[HamiltonJay]

Well, I know many people who have used the H1-B visas for exactly that, to stay and become US citizens.

Perhaps you do, but your personal interaction does not a justification make... show me the statistics of those who have taken their H1B and turned it into a citizenship... it is an infinatesimally small number. Most come here for the "big money" for a few years, and have no intention of immigrating. In fact I know of only 1 person in my life that came here via H1B and naturalized... nearly every one I have ever spoken too has no intention of staying or immigrating.

[trini]

Wait a minute...you ask me for statistics when I clearly was speaking about people I knew. You then claim that the statistics show that it is an infinatesimally small number without providing ANY statistics. Reference those stats which show that small number. Otherwise, don't call for stats. Finally, you go on to speak of the one person that you have known to use the visa in that way. That's all I was doing in the first place, speaking of people that I know. I never claimed to know the statistics or to be an immigration attorney, nor do I play one on FR. My personal experience, that's all.

[agneyen]

I'm on H1B. The INS rule states that a person holding H1B can stay here for max 6 year. And if one wishes to become citizen or permanent resident, he has to go through a process of Green card which at least takes 4-5 years. The rule also states to remain employed with the same firm till process gets completed. In most of the cases H1 holder has to return to his country even if his green card process is in near complete stage.

And Minimum wage stated on H1 visa is $49K

[Jamten]

And they have no intention of learning English or be part of the American culture. Don't forget that we are a multi-cultural country now and the grand old USA is no more.