Bill Aims to Increase Number of Visas for Skilled Foreign Workers

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates met with U.S. Congress members in March 2008 to support increasing the number of annual H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers. (INDIAnewEngland.com courtesy photo: GIFFORDS)

A bill before the U.S. House of Representatives could allow thousands of more highly-educated Indians to work in the United States.

The Innovation Employment Act, introduced last month (March 2008) by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona, would double the nation’s cap on so-called H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers from 65,000 to 130,000.

In recent years, Indian nationals have used a large portion of the allotted H-1B visas; in 2006, Indians accounted for more than half of all such visa holders, according to a recent government report.

Giffords’ bill would gradually increase the cap to 180,000 over the next few years.

It would also eliminate an existing 20,000-person cap for H-1B visas applicants who are doctoral and masters students at U.S. universities who seek work in science-, technology-, engineering- and mathematics-related jobs.

Furthermore, it would create a new 20,000-person exemption for foreign graduates with such degrees who have secured offers at U.S.-based companies for those types of jobs.

“We think it's really important that the visa cap be raised....It's something that would greatly benefit the community,” said Priya Murthy, the policy director for South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow, an immigrant rights organization in Takoma Park, Md.

In 2006, about 130,000 Indians — both workers and their family sponsors — were able to stay in the United States through the H-1B visa program, said Murthy, who added that she hopes lawmakers will also address foreign workers’ rights issues as well as provide more opportunities for unskilled and skilled laborers.

Punam Singh Rogers, an immigration attorney with Foley Hoag LLP in Boston, called the bill a “win-win” for the U.S. economy, allowing more companies and universities to recruit foreign talent.

“If we want to be competitive, we have to have the ability to keep the best and brightest,” said Rogers, a board member of the South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston.

She called the current cap, as well as the 20,000-applicant limit for university graduates, “not enough.”

She said that under current law, U.S. employers must rely on the Immigration Services’ lottery system for U.S. employers to hire H-1B visa workers, rather than use a system of merit.

"Is this the best way for our U.S. employers to compete in a global economy?" Rogers asked.

She said Giffords’ bill would allow “those who we educate to stay and work here."

Michael Taylor of the U.S. Indian Political Action Committee, based in Washington D.C., also lauded the proposal by Giffords, but said he’d like to see the measure go even further to expand the visa program without limit.

"Ideally, we'd like to see no cap at all,” said Taylor, director of government affairs at the political action committee, and its sister group, the U.S. India Business Alliance.

Taylor said H-1B visas should be left up to supply and demand and that if needed, the United States could impose a cap based on the current economic needs of the country.

He also said there is a shortage of skilled workers in the United States to fill high-tech jobs, a sentiment shared by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, who last month (March 2008) spoke to the House Science and Technology committee in favor of increasing the number of H-1Bs.

But Taylor said that at least two similar bills are typically brought before Congress each year and he’s not optimistic this attempt will succeed.

"I think I’m still a bit pessimistic for a lot of reasons," he said, noting that it’s an election year and several other national issues are getting more attention than H-1B visas. "I don't want to minimize the issue, because it is a very important issue, but there are a lot of competing issues."

C.J. Karamargin, a spokesperson for Giffords, however, said that the congresswoman remains confident that the bill, which was introduced in the House’s science and technology committee on March 13, has a shot at passing. Having the support of Gates is a bonus, he said.

Karamargin said that Giffords introduced the bill to help Arizona’s booming high-tech industry as well as the nation’s economy.

“The congresswoman is a strong believer in thinking our way out of problems," said Karamargin, adding that because nearly half of the visa holders work in computer-related jobs, the bill could help many Massachusetts-based companies.

Chuck Grassley, a Republican Senator from Iowa, expressed concern over increasing the number of H-1B visas.

But not everyone feels increasing the cap would be positive for the nation, fearing it would take away jobs from U.S. workers.

After Gates testified before the Congressional committee, Chuck Grassley, a Republican Senator from Iowa, questioned expanding the number of H-1Bs.

Grassley sent a letter to Gates after the session stating that he’s “concerned that some companies are more concerned about their bottom line than about the dire need to better educate and train American students and workers. The solution is not, in my opinion, importing more foreign workers.”

Grassley states that the United States should instead “strengthen educational opportunities” for students and workers.

Source: INDIAnewEngland.com

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