ITAA doesn't give a damn about layed off H-1B
Apr 8th 2001, 3:40 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn...10404hnh1b.xml
ITAA says U.S. to fall short of H-1B visa quota
By Ashlee Vance
SAN DIEGO -- A soured U.S. economic climate has created a drastic change in the
country's recruitment of foreign technology talent. As a result, this could mark
the first year in recent times that the United States does not butt heads against
its cap on H-1B foreign worker visas -- a situation with both negative and
positive effects, according to industry experts.
Over the past three years, the ceiling on H-1B visas has more than doubled as
companies and industry groups pushed the government to use foreign workers as a
way to solve the technology labor crisis in the United States. After heated
pressure, Congress raised the number of H-1B visas available to workers from its
standard limit of 65,000 to 115,000 in the last two years and then to 195,000
this year.
While both of the lower totals were met with ease, some industry observers think
the U.S. will fall short of its quota in 2001, a sentiment that has sparked debate
in the technology sector.
"I doubt we will hit the 195,000 mark this year," said Harris Miller, president of
the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) in an interview at an
event held here.
The ITAA was one of the leading advocates of raising the H-1B visa limits, and
thinks the slowdown only proves its case against staunch objectors to its
lobbying efforts.
In the past three years, the United States reached its visa cap early in the year.
Thus far in 2001, however, the government doled out only 72,000 H-1B visas. This
number, coupled with a slower economy, leads Harris to believe the U.S. will fall
short of its total for the year.
Harris contends that the reduction in H-1B visas proves the ITAA's argument that
the increase in work permits was designed to solve a major shortage in skilled
technology talent, and not a way to recruit cheap workers from abroad.
"It was never a floor. It was always a ceiling," he said. "If we don't use all
of the visas, it just confirms our case. We were not looking for cheap labor
but instead labor that could be brought in when all other U.S. recruitment
tactics fail."
Some present at the ITAA's annual conference here, however, voiced strong concern
over the current state of H-1B visa workers in the U.S. As the economy wanes and
the chance of unemployment looms, some foreign workers are disappointed that they
may have to leave the country in the 10-day post-contract period set by the
Immigration and Naturalization Service.
One man from India at the conference urged government representatives to take
swift action to increase the time workers can stay in the U.S.
While Harris expressed sympathy for these workers, he also cautioned that such
moves by the government would undermine the purpose of H-1B visas and the ITAA's
long-held belief in what role the visas were meant to serve.
"When your H-1B visa assignment is over, Congress does not want you hanging
around," Harris said. "There is a conflict with the sense of entitlement that a
lot of H-1B visa workers think they have."
Harris sees the visas as any another type of contract. Workers come here for a set
amount of time to do specific projects. Pushing for them to stay now could
undermine the agreement that the ITAA and others made with Congress when trying to
up the visa total in the first place.
While the U.S. may lose out by watching some of its recruited talent return home,
Harris is bullish on what the country has done to train its own workers. Four-year
universities, community colleges, and vendor-run academies have all gone a long to
way help solve the labor shortage, especially when a struggling economy calls for
less workers.
Additionally, the return of H-1B workers to their native lands could help the U.S.
in the long run, Harris argued. Workers returning to India, for example, could use
experience gained in the U.S. to form companies that boost technology in their
home country and also use contacts made in the U.S. to form powerful, global
partnerships.
A stronger technology economy in India can increase the consumption of U.S.
products, leading to more jobs for workers here. Harris visited India recently and
recalled warehouses packed full with computers made by Austin, Texas-based Dell.
"Losing the talent is a mixed blessing that may work out for U.S. companies,"
Harris said. "They can increasingly become our customers, which means there will
be someone in Austin who can get a job out of the deal."
Ashlee Vance is a San Francisco-based reporter at IDG News Service, an InfoWorld
affiliate.
Copyright (c) 2000 by InfoWorld Media Group, Inc., a subsidiary of IDG
Communications, Inc. Reprinted from InfoWorld, 155 Bovet Road, San Mateo, CA
94402.
