[null and void]

If we must have an H1-B program (and we must, there really are exceptional individuals with exceptional talents who weren't born here), then employers should be willing to pay a premium for this company saving talent.

Use the system Japan uses: Their guest workers are paid a 25% premium above the prevailing Japanese wage.

They get (and pay for) the extraordinary talent they need but look to their own people first, not last like here.

[TexasGunLover]

If we must have an H1-B program (and we must, there really are exceptional individuals with exceptional talents who weren't born here), then employers should be willing to pay a premium for this company saving talent.

We do, they're not cheaper.

[Mariner]

" (and we must, there really are exceptional individuals with exceptional talents who weren't born here)"

That's what the O-1, O-2 visa is for.

The purpose of the H-1B visa is to keep pay rates low in the Tech sector.

[moehoward]

"Use the system Japan uses: Their guest workers are paid a 25% premium above the prevailing Japanese wage.

They get (and pay for) the extraordinary talent they need but look to their own people first, not last like here."

Hard to not agree with that. But how does that square with the 'free traders' when they consider jobs just another commodity to be exported.

[Resolute Conservative]

“and we must, there really are exceptional individuals with exceptional talents who weren’t born here”

BS. Out of the hundreds of H1B’s I have worked with only around 2-3 were talented and one other was a genius. The others were below average and theoretical in nature only.
Cut the H1B numbers and make the take a test or have employers interview and hire them overseas and then allow the to come over. That way when the lose their job the go home.