Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

GONE IN A DAY: YEAR'S SUPPLY OF 'SKILLED' VISAS
Miami Herald ^ | Oct. 06, 2004 | Herald Staff and Wire Reports

Posted on 10/06/2004 2:27:43 PM PDT by JesseHousman

The U.S. used up its supply of 65,000 temporary visas for skilled foreign workers in a single day. Advocates for raising the quota said that bolstered their case.

South Florida businesses that rely on talented foreign workers to fill technical positions are out of luck until next October -- unless they have an applicant already in the pipeline.

Federal officials closed the 2005 application window for highly coveted foreign professional visas just hours after it opened.

The unprecedented rush for temporary visas for those skilled foreign workers demonstrates U.S. companies' pent-up demand for candidates in such technical fields as engineering, mathematics and research. And, South Florida experts say, it increases the likelihood that companies will outsource jobs overseas.

''It means, unfortunately, that employers here will have less options in terms of hiring,'' Deborah Vazquez, chief executive of the Miami-Dade and Broward County recruiting firm Protech, told The Herald. ``We will have fewer candidates, [less] talent in a situation in which demand very much outstrips supply.''

The quota of 65,000 ''H-1B'' visas was filled Friday, the first day of the 2005 fiscal year, meaning that U.S. companies must wait until October 2005 to hire more foreign workers under the visas.

Until two years ago, the government issued 195,000 of the visas annually. The allotment was slashed because of increased restrictions on immigration following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Job losses in the computer and high-tech sectors have made legislators reluctant to reinstate the bigger quota, even though U.S. companies have argued that most of the jobs filled are outside those sectors.

''It was a real wake-up call when these numbers were issued,'' said Sandra Boyd, who chairs Compete America, a corporate coalition pushing for more H-1B visas. ``I don't think anyone believes it's acceptable that a whole year can now go by without any access to these people.''

The H-1B visas have been popular with U.S. companies, which maintain that they cannot find enough American workers with advanced scientific and engineering degrees to fill critical jobs. Last year, the 65,000-worker cap was hit in February 2004, about five months into the fiscal year.

Tammy Fox-Isicoff, a Miami immigration attorney who helps foreign professionals get H-1Bs, said lawmakers must raise the visa cap again or ''carve out exceptions'' for disaster areas like Florida after the hurricanes or for professions with employee shortages such as teachers or healthcare professionals.

''This situation is terrible that when the doors open to H-1Bs, it swings shut on the same day,'' Fox-Isicoff said in an interview with The Herald. ``It's not good for American business.''

Companies were allowed to submit applications against this year's quota in April.

Theodore Ruthizer, who heads the business immigration practice at Kramer Levin, a New York law firm, predicted that the scarcity of slots will worsen unless Congress expands the program.

''It just proves the numbers are inadequate,'' he told The Financial Times.

U.S. companies have been urging Congress to adopt an interim measure by exempting from the quota any foreign national holding an advanced degree from a U.S. school. That would add about 20,000 positions a year.

About two-thirds of students taking advanced mathematics and engineering degrees at U.S. schools are foreign born. U.S. companies say they will be at a disadvantage should those students go to work for overseas competitors.

And immigrant-rich South Florida has a large share of that talent.

''We have so many universities here with foreign students who come and graduate and look for jobs in the area,'' Andrew Koerner, a partner with the Leaf Koerner law firm in Miami, told The Herald. ``It's just sad to see these small-business owners suddenly stopped from being able to grow their businesses.''

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© 2004 Herald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miami.com


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aliens; h1b; illegals; immigration; napalminthemorning; skilledaliens; visas; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 221-225 next last
To: Woodman
Why would a high school grad want to go to school for 4-5 years to take a job with limited future? Where I work there are three engineers that lost their former jobs to H1Bs or outsourcing, and came to work for my company at dramatically less wages. These are guys with less than 10 years of experience, so they are not in the "Over qualified" age group. It is that the cost of labor for an engineer from China is much less than one from the US.

Here is another thing. As the "gateway" factory jobs have gone, so will the tech and service jobs go. If we as a nation don't realize we are systematically destroying our future, we will look like South Africa in a few years.
141 posted on 10/07/2004 11:18:06 AM PDT by redgolum (Molon labe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: snopercod
I have been looking for engineering work since 1995, and there are no jobs available which pay even half what I was making in the eighties.

So what your saying then is that you can't find an engineering job in the town where you live for the money you think you ought to make. As the owner of a small business, I suggest that you move to a locale where the job prospects are better and/or accept a lower paying job until (a) a better paying job comes along or (b) you prove to your new employer that you're worth the money you think you should earn. In all honesty, just from what you have said in your posts, I wouldn't hire you either because you bitch too much, demand too much, and have too many excuses, and you are unwilling or unable to adapt and improvise, and go that extra mile. I see you as a high maintenance, high risk employee. I hope I'm wrong, but that's my impression from your posts.

142 posted on 10/07/2004 11:34:42 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Dat Mon
Question for the advocates of unlimited H1b /L1 visas. The average unemployment rate is 5.4%. The unemployment rate for technical / engineering people is at historically high levels in the 6.4 - 6.8% range, depending on discipline. Maybe Im just dumb but something seems out of whack here.

ahhh, law enforcement...
...it sure beats the alternative.

