[thoughtomator]

I work with this stuff. You can get one renewed if you already have the job, but new ones are very difficult. This is specific to tech, because part of the certification process is that the employer has to advertise the position. These days, any tech position will get hundreds of qualified applicants, which would tank an alien certification. If the applicant were in medicine, on the other hand, it would be virtually automatic.

[blueriver]

These days, any tech position will get hundreds of qualified applicants, which would tank an alien certification.

No one is monitoring this. All a company has to do is prove that they placed the ad. No checks are made to determine if a qualified American applied. If the checks were being made there would have been no H-1B's granted in the last two years for high tech jobs.

[clockwork]

This is specific to tech, because part of the certification process is that the employer has to advertise the position. These days, any tech position will get hundreds of qualified applicants, which would tank an alien certification.

Wrong again...the employer doesn't have to advertise the position. Moreover, the availabilty of qualified U.S. workers is not an issue. The employer must pay "prevailing wage" but the existence of "hundreds of qualified applicants" is not an issue in the H-1B process. H-1B visas are available to professional level employees whether or not it is a "tech" job (e.g. executive chef, hotel manager).