Just before 11 months for the US elections, Bill Nelson and Jeff Sessions of Democratic Party and Republican Party respectively, introduced a new H-1B bill. The legislation is about H1B Visas which says that such visas would be cut by 15,000 a year from 85,000 and only the high wage earners will get visa in this case.
Indian IT companies will be the ones who will get affected the most with this legislation. Major applicants of H1B visas are from India who want job-related stay, long term stay or non-immigration in the US.
Also Read: H-1B Visa 2017
As per reports, till 2011, a total of 85,000 H1B visas were there in the quota to be issued to foreign workers round the globe. And 2012 onwards, 20,000 visas got reserved for STEM US master degree holders. Other categories like extension, renewal and visa transfer got relieved from the quota. Apart from these, non-profit research organizations and higher educational institutions are also freed from the quota to let foreign citizens work for them.
This bill targets the companies who appoint low-wage workers over equally qualified US workers, said Nelson. Giving the visas only to higher wage workers is a good idea according to Nelson. It will curb the partiality among employees.
Nelson said that this H1B visa was introduced with a view to attract foreign workers who are highly specialized in their respective fields. Now cutting back the number of visas will again ensure that this visa is used in a right manner. The department of homeland security will allocate 70,000 H1B visas according to the salaries of foreign workers priority wise.
As per a media release, this bill would forbid an employer in giving priority to an H1B visa holder over a US worker. Nelson, along with his senate colleagues presented the bill to legislation for improvement of H1B visa programme. The bill also said that any employer, if recruit H1B visa holder, have to prove that he first tried to appoint a US worker.
H1B visas are very significant to USA economy according to the US citizenship and immigration department. And the most which would be affected by the legalization of this bill would be Indian IT companies.
A senior Nasscom official said, “With the legalization of H1B visa bill, US technology industry would get counter-productive due to the fact that highest wage earners will get priority and it’s good for the growth of country”.
So, now it’s the time for the industry to wake up and take things seriously.
A reduction is a good thing. As an American IT worker for 20+ years I have experienced a layoff and replacement by several h1b’s. As for this silly taxes argument, Id much rather find an American worker who could earn the wages and pay taxes. Sorry cooporations and sweatshops you will have to deal with it.
Putting a H1B next to a qualified individual so the H1B can beg for training is pretty hilarious to me. I would simply ignore him. If the employer pressures me to give away the shop, I will just quit.
I dont know what wronng with these people…. I beleieve they dont have any work at their offices and home than making bills for H1B…. If these people really feel sick of immigrants then they should stop getting immigrants into their country & try to educate them self rather than getting skills from outside country.
They get som much funds, H1B people pay so much in taxes which really help in raising US economy but in retirn they making it hell for innocent H!B..
Shame..
US government has to remove lottery and to provide H1B visa based on talent or some criteria which should be based on employee skills, due to lottery employee who doesn't have minimum knowldege also going .Cheap and useless employees are getting H1B visa which are replacing US employees.
US government has to think on Eligible criteria.