Crisis continues: US may abolish H1-B visa

Economic Times of India ^ | July 13, 2003 | CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

[sarcasm]

WASHINGTON: The H1-B visa on the chopping block again. A prominent anti- immigration lawmaker has introduced in the US Congress, a Bill that seeks to abolish the visa category that facilitates a large number of skilled Indian professionals take up jobs in the United States.

The move is certain to be opposed by US high-tech companies and many other lawmakers considering that H1-B visa cap is slated to brought down from its peak of nearly 200,000 per year in the year 2000 to its original level of 65,000.

But even that is too much for Congressman Tom Tancredo. Often described as a onetrick pony and a single-issue Congressman, Tancredo has campaigned relentlessly against both illegal and legal

immigration. But as chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus

now, his 15-line Bill aimed at eliminating all visas under H1-B category introduced

this week goes further than he has done before at time when job loss in the United States has roused sentiments against white collar immigration.

The move, if it comes to fruition, will particularly hurt Indian business interests, which used to snag about 50 per cent of all H1-B visas before the current economic downturn in the US and job migration to India brought down the number. The latest report from India’s National Association of Software and Service Companies Nasscom) says India accounted for 77,000 H1-B visas in 2001 but only 33,000 in 2002, and the total is expected drop to 30,000 this year.

More recently, the US has been unable to issue even the reduced quota of H1-B visas despite attempts at farming it out to other non-technical professionals like teachers and nurses.

But immigration of any sort is anathema Tancredo, who last month incurred the wrath of the White House by suggesting that if there was another terrorist attack on the United States, and it was done by someone who had entered the country illegally, ‘‘then the blood of the people that are killed will be on our hands and the president’s.’’

Tancredo’s bill has been spurred by a campaign by US tech workers, who are losing jobs in increasing numbers through a combination of immigration, outsourcing and advancement of technical skills outside US, wage differentials and other factors.

[Nowhere Man]

Becuase it is only immigration and it would get too many fish in the net.

Heh, just see my tagline below, I know to us, Martha Stewart would be a "big bug" but compared to a lot of multi-national companies who would outsource, she would be a "little bug." I know that's from the game, "Road Rash Jailbreak" on the Sony Playstation, but I'm afraid that is very true.

[searchandrecovery]

So they abolish the H-1B.

Hey, it's a start. Sure beats the complete denial dance Washington usually does about immigration/outsourcing.

[searchandrecovery]

We must only allow Immigration by those who cannot support themselves and will therefore vote for the democRAT party.

No, no, no, you misunderstand. This is the age of diversity - I oppose Mexican AND Indian immigration, but for different reasons.
1. Mexicans - just the sheer numbers. It's almost like an invasion.
2. Indians - H1-B/L1's take middle-class American jobs.

Immigration from the third-world (say, India) shouldn't be a "right".

[searchandrecovery]

What's so great about America By Dinesh D'Souza...(long boring pro-immigration article by an Indian)...The End

Yea, America is (was?) a great place. All the more reason to limit immigration from the third-world.

[harpseal]

The moral is never stealk anything small steal at least a billion dollars and no one messes with you anything less and they will come after you. Even Pablo Escobar was not at the Apex of the drug cartels he was small enough to be sacrificed.

[MelBelle]

Dang, I lost my job June 1st to India and everyday I read about the offshoring situation. In the last month, I've applied to SO MANY companies and NOT ONE response. I was hoping that my stellar career at ARCO would at LEAST get me an interview...

For the first time in my life I'm on unemployement and I just read an article that CA's unemployement fund will be depleted by the first of the year..Talk about TIMING! Maybe when the CA companies have to bail out the fund (if they will) they will think twice about sending those jobs to India...doubt it. I have a meeting with the EDD this week so they can review with me opportunies in my chosen field... can't wait to hear what they tell me.

Thanks for listening.

