Fee hike impact: Not many takers for H-1B work visas

[ChromeFoundry]

Source: The Economic Times of India

19 Aug, 2010, 09.34PM IST,PTI

WASHINGTON: Applications for H-1B work visas, once most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, have not even reached the 50 per cent mark of the Congressional-mandated quota of 65,000, US officials have said, amid India's concerns over the fee hike for the scheme.

According to the latest figures released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), just 29,700 people had applied for H-1B visas till August 13. In the separate higher-education category, the USCIS had received only 12,300 petitions so far.

Till two years ago, the cap for both the categories of H-1B visas was reached within the first few days and USCIS had to resort to computerised draw of lots to decide the successful applicants.

The low-key response this year comes amid India's concerns over the hike in H1-B and L1 visa fee, which would adversely affect Indian IT companies.


Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/Fee-hike-impact-Not-many-takers-for-H-1B-work-visas/articleshow/6340982.cms

[Newsjock]

1. H-1Bs no longer needed

When the job itself has been moved to Bangalore, there's no longer any need to go through the hassle of importing the H-1B worker into the USA. Corporate America is "smart" like that.

[davidwparker]

8. which is why I've stopped dealing with companies like

that. I've been supporting local businesses. cutting back on services of the large corporations which do, so that they get less of my $$$.

doing without works well, too. less complications.

[DesertFlower]

12. my husband works for one of those companies.

been with them for 41 years. do you think he should quit his job? he's very upset about the H1B visas. he's not angry with the people who have the jobs. says they're very nice hard working intelligent people.

if you want to "do without" that's fine.

[superconnected]

13. I agree they are nice, intelligent etc. but so were all those americans they replaced

that I worked with before they came and I mean at the 3 jobs that I was present that this happened to.

By the way, even though they're nice and bright, they aren't par and take years to get there but go home before I've seen one reach the level of the person that was laid off who's place they took.

[DesertFlower]

16. i agree. i've contacted our senators

and representatives about this. it's not the mexicans who are taking the good jobs, it's the H1B people. BTW. i think you know that they get paid much less than the people they've replaced.

the only reason my husband still has his job is because he has a special skill that not many people have.

[sledgehammer]

18. A job is a job

Whether they are "good jobs" taken by an H1B person, or a not-so-good job taken by "mexicans", they should be treated equally.

Fine, shut the H1B program. There are problems in the program, and in periods of such high, continued unemployment it doesn't make much sense to continue with it. But then apply the same to all foreign employment, including undocumented workers. Write your Senators about them too (if you have, good for you).

I've said this before but will say it again. The hypocrisy on DU is astounding. When it comes to undocumented workers, there is generally nothing but sympathy. Millions of "American jobs" taken, billions in taxes unpaid (despite the additional burden on localities to support increasing populations), shattered wages across the board, no contribution to social security, countless laws broken, etc.

But any attempt to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to enter/work/stay in the US, and you'll see a support and sympathy for illegals on DU. Anything against H1Bs e.g. employers going to jail, reductions in numbers, companies not hiring, etc.? Massive applause all around.

I'm no Lou Dobbs, and I personally believe in a path to citizenship (with payment of backtaxes and fines) for illegal immigrants. But I find the DU hypocrisy quite pathetic, and won't shy away from pointing that out.

And yes, I came as a student on an F1 visa. Studied at a top state school paying full out-of-state fees. Got a job through competitive on-campus recruiting during the Tech boom and was sponsored on an H1B visa. Was paid exactly as much as everyone else hired in the same class as me and got the virtually the same raises/bonuses as everyone else (sometimes more, sometimes less). Got my green card after a few years. Then my citizenship. Paid every single dime of tax that I owed. I've been laid off and unemployed for a while. Have been an active member of the community. Spent countless hours doing voluntary teaching for adults (GED, ESL, etc). Organized a book drive for troops in Afghanistan, and got other recent immigrants to take part and write thank you cards to the troops for their service. Organized a food drive for Katrina evacuees. Constantly donate whatever I can to help others (including people on DU who are struggling with expenses). Phonebanked and went door-to-door for Obama, and proudly voted for him in 2008. Completed two Masters degrees after my undergrad. And now, after 10+ years of working in the corporate/company world, I am voluntarily planning to dedicate my career to nonprofit work (this is my plan, working on it these days, let's see what happens).

Yes, that's the story of an evil H1Ber. Choice words have been hurled at people like us on this board ("Send the leeches home" remains my favorite). But hey, we're here. We've never broken the law. We've paid and done everything asked of us. The vast majority of us got hired competitively and fairly. And we'll be staying, thank you very much. Just like all the other immigrants over generations who have worked hard to build this country, no doubt with the welcoming arms and support of those already here, we understand the value of coming to this country, and we do whatever we can to return to it.

(Interestingly, my brothers who are both born US citizens are nowhere near as involved or determined as I am. And they probably don't value the opportunities and blessings of America even a fraction as much as I do.)

There is a very valid debate on "American jobs" being lost, especially in this economy. But it should not be targeted only toward H1Bers.

[DesertFlower]

19. i never said H1B workers are evil.

undocumented workers -- i believe in a path to citizenship.

as far as jobs being good or bad, i don't know anyone who is willing to pick lettuce in yuma, arizona where it's 120 degrees.

