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

H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

economist.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 414 posts

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#61

Post by koolba »

DrJokepu wrote: post #44
koolba wrote: post #30

What's the argument against using an auction for H1-B visas rather than a lottery? That'd maximize the tax collected from their salaries and ensure the salaries are on par with the going rate for said workers. Arguably it's in the interests of everyone besides companies trying to get cheaper labor via H1-B visas. The only counterpoint I've ever heard is " It's not fair for company XYZ in low cost of living Podunk, US…

I guess an argument could be made that this would only maximize short-term tax revenue, and only tax revenue that is, as you said, collected from income taxes, which might or might not correlate to the guest worker's long-term direct and indirect contributions to the federal budget (and the American economy in general).

> I guess an argument could be made that this would only maximize short-term tax revenue, and only tax revenue that is, as you said, collected from income taxes, which might or might not correlate to the guest worker's long-term direct and indirect contributions to the federal budget (and the American economy in general).

All else being equal, I'd wager that the long term tax revenue collected from a guest worker with a higher starting salary will be more than one lower starting salary.

Tax revenue is a function of the worker's salary. Higher starting salaries will lead to higher salaries down the road.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#62

Post by darkdreams »

Slightly off topic. My understanding is that for every H-1B application that is filed the US government takes a ACWIA fee that is supposed to be used for improving competitiveness of the American worker and providing scholarships.

From https://www.uscis.gov/forms/h-and-l-filing-fees-form-i-129-p...

"SEC. 414 Collection and use of H-1B nonimmigrant fees for scholarships for low-income math, engineering, and computer science students and job training of United States workers".

I am curious whether they could quantify/prove/debunk the skills shortage theory using the scholarships that are given. Does anyone know about this?

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#63

Post by briandear »

mac01021 wrote: post #33
koolba wrote: post #30

What's the argument against using an auction for H1-B visas rather than a lottery? That'd maximize the tax collected from their salaries and ensure the salaries are on par with the going rate for said workers. Arguably it's in the interests of everyone besides companies trying to get cheaper labor via H1-B visas. The only counterpoint I've ever heard is " It's not fair for company XYZ in low cost of living Podunk, US…

Considering things from the point of view of the immigrant, the current h1b system seems to me like the only route to immigration for a person who is not exceptionally skilled or wealthy or connected. So there are definitely people who would like to immigrate who would lose out if it became an auction. I'm not saying those people should necessarily be a major consideration, but you did say "everyone besides companies…

H1 is a non immigrant visa; using for that purpose is fraudulent. Under the law, H1s should have no right to permenant residency unless they return on a proper immigrant visa -- otherwise, its vastly unfair to those that go through the legitimate process.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#64

Post by manarth »

heeen wrote: post #56
Swizec wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Slovenia an engineer with 10 years of experience makes $24,000/year. In Silicon Valley an engineer with 0.5 years of experience makes $100,000/year. Gee, I wonder why businesses want to employ foreigners and why foreigners want to work for US companies. Hmmmmm

H1B applicants have to be paid prevailing wage, I wonder where the notion of cheap h1b workers comes from.

  H1B applicants have to be paid prevailing wage
In theory, yes. In practice, research has shown otherwise: http://www.workpermit.com/news/research-finds-us-h1b-visa-ho...

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#65

Post by briandear »

heeen wrote: post #56
Swizec wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Slovenia an engineer with 10 years of experience makes $24,000/year. In Silicon Valley an engineer with 0.5 years of experience makes $100,000/year. Gee, I wonder why businesses want to employ foreigners and why foreigners want to work for US companies. Hmmmmm

H1B applicants have to be paid prevailing wage, I wonder where the notion of cheap h1b workers comes from.

"We can find an American for this job!" What salary are you offering? "$60k, that's the prevailing wage."

Then there must be a shortage, here's your H1.

If that "prevailing wage" were $100k, there wouldn't be a shortage.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#66

Post by secfirstmd »

aviraldg wrote: post #45
kls wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is the incentive system. I have never been known for my lack of directness and in given so, I used to work with an Indian developer who was very good at his job. So one day I just flat out asked him, I said Karthick why do a good portion of Indian developers suck, his response floored me. Without missing a beat he responded, look it's a misaligned incentive system. When I go back to India the first questi…

As a current CS student from India, I can completely back this theory. Most in my class are very sure they want to pursue a career in Computer Science, but have little to say if you ask them why. A good fraction of them, every year, end up joining consultancy firms in nontechnical roles, or (what I hate more) in HR - and are perfectly fine with it. Computers in India are not associated with the amazing feeling most o…

Sounds like most of the people I know who working banking and finance.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#67

Post by calvinbhai »

Because citizens of countries other than india and china don't really need h1 visas to work in US.

Many countries have treaty work visas (Canada / Mexico citizens can work on TB visa)

And those who study in US, if their employer starts green card process they can get their EAD before OPT expires.

Only Indians and Chinese have to rely on h1b.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#68

Post by cmdrfred »

heeen wrote: post #56
Swizec wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Slovenia an engineer with 10 years of experience makes $24,000/year. In Silicon Valley an engineer with 0.5 years of experience makes $100,000/year. Gee, I wonder why businesses want to employ foreigners and why foreigners want to work for US companies. Hmmmmm

H1B applicants have to be paid prevailing wage, I wonder where the notion of cheap h1b workers comes from.

Prevailing wages for the job title they are hired for. What they do is classify them as "junior programmer" and have them replace a senior programmer.

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#69

Post by raverbashing »

calvinbhai wrote: post #67

Because citizens of countries other than india and china don't really need h1 visas to work in US. Many countries have treaty work visas (Canada / Mexico citizens can work on TB visa) And those who study in US, if their employer starts green card process they can get their EAD before OPT expires. Only Indians and Chinese have to rely on h1b.

> Only Indians and Chinese have to rely on h1b.

Really?!

You're excluding all of Europe, Russia, Australia/NZ, Latin America, Africa

Yes, those people have developers, yes some of them are talented enough to want to apply for an H1B. But they have to stand in line because Tata needs another 1000 people to be exploited for cheap

Re: H-1B visas mainly go to Indian outsourcing firms

#70

Post by arjie »

patrickg_zill wrote: post #42
adekok wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

something something democracy . The country is run (roughly) on something resembling democracy and equality. If, instead, the ethos changes to "more power to people who pay more", we give up any pretence at democracy. We might as well just advertise that politicians are for sale. Which the mostly are right now, but at least they have to pay lip service to the people. Once that's gone, the culture of the country will…

America is not a democracy. It is a representative republic.

Meaningless distinction based off the differing meanings of 'democracy'. It's a constitutional representative democracy that is also a republic.

I don't even agree that a move like this takes power from the people but the democracy/republic distinction wasn't even relevant.

Post reply on HN