Posted on 04/06/2009 3:59:02 AM PDT by angkor
MUMBAI -- With his master's degree in electrical engineering at North Carolina State University almost complete, Ravi, 24, received a promising job offer from a technology firm. He called his parents back in India, happy that he was on track for an H-1B work visa, which is seen as a steppingstone to U.S. citizenship.
But just before Thanksgiving, Ravi got a call from his future employer.
"They told me that because of the economic downturn they couldn't hire me in anticipation of tougher times ahead. They were laying off other American employees, and cutting my job would be a proactive measure," said Ravi, who gave only his first name because he did not want his job prospects affected. "I do feel bad for anyone losing a job, whether it's an American or an H-1B foreign worker. But for foreign students, if we don't get a job, we have to go back to our home countries. When I talk to my parents, they tell me not to worry, to just come home. [snip]"
As the U.S. economy slows, highly skilled foreign professionals seeking work under various visa programs are finding it harder to get jobs. President Obama's stimulus package stops U.S. companies, largely in banking and financial services, that take federal bailout money from hiring H-1B visa holders for two years if they have laid off American workers in the previous six months. The administration has vowed to tighten restrictions and step up oversight of all work visa applications.
The H-1B program brings in about 85,000 skilled foreign workers every year, ostensibly to fill jobs that U.S. workers cannot or will not do. But some companies in the science and technology fields, afraid of a backlash over hiring foreign professionals rather than American ones, are rescinding job offers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I've had wildly divergent experiences with two major IT players who had outsourced their help desk to India. I'll name them offline if you want.
One was technically knowledgeable about the product, could communicate effectively, and was well run with the appropriate ticket escalation and management. Probably the best support I've dealt with in 25 years of the IT biz.
The other was a complete disaster. Forget about follow up and problem management. When I'm telling the help desk how things in the application actually function I know I'm in trouble.
Many of those contracts require citizens only.
And I'm not even sure of this anymore. Most of the ones that I know are competing with "native Americans" (hey—I was born here) at the same wage rate.
But right now with jobs going in the toilet right and left it's time to suspend the H1B program. Employ Americans first.
As an Electrical Engineer born raised in America I couldn't agree more! You are a Great American, I am so glad some people are actually telling it like it is. I will probably voluntarily separate so a hard working Indian H1-B can have my job. As an unemployed homeless person can I live in your backyard? You see how much respect Engineers get in the US.
Man you were nice to him. He is a “Great” American. So patriotic and supportive of his fellow Americans he is.
Liberals are finding out the Hindus aren’t the politically correct lapdogs they had them pegged as, so now they don’t want them...
Yeah you are right,
I’d rather aids sufferers from Haiti be allowed in as opposed to say anyone with anything to contribute.
We can't find enough home grown talent to take engineering classes at our local university. The wage compression deters the best and brightest - they can make more in law or sales than in engineering...
How many years have you worked with them? And on what types of applications?
>>>>> I don’t particularly thing that Indians who are here are wealthy because they use cheap Indian labor. <<<<<<<
I was specifically referring to H1B tech Indians, whom I’ve very definitely seen become “wealthy because they use cheap Indian labor.”
I gave three concrete examples above, no need to restate them. In all cases the Indians exploited other Indians - offshore or H1B tech labor - to enrich themselves and their companies.
It’s true that there are brilliant Indian doctors and engineers.
That’s not really the point.
>>>>> I’d rather aids sufferers from Haiti be allowed in as opposed to say anyone with anything to contribute. <<<<
That’s ridiculous.
>>>> I would agree with you that large companies in tandem with the federal government abuse the system. But, you could say that about anything... <<<<<<<
But that’s what we’re talking about: an H1B system that has been flagrantly and greatly abused.
>>>>> And this is a bad thing why??? <<<<<<
First, it’s illegal to replace workers at lower pay using the H1B visa system.
Second, it’s illegal to replace American workers with Indian workers using the H1B system.
Third, it’s illegal to make false compensation statements on the L1 (H1B) visa declarations.
Fourth, it’s ugly and unethical.
Aside from that it’s just peachy and A-OK.
But you weren’t *sub-Human* or *abusive* were you? LOL!
cubsfanconswoman, I don’t have a lot of use for *hit and run* posters. If you can’t respond nicely then STFU.
Okay - this is just a DUMB and quite frankly racist statement (for once the race card SHOULD be played.) I’ve worked with HUNDREDS of Indian folks over the last 30 years in the computer design field. Some of the brightest folks I’ve ever met are Indian.
I’ve know some duds too - just like I’ve known American born duds.
I can safely say one of my two top bosses was an Indian, who is still a very good friend today. He is also VERY well known in my field having written some of the first text-books within a particular area.
Further, some of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley have been started by people from India who have been trained both here and there, i.e. undergrad in India, graduate work here.
One good example is Magma - it’s number 3 in the EDA business, and has continually had more innovative products when compared to the number 1 and number 2 competitors.
Does this justify my position adequately???
Maybe it is illegal, but I cannot seem to get on FTE
at MS yet the entry level H1B’s seen to be able to do so.
I am only good enough for an a- yearly contract with a
mandatory 100 day break. And being a veteran doesn’t seen
to be worth anything unless I wanted to be a postman.
IBM Offers To Move Laid Off Workers To India
Information Week | Feb. 2, 2009 | Paul McDougall
Posted on 02/03/2009 9:21:51 AM PST by COUNTrecount
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2177476/posts
IBM Offers To Move Laid Off Workers To India [export yourself?]
Information Week | 2-3-9 | Paul McDougall
Posted on 02/04/2009 2:54:59 PM PST by ex-snook
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2178480/posts
IBM to laid-off: Want a job in India?
CNN | 2-5-2009 | Karina Frayter
Posted on 02/05/2009 5:37:48 PM PST by Westlander
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2179376/posts
WSJ: IBM Cutting More Jobs, Shifting Work to India
Fox News | 25 Mar 2009 | Matt Egan
Posted on 03/25/2009 1:24:59 PM PDT by BGHater
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2214623/posts
Thanks, Steve, from a Freeper of Indian heritage (born here).
I guess I just believe in the American philosophy of individual freedom, sorry to have insulted your socialistic sensitivities...not
But that’s what we’re talking about: an H1B system that has been flagrantly and greatly abused.
I don’t think it is to the point where one should simply discard it. It would be detrimental to our economy and well being. One should also remember that people who participate in this program either become citizens (and they typically are productive citizens) or they go back to their homes where they are great emissary’s for the US.
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