[pt17]

I have no objections to Indian professionals coming over AS PERMANENT IMMIGRANTS seeking to resettle here in the US with their families.

Our H1Bs who went on to citizenship were Russian and Chinese, all highly skilled and educated. At no time during their H1B status were they ever made to work in "indentured servitude" as you suggest. They were treated and paid like everyone else.

[searchandrecovery]

Dang, I lost my job June 1st to India...

Sorry to hear about this. What kind of job are you looking for?

[Valin]

You know before you go off on a testosterone induced rant you just might want to look at the person you're railing against.
Here' I'll help you out
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22+Dinesh+D%27Souza+%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&cat=gwd%2FTop

I'm glad to see you're not letting your education get in the way of your ignorance.

[Euro-American Scum]

In the last month, I've applied to SO MANY companies and NOT ONE response.

They're not hiring Americans this year. . . or any other year, come to think of it.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

You're so right, not one Indian helping our troops. They are just helping themselves to American jobs, even replacing our own Veterans.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/stories/2003071505870100.htm
NEW DELHI July 14. India today formally decided not to send its troops to Iraq under the American and British command. As expected, the Cabinet Committee on Security considered the issue and politely declined the request of the United States.

[crazykatz]

We even have traitors posting on FR.... "free traitors". I think Bush is toast in the next election if he does NOT personally address this issue. You know that the demo-rats will just pander and do nothing to stop H1B or L1... but they will make Bush look like the villian. Mark my words.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

"I think Bush is toast in the next election if he does NOT personally address this issue."

It is starting to look like a replay of Bush1, right down to one term.
Remember how high Sr. Bush's approval ratings were after the Persian Gulf War?
Later, the cynical said that he should have timed the war closer to his re-election campaign.
And, again unemployment was high but Bush1 just ignored it.
I shudder to think of another Clinton (or any other Democrat) in the White House. Let's hope and pray that doesn't happen (no matter how bad the economy gets).

[crazykatz]

Scarry times ahead.... eeckkkkkkkkkkkk.

[lelio]

but it's a good thing I don't have my finger on a button controlling a missile targeted on Paris or Montreal

There's other ways of making sure that you can come back as a highly paid consultant to the company that laid you off so they can save a buck. Course doing so would be highly unethical, but its not like they've been so with you, right?

[Heatseeker]

No disagreement with everything you've said, and I've been laid off too - my Christmas present from the company I worked for, just 2 months after I'd gotten married, was a pink slip. I was months looking for a new gig.

The point I was trying to make in my last paragraph: what is needed is a sensible immigration policy. If foreigners begin to displace those of us already here, then that's a red flag and visas for people in those fields should be severely curtailed.

My other point: the Cold War got us the wrong partner in the subcontinent - we should be seeking closer ties to India. It'll take time; there is a half-century of anti-American tilt to overcome, thanks to our supporting the Paks. But when China really starts flexing her muscles, later this century, it'd be helpful to have as an ally the only country with more people.

[Heatseeker]

No disagreement with everything you've said, and I've been laid off too - my Christmas present from the company I worked for, just 2 months after I'd gotten married, was a pink slip. I was months looking for a new gig.

The point I was trying to make in my last paragraph: what is needed is a sensible immigration policy. If foreigners begin to displace those of us already here, then that's a red flag and visas for people in those fields should be severely curtailed.

My other point: the Cold War got us the wrong partner in the subcontinent - we should be seeking closer ties to India. It'll take time; there is a half-century of anti-American tilt to overcome, thanks to our supporting the Paks. But when China really starts flexing her muscles, later this century, it'd be helpful to have as an ally the only country with more people.

[JoeSixPack1]

In years gone by when a company needed skilled workers of any sort, they trained them. They didn't import them. Now that we have massive numbers of unemployed skilled high tech workers playin' golf everyday, it's time for some east indian pick slips.

Kemosabee!! (oops, wrong indians)

<|:-)~~