143 posted on 10/07/2004 12:10:54 PM PDT by unspun (RU working your precinct, churchmembers, etc. 4 good votes? | Not "Unspun w/ AnnaZ" but I appreciate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 116 | View Replies]

To: redgolum
It is that the cost of labor for an engineer from China is much less than one from the US

So the "employers", who operate from the safety of the U.S., and depend on the protection of our laws to maintain their own personal safety and property, should simply be forced to move there. Let them live under the laws of the Chinese Communists. Maybe they can try to get afffirmative action for Caucasians in Shanghai.

Maybe they'll all end up employing mercenaries from Blackwater to keep themselves safe. Of course, that might turn out to be more expensive than just hiring Americans, but being hardheaded types, that probably won't be clear to them till after the fact.

144 posted on 10/07/2004 12:13:19 PM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: snopercod
I have been looking for engineering work since 1995, and there are no jobs available which pay even half what I was making in the eighties.

Ah, the entitlement philosophy. This country OWES YOU a high-paying job because you had one once upon a time! And if you can't land one it's the companies' and government's fault!

145 posted on 10/07/2004 12:18:22 PM PDT by JohnnyZ ("Jim, you've got to do in a way that passes the test, that passes the global test" - JFnK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Labyrinthos
As the owner of a small business

Who says you "own" anything, Big Guy?

146 posted on 10/07/2004 12:18:25 PM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: blues_guitarist; Toddsterpatriot; 1rudeboy
In this age relocation has become a staple of employment. It's always worked for me.

But we have a right to a job where we want to live, at the salary we want! It's in the Constimatooshun somewhere!

147 posted on 10/07/2004 12:21:31 PM PDT by Poohbah (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: snopercod

RDU


148 posted on 10/07/2004 12:21:47 PM PDT by bert (Peace is only halftime !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Regulator
Who says you "own" anything, Big Guy?

Between gov't regulation, taxes, and my ex-wife, I probably don't own very much of my business.

149 posted on 10/07/2004 12:24:41 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: Labyrinthos
Between gov't regulation

Oh, you mean you'd be better off with no government, and you'd just use a popgun or something to protect your claim to your "ownership"?

Maybe you have your own private nuclear arsenal.

150 posted on 10/07/2004 12:42:06 PM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: Regulator
I'm referring to the government that says I have to have 40 parking spaces at my building, regardless of my business needs; that I have to spend a couple hundred thousand dollars putting in an elevator just in case a handicapped person wants access to the second and third floors of my building, even though those floors are not open to the general public; that requires me to get a permit to do just about anything to my building except perhaps change a light bulb; etc., etc., etc...

BTW, what is your point and how does that releate to my initial post?

151 posted on 10/07/2004 12:58:17 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: Labyrinthos
I'm referring to the government

The "government" is just a group of people. You're saying you don't like the imperatives of a certain group of people.

But those people are there because of all the other people around you, who put them where they are. So in effect, you're saying you don't like the people around you, that you don't agree with their decisions.

Since you have a problem with the attitudes of all those nasty people around you (a somewhat sociopathic outlook), perhaps you could move. To a more hospitable country, say.

It's only a suggestion, because eventually, what with all the antipathy between you and the people around you, eventually they may decide that you don't "own" the business any more.

Of course, to maintain your present standard of living, you'll have to find someplace where everyone agrees with your concept of "ownership", and those are in short supply. In fact, even if they do, they might end up cancelling the concept again, because you'll probably end up not liking those people or their attitudes either. The Sociopathic thing again. Hard to get away from, being a character trait and all.

152 posted on 10/07/2004 1:12:12 PM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: Regulator

MODERATOR: Would you like 30 seconds to respond?

LABYRINTHOS: No.

MODERATOR: OK, the next question is for...


153 posted on 10/07/2004 1:16:40 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: Labyrinthos
Sociopaths
154 posted on 10/07/2004 1:33:03 PM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: Labyrinthos
So, if you disagree with the government taking away your property, or telling you how you can use it (same thing), then you're a sociopath.

That's an interesting take some people have.

155 posted on 10/07/2004 1:58:07 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Hey, look at me, I'm a math major.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: Toddsterpatriot

I think his/her screen name -- Regulator -- speaks for itself.


156 posted on 10/07/2004 2:32:48 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ

Awwww, you're just jealous because my wife and I have arranged our affairs so we can survive quite comfortably on her $12 per hour income.


157 posted on 10/07/2004 2:41:02 PM PDT by snopercod (What we have lost will not be returned to us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: Labyrinthos

Yeah, maybe works for the IRS. Talk about anti-social.


158 posted on 10/07/2004 2:47:09 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Hey, look at me, I'm a math major.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: Labyrinthos; Toddsterpatriot
I think his/her screen name -- Regulator -- speaks for itself

Y'all are funny and ignorant at the same time! Quite a combo.

The Regulators

Just for grins, maybe you could get familiar with the reasons the country came into being, and what it was about.

And one of you claims the name "patriot"? Please.

159 posted on 10/07/2004 3:37:45 PM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: Toddsterpatriot
So, if you disagree with the government taking away your property

Another genius chimes in!

Once again, genius: Who says it's "your" property?

160 posted on 10/07/2004 3:48:37 PM PDT by Regulator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 221-225 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson