[waterstraat]

People that work under H1-B visas, are exempt from Social Security, which means that it is $8000.00 cheaper to employ a foreign worker(no employer contributions are required to social secuirty for foreigners) .

why pay $8000 more for an american citizen if an immigrant can do it almost as well?

[eno_]

RTFT! (Read the f---ing thread!) It's been determined conclusively that H1-Bs not only PAY FICA, they HARDLY EVER COLLECT BENEFITS. Only when a bilateral treaty - and then only with countries with comparable SS systems - allows workers to pay into their home SS system are they exempt form U.S. SS taxes. Sheesh.

[FormerLurker]

There are actually 19 countries whose citizens do not pay FICA when they work here. The money that would normally go to FICA goes to their native country. Although India doesn't currently fall into that category, it is currently lobbying Congress for a totalization agreement which would allow them to do just that...