quite right, of course, and until about a week ago, I would have opposed this change to the law on that basis. But I've had a bellyful of being lectured and name-called by self-righteous billionaires. So now whatever hurts them and helps me, I'm all for.

And although protectionism does hurt a country overall, it helps individuals and companies that are protected from competition. And for this change to the H1B law, I fall into that group. So bring on the protectionism, I say.

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#58

Post by rhapsodic »

tn13 wrote: post #30
rhapsodic wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Would love to know how! Our company just move one of our department to Pune because it was hard to get H1Bs. With that I think at least 4 Americans lost their jobs. What greedy, heartless, unpatriotic company do you work for? I'm sure a massive name-and-shame campaign against them will convince them to restore those 4 jobs. And perhaps the Republicans could explore the possibility of imposing surcharges on fees paid…

> What greedy, heartless, unpatriotic company do you work for? Just the kind that almost every American works for and little better than the owned by out President. If you know any unselfish, living, patriotic company that is also profitable that pays well please refer me I will join there! > Republicans could explore the possibility of imposing surcharges on fees paid to offshore development shops, to encourage a mo…

> I know you have been sarcastic.

No, I'm quite serious. I've had a bellyful of being lectured by boy billionaires. Anything that helps me and hurts them, I'm all for.

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#59

Post by explainthisth »

rhapsodic wrote: post #56
explainthisth wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It should make it easier for Americans to get the jobs Infosys is hiring for at $70k, and harder for Americans to get jobs from Google at $250k.

> It should make it easier for Americans to get the jobs Infosys is hiring for at $70k, and harder for Americans to get jobs from Google at $250k. Why would it make a qualified American developer less attractive to Google?

Because it will become easier to import someone who is more qualified.

Re: H-1B draft with proposed changes [pdf]

#60

Post by explainthisth »

dogma1138 wrote: post #54
explainthisth wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It should make it easier for Americans to get the jobs Infosys is hiring for at $70k, and harder for Americans to get jobs from Google at $250k.

There's nothing wrong with working for Infosys. How many people you think are capable and want to work for Google?

I'm not saying it's morally right or wrong. I'm just saying the set of people that get H1B visas will change, and the shift will be toward higher-end jobs.
Post reply on HN