[sledgehammer]

20. OK

So, using your example, perhaps you may also not know too many people who are willing to work at the lower wages that some H1Bers are paid for the hours they are made to work. In some H1B cases, as pointed out by people on this board, it's like indentured servitude.

Therefore, the abuse of the H1B program works. Just like undocumented workers take jobs that others would do at higher wages.

If one job is cushier than another, that shouldn't give it better protection under the law.

PS: Evil is not a word used by you, but much worse has been used on these boards over the years and I was responding to that.

[DesertFlower]

22. my husband just got home and i

asked him if they keep the H1B workers. he said they keep them for 1 year then send them back to india to work. then they bring another worker over to replace the one they sent home. the bottom line is the companies don't care about the H1B workers or the american workers. all they care about is making more money. i'm not going to say how much my husband makes per hour, but the H1B person is paid less than 1/2 of what he makes. there was a time when it was 1/4. most of them live in an apartment complex across the street from work. 4 or 5 people share an apartment and they buy 1 car to share.

i'm really sorry that you've been called evil and worse. i wish you well and hope you get another job soon.

[sledgehammer]

29. Like I said..

...there's some form of indentured servitude in the way some of the H1Bs are handled.

The conditions you describe would probably qualify their jobs as "bad" jobs. Just like you can't imagine anyone wanting to pick lettuce in 120 degree heat, it's also unlikely that anyone would want to be working as an H1B in the conditions you mentioned. My point is that a job is a job. If people are concerned about jobs in general being lost to H1Bers, they should be concerned as much about jobs being lost to illegal immigrants. Regardless of the goodness or badness of the job.

Thanks for your concern. I was laid off back in the day, then was re-employed. Recently I voluntarily left my last job to start working on a nonprofit idea I am passionate about. Let's see where that goes.

[Art_from_Ark]

23. I doubt anyone is picking lettuce in 120 degree heat

since lettuce is a winter vegetable that cannot survive very long in even 90-degree weather.

[DesertFlower]

24. thank you for that information, but i'm

sure there are other things growing that have to be picked.

[w4rma]

26. Not in the desert, however. (nt)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

21. Exactly.

Only when the "good jobs" are at risk does DU suddenly wake up. Many here don't give a rat's ass about blue-collar workers being displaced by illegal immigrants. And any mention of India, even when it has nothing to do with outsourcing/offshoring, still brings out people who mention it apropos of nothing. When defending illegal immigrants, we hear "But they're poor and desperate," as if India has no poverty.

And I'm also not a Lou Dobbs type. I can't stand the guy, and I think we should have sensible immigration reform, including letting otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants obtain their citizenship.

[w4rma]

25. There is *alot* of non-sympathy to illegal workers. As there is to H1-B visas, also. (nt)

[sledgehammer]

28. If so, it's been quite muted on DU

Perhaps people being politically correct - H1Bs are easy targets compared to illegal immigrants. Who knows.

The openly expressed non-sympathy toward illegal workers on DU is at most 1% of that toward H1Bs.

[Francesca9]

30. The jobs have moved

and they no longer need a US visa to get them

[OhioChick]

2. Good...time to put unemployed US citizens back to work

U.S.: H-1B workers outnumber unemployed techies

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9133529/U.S._H_1B_workers_outnumber_unemployed_techies

[musette_sf]

27. + 1 and thanks for the link

[BootinUp]

3. Sounds like a future hike might be a good idea.

just throwin it out there.

[Frisbee]

5. You read my mind! n/t

[BootinUp]

6. I learned how from watching Fringe, lol. nt

[Frisbee]

9. And they say TV rots your mind! haha

[aggiesal]

11. How about this logo?

[superconnected]

15. At this point, I expect Fox to move to Dubai

I mean that seems to be the popular place for the highest of the right wing

Head of Xe (formerly Black Water)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4507776

Haliburton
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x269308

[superconnected]

14. +1000000

[xchrom]

4. Just end this visa program.

If something else needs to shaped - do it then.

But right now we need our techies and teachers and nurses working.

[ORDagnabbit]

7. good and now start revoking the ones already given out.. I have way to many friends in the IT field

out of work....including myself.

[aggiesal]

10. Yet the work continues to get done ...

What does that mean?

H1-B's are not needed.

Hire laid-off American engineers!!!!!

[rAVES]

17. We used to have to que over night in the hopes of getting one..

Pre bush days, since then it's just a case of popping in and submitting to the fact that you'll be treated like a criminal by default on transit.

[Rod85]

31. End the Visa worker program for good

The Visa worker program was started in the 1950's only for temporary workers to pick crops.
What has grown from it is a corrupt system robbing Americans of jobs.


The United States is spending $11 Billion building up the military on Guam. The Guam Department of Labor
petitioned to exempt Guam from the Federal H-2 Visa program.

They are bringing in 33,000 H-2 workers and they will be moved from contract, to contract, to contract,
to contract for up to 3 years. Federal Law says they can only come in and do the job on their visa.

But not on Guam. Americans that want the jobs can't even get them. It is so corrupt over here people in
the Government of Guam have already been caught demanding cash from contractors to bring in H-2's.

I am deeply saddened our Democratic Congress and our President is not stopping this atrocity robbing Americans
of jobs.

The Visa Work Program needs to be shut down.