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Information WeekThe IEEE and Semiconductor Industry Association both hope to create exemptions for foreign professionals with advanced STEM degrees.
October 11, 2007 05:25 PM
Two large tech industry organizations that don't see eye to eye on H-1B visa issues have joined together to urge Congress to put immigration reform back on their legislative radar screen.
In a letter sent Thursday to the chairmen and ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate committees on judiciary and immigration and citizenship matters, the IEEE- USA and Semiconductor Industry Assoc. (SIA) urged Congress for immigration reform this year that address several key issues, especially employment-based visas, or green cards.
While the IEEE-USA as long opposed Congressional proposals to raise the cap on H-1B visas -- the visa most frequently used to bring foreign tech workers temporarily into the U.S -- the SIA has lobbied to raise that annual cap, which is currently set at 85,000, including 20,000 visas for foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM fields.
Raising the cap on H-1B visas -- along with many other assorted proposals, including H-1B anti-abuse, anti-fraud provisions, and changes in green-card processes and policies, were all part of controversial and comprehensive immigration reform legislation that Congress had been considering earlier this year.
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