Posted on 02/02/2009 3:53:54 PM PST by nickcarraway
For the two out-of-work engineers, it's a race against time. They've lost their Silicon Valley jobs and need to quickly find others at a time when companies everywhere are tightening their belts.
Both are Indians whose advanced degrees were earned at American universities. And both are facing the inflexible rules of their H-1B work visas.
Technically, as soon as they lost their jobs, they were required to leave the country. In reality, they can probably wing it for a week or two, but not much longer.
This stark dilemma is being repeated with increasing frequency across SiliconValley, according to immigration specialists, as companies downsize to weather a punishing downturn. It's a small number compared with the layoffs of H-1B visa holders during the dot-com crash. But the downturn has sent a wave of concern through the community of immigrant workers who hold the visa, which companies use to hire skilled noncitizens.
Though there is no official tally of visa holders who have been laid off, "It's happening every day," said SanJose immigration lawyer Indu Liladhar-Hathi.
"If they don't have work, they're in trouble," said Gabriel Jack, also a San Jose immigration lawyer. "They've got to get out" of the country, he said. "That's the toughest part about being an H-1B."
The H-1B program was forged in 1990 in a tug-of-war between labor, which has tried to limit its use in favor of American workers, and business, which would
like to see it expanded beyond the 65,000 visas currently allowed each year. For American companies it plays at least two roles as a pool of workers furnished by contracting firms, and as a means of hiring the smaller number of foreign students with advanced degrees from American universities. In technology, H-1B visa holders must have at least a college degree.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Sorry to hear about your husband. I’m contacting my congresscritter and my two senators, Boxer and Fineswine. There is no reason to have an H1B program with the massive lay-offs and unemployment.
Thanks for your good wishes...we are really nervous about what will happen...looking for a new job.
What makes you think my husband would not work for $40,000-he would and should be given the opportunity as he is an American citizen. This is the false analogy...if the corps would only admit it’s all about cheap labor, there are plenty of American who will work for this lower money...but no they have to lie and claim...it’s about quality. Baloney, I’ve see the quality of Indian Tech at Sprint when I worked a second job there...Americans out and Indians installed a few days later.
Also, why should my husband have to compete for employment with H1B visa holders? There is no need-plenty of Americans to choose from...send them home now.
Way back when, employers tried to hire workers at a certain rate. No one would bite on that rate except for foreign workers. This was particularly true of contract labor.
For instance I billed out at $70 an hour when I worked for a contract firm. The Indians billed out at $50 an hour. So instead of hiring three Americans at $70, they hired me and two Indians and saved $40 an hour.
It was difficult to argue patriotism with a Swedish company.
No problem...I get your point. However, I have seen first hand American companies abuse H1B visa programs...at one point they had an advice video detailing how companies could circumvent the law...publish job openings in obscure publications, write the job description in such a way as to exclude Americans. It was quickly removed.
In a time of high unemployment, we do not need, nor can I justify such programs. I am sick of jobs being outsourced...all my credit card companies have call centers in India, insourced ...ask tech guys about this, and finally the illegals to take the jobs America won’t do...which just means work for below minimum wage.
We can not survive as a nation if we give non-citizens preferential treatment in terms of jobs...we will end up as a socialist nation...health care etc. The only thing that ever stopped Dem socialist in their tracks were good paying American jobs.
ping
The kid finally got a job on the opposite side of the state when the Bush Administration temporarily cracked down on these H1B visa abuses.
See my post #28. Cheap labor is only part of the motivation. H-1B workers are essentially indentured servants who can’t easily move elsewhere if something better comes along.
Oh, I see. Yeah, I agree. It’s a rotten system...slavery and indentured servitude have not served this country well. I agree. Checking out your post.
Wow, Very good post. I can’t believe the crap we have to put up with.
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