LOBBYING FAILS, H-1B VISA CAP FALLS to 65,000

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2003 12:53:47 PM ]via India TImes ^ | OCTOBER 01, 2003 12:53:47 PM | K YATISH RAJAWAT/ECONOMICTIMES.COM

[11th_VA]

MUMBAI: The annual cap for H-1B visas will now be 65,000. This is a sharp drop from the earlier limit of 195,000 visas.

The US plans to enforce this rule from October 1, 2003.

The Indian IT industry has been lobbying hard to freeze H-1B visa limits at current levels. However, these efforts which had the support of some US corporations to retain H-1B visa limits have failed. (Will Europe be the next big hunting ground for Indian IT pros?)

Indian IT professionals are among the largest users of H-1B visas, as US Big Tech shops big from this technical pool. The H1-B visa cap was raised to 195,000 in 02. This particular legislation had a 'sunset' clause. According to this clause, the limit would have (automatically) lapsed on October 1, 2003. Ergo, the H1-B visa annual cap will now fall back to 65,000 visas.

The H1-B visa issue has generated a lot of controversy in the US. Several trade unions representing (local) technology workers have been lobbying against these work permits. The slowdown in the high-tech industry combined with an overall drop in US economic growth has resulted in a number of job losses.

H1-B visa users have been at the receiving end of criticism from unemployed American professionals for taking away their jobs. These visa users are also seen as representative of the trend towards offshore outsourcing trade jargon for moving to cheaper locations like India which is also under flak for spiriting away US jobs.

The visa was created in the early 1950s to give skilled foreign workers a permit to reside in the United States. The H1-B category was added in 1990 to give foreign workers an opportunity to pick up a job with the intention of remaining permanently in the United States.

In 1999, under pressure from high-tech companies and other manufacturers, Congress expanded the limit from 65,000 to 115,000. It raised the cap again to 215,000 in 00 and to 195,000 in 01 and 02.

Top Indian companies have been curtailing the use of H1-B visas for sending employees to the US. Ergo, it unlikely that the offshore outsourcing trend will be affected. Most companies have shifted to the use of L-1 visas (used for intra-company transfers). However, companies whose basic revenue model is supplying manpower to US corporations, ( body-shoppers, are likely to be hit by this move.

[Bikers4Bush]

You continue to rock.

[segis]

You really should not be injecting logic and reason into this thread. Vast majority of the posters on this thread would not be able to handle it.

[PatrioticAmerican]

" Our military is the best in the world because we have the best technology. "

You fail to understand that china_dog is an anarchist. He HATES borders and countries and feels that America is just a old relic of an iddea that should disappear.

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

Of course. And none of those governments are capitalist either.

So if not, why do you favor doing business with them? I thought you thought all commies are scum. So you favor propping up this "commie" government with "free" trade?

[Lazamataz]

Cool. The technology that allows call centers to be set up in India, China, Ireland, etc, can be applied to stockbrokering also. We can have cheaper overseas workers hyping the latest stocks, backed by market research from India (which several full-service houses have started doing) Then again, electronic trading reduces people's desire to pay full-service brokerage fees

Texas_Fraud has nothing to worry about vis-a-vis this, as well. He's no broker. Well, pardon me -- he's broker than I am. Otherwise, he's a fraud.

[Egon]

I agree completely. My understanding is that Dawg is a purist where capitalism is concerned. Pure capitalism, if it works at all, would only work if nations were not a factor-- in a truly global environment, where everyone was subject to the same laws, checks/balances, and especially the same operating costs (taxes, etc.) Even then, regional differences in the cost of making a product would prevail-- which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

However, along with being a capitalist, I'm a nationalist. I don't want the U.S. to disappear or lose ground on the economic playing field. Therefore, anytime an American worker is paying for the upkeep of our country, and is competing against a foreign worker who doesn't need to worry about that, the government must (and should) step in and level the field. That's one of the core roles of any government-- to promote the general welfare. India (et al) certainly is promoting their peoples' general welfare in setting up and taking advantage of the current laws-- why shouldn't our government?

I haven't explored the reason for the H1-B visa's initial creation. My understanding is that there was a temporary shortage of workers in the affected areas. I can't think of ANY other good reason for us to be literally giving our job market to foreign workers.

[Elliott Jackalope]

Might I suggest "Lyin_Dawg"?

[Bikers4Bush]

Many thanks, hope to see you again.

[GOP_1900AD]

The sad thing is, as an ErBu operative (or, a lickspittle shill thereof) he likely *does* have family working there, especially the ones hired by Hitlery whom softie Bush has not thus far gotten around to firing.

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

Maybe that's just the lawyer in me talking

Even in a courtroom, the basic rule is put up or shut up.

[Lazamataz]

Then that's your perogative. Just because someone doesn't share that value with you doesn't make them guilty of lying. Maybe that's just the lawyer in me talking, but it seems to be the most reasonable opinion here.

Well, there are several reasons why I think he is a fraud. This merely pushes me over the edge as far as believing that he is. The first inkling I had was when he claimed to have an economics degree, but his arguments for his economics position often employed logical fallacies and/or continual insults. This is not how a college graduate usually behaves. Usually they will back their arguments by quotes, facts as established by credible sources, and the like.

Then he claimed to have a career in NYC brokering stocks at 40,000/annum. This is simply not feasible, due to local costs and pay scales in the Big Apple. I know -- I lived there for a while.

Finally we have this.

While normally, I might agree with you, there is a pattern emerging. A preponderance of evidence, for you lawyer-types. :o)

[Lazamataz]

Might I suggest "Lyin_Dawg"?

Feh. Fraud and Dawg have the same vowel inflection, so they flow well together. And keeping Texas at the front reminds everyone he's probably lying about his state of residence as well.

[Lazamataz]

State of ORIGIN.

My bad.

[pyx]

...about as well as I know everything about milking cows

Rules for milking from my childhood.
1.) Let the cow know you're there.
2.) WARM YOUR HANDS!
3.) The teats are NOT ropes. Be firm and gentle. Smooth, consistent, controlled, fluid squeezes using your whole hand. No yanking and nothing should be forced.