U.S. to allow some H-1B worker spouses to work

[Newsjock]

Source: Computerworld

The White House today said it is giving final approval to a rule change that will allow some H-1B visa workers' spouses to get jobs.

Beginning May 26 -- 90 days from today -- the spouses of H-1B holders applying for permanent residency will be able to get work authorizations. Under current rules they cannot hold a job.

About 97,000 people will be eligible for employment in the first year of this rule change.

... Employment for H-1B spouses is controversial. During the U.S. comment period, there were many comments from people who saw the increase of foreign skill workers as more competition for jobs.

Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/article/2888047/us-to-allow-some-h-1b-worker-spouses-to-work.html

[Dan]

1. well if this continues

maybe the H-1B's will need maid service - so the displaced Americans workers can stay employed.

[jberryhill]

2. They'll probably buy burgers now and then too

[on point]

3. I think H-1B program is a massive fraud. But if we did need them, a spouse should be able to work...

[groundloop]

4. Well this might ease the shortage of engineers (who'll work for peanuts)

This fucking science and engineering shortage has been manufactured by corporations so they can keep salaries low. We certainly don't need more H1B workers here, though I'm sure our corporate overlords are pleased.

[antigop]

5. +1000 nt

[whereisjustice]

7. you are 100% correct, I deal with it every day.

[peacebird]

9. Absolutely correct. H1b's are needed ONLY to bring down the wages of Americans.

Flood the labor market with cheap workers, more expensive American workers are let go. At their next job the American worker makes less because the average wage for that job is now lower due to cheap labor from H1B workers.

[appalachiablue]

12. +10 I wonder if college students majoring in computer studies, IT have any idea of the scope of this

and how it's been going on since the 90s from what I've read here by people who were highly educated and then lost their careers. The visas go beyond computer work to fields like HVAC, telecom techs, corp. business functions, at least in the east.

[OhioChick]

14. Agreed n/t

[Munificence]

15. You hit the nail on the head there

I hired in as an engineer in 1996 in research and development, I think I started at either 53K a year or $55K. 4-5 years later we were hiring them in at maybe $40K a year. Who knows about today? I got out of engineering in 2002 and started a business that was not related to "engineering".

[whereisjustice]

6. Fucking perfect. Wall Street's wet dream. More jobs for India, fewer for America. eom

[Je me souviens]

8. Of course...

[link:|

[shaayecanaan]

10. Everyone says that until they get outsourced (nt)

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

11. Many visa categories allow dependents of principal aliens to work

for example, the spouse of an L visa holder can work, as can the spouse of a J visa worker. In many cases, spouses of H-1B workers are themselves well educated and would certainly contribute to the U.S. economy. In particular, I can think of the spouse of an H-1B medical researcher who is himself a Ph.D. biochemist who took time off work to raise their two kids and who now may be able to obtain employment authorization.

Do note that this employment authorization for H-4 spouses is only applicable if the principal alien is at the advanced stages toward a green card, not to all H-4 spouses.

H-1B visas are not just for IT positions... never mind, I learned that discussing visas with some on DU and trying to dispel many myths about visas is a worthless pursuit...

..smh..

[Recursion]

13. IIRC most H visas are farm workers (nt)

[Skittles]

16. Americans are sick of their jobs, their future being pimped to the lowest bidders

but never mind, we have learned that discussing this with some on DU and getting them to see it is a FUCKING SCAM to enrich corrupt corporations is a WORTHLESS PURSUIT