H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten Rules

Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by dmode on Monday January 09, 2017 @06:58PM (#13361191)

I support many H1B reforms - it is essentially a broken program. Canadian and Australian immigration systems provide a good model to build off of a successful high skilled guest worker program. Of course, like everything in the US, an army of lobbyists will prevent such common sense programs to be implemented.

Raising the minimum wage to 100K is the wrong approach. Computer science degree programs are a major source of development talent for many organizations, and I doubt most companies will be willing to pay 100K for jr developers graduating out of Master's program. This will start a weird loop were US higher education will no longer be attractive and talent pools will dwindle with universities suffering from major revenue shortfalls. And if students start going back to their native countries after a US higher education, it just enriches the talent pool abroad making outsourcing even more compelling.

Further, there are a number of professions outside of software that employ H1B candidates to perform important roles - mechanical engineers, industrial engineers, earthquake analysts etc Those fields have even more shortage of talent and a minimum 100K wage will further shrink the talent pool.

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Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by cbhl on Monday January 09, 2017 @07:29PM (#13361393)

CS grads can easily make over 110k with a Bachelor's on H1B in the SF Bay Area.

If you're looking to hire someone for less than that... hire an American!

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Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by cthalupa on Monday January 09, 2017 @07:51PM (#13361543)

In the SF Bay Area.

There are plenty of people who have no desire to live in places with that high of a cost of living.

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Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by kevin_thibedeau on Monday January 09, 2017 @07:59PM (#13361588)

But those markets and NYC are basically the only place to get those starting salaries and only in narrowly scoped fields that are "hot".

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Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by flukus on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @02:29AM (#13363304)

The Australian one certainly isn't an example to look to. Reading through these comments, almost all of the criticisms can be equally applied to ours. Plus, we often have jobs like hair dressing that fit into the "highly skilled" category.

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Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by nness on Monday January 09, 2017 @08:59PM (#13361896)

Coincidentally, Australian's can apply for a high-skilled 2-year working visa with the US, the E3 visa (separate from the H1B). Whenever I hear the US discuss visa reforms, I panic a little that they'd alter or outright scrap the E3 visa.

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Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by throwaway2017ab on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @01:39AM (#13363136)

I am a beneficiary of such a program in Canada called Express Entry. I quit my H1B job in US and is currently working in Canada and my Permanent residence process is in progress. I expect to get it within an year. I was selected based on my skills rather than my luck(H1B lottery) Canada's express entry system is a skill based immigration system. I think Australia's is similar. Under the Canada's system, the visa is not tied to the employer and if you have the skills(express entry point system), you get permanent residence.

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Re:H-1B Visas: U.S. Lawmaker Re-Introduces Bill to Tighten R... by eli_gottlieb on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @12:05PM (#13366427)

For those wondering how Canada's system works (I've been looking into it), you get points based on the following simple factors:

* Age

* Language skills (English and French, measured via standardized exams)

* Level of education

* Level of education and/or job experience in Canada

* Job offer

* Desired destination to live in (easier to move if you want to go somewhere underpopulated)

* Personal savings to prevent you becoming a burden

If you get enough points, they invite you to obtain Canadian permanent residency. If you don't, you can still get a work visa, work for a while, and re-apply later. Compared to the US immigration system, it's freakishly straightforward and reasonable.

New Zealand is even simpler: they'll just start your residency process based on the mere existence of a job offer and a few checkboxes regarding age, language, and education. They've got a whole "Move to New Zealand" website now, with pretty pictures, clear instructions, and government webpages bragging about their high quality-of-life.

It really leaves one thinking, wow, this is what a First World country acts like.

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