ITAA says U.S. to fall short of H-1B visa quota
By Ashlee Vance
SAN DIEGO -- A soured U.S. economic climate has created a drastic change in the
country's recruitment of foreign technology talent. As a result, this could mark
the first year in recent times that the United States does not butt heads against
its cap on H-1B foreign worker visas -- a situation with both negative and
positive effects, according to industry experts.
Over the past three years, the ceiling on H-1B visas has more than doubled as
companies and industry groups pushed the government to use foreign workers as a
way to solve the technology labor crisis in the United States. After heated
pressure, Congress raised the number of H-1B visas available to workers from its
standard limit of 65,000 to 115,000 in the last two years and then to 195,000
this year.
While both of the lower totals were met with ease, some industry observers think
the U.S. will fall short of its quota in 2001, a sentiment that has sparked debate
in the technology sector.
"I doubt we will hit the 195,000 mark this year," said Harris Miller, president of
the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) in an interview at an
event held here.
The ITAA was one of the leading advocates of raising the H-1B visa limits, and
thinks the slowdown only proves its case against staunch objectors to its
lobbying efforts.
In the past three years, the United States reached its visa cap early in the year.
Thus far in 2001, however, the government doled out only 72,000 H-1B visas. This
number, coupled with a slower economy, leads Harris to believe the U.S. will fall
short of its total for the year.
Harris contends that the reduction in H-1B visas proves the ITAA's argument that
the increase in work permits was designed to solve a major shortage in skilled
technology talent, and not a way to recruit cheap workers from abroad.
"It was never a floor. It was always a ceiling," he said. "If we don't use all
of the visas, it just confirms our case. We were not looking for cheap labor
but instead labor that could be brought in when all other U.S. recruitment
tactics fail."
Some present at the ITAA's annual conference here, however, voiced strong concern
over the current state of H-1B visa workers in the U.S. As the economy wanes and
the chance of unemployment looms, some foreign workers are disappointed that they
may have to leave the country in the 10-day post-contract period set by the
Immigration and Naturalization Service.
One man from India at the conference urged government representatives to take
swift action to increase the time workers can stay in the U.S.
While Harris expressed sympathy for these workers, he also cautioned that such
moves by the government would undermine the purpose of H-1B visas and the ITAA's
long-held belief in what role the visas were meant to serve.
"When your H-1B visa assignment is over, Congress does not want you hanging
around," Harris said. "There is a conflict with the sense of entitlement that a
lot of H-1B visa workers think they have."
Harris sees the visas as any another type of contract. Workers come here for a set
amount of time to do specific projects. Pushing for them to stay now could
undermine the agreement that the ITAA and others made with Congress when trying to
up the visa total in the first place.
While the U.S. may lose out by watching some of its recruited talent return home,
Harris is bullish on what the country has done to train its own workers. Four-year
universities, community colleges, and vendor-run academies have all gone a long to
way help solve the labor shortage, especially when a struggling economy calls for
less workers.
Additionally, the return of H-1B workers to their native lands could help the U.S.
in the long run, Harris argued. Workers returning to India, for example, could use
experience gained in the U.S. to form companies that boost technology in their
home country and also use contacts made in the U.S. to form powerful, global
partnerships.
A stronger technology economy in India can increase the consumption of U.S.
products, leading to more jobs for workers here. Harris visited India recently and
recalled warehouses packed full with computers made by Austin, Texas-based Dell.
"Losing the talent is a mixed blessing that may work out for U.S. companies,"
Harris said. "They can increasingly become our customers, which means there will
be someone in Austin who can get a job out of the deal."
Ashlee Vance is a San Francisco-based reporter at IDG News Service, an InfoWorld
affiliate.
Copyright (c) 2000 by InfoWorld Media Group, Inc., a subsidiary of IDG
Communications, Inc. Reprinted from InfoWorld, 155 Bovet Road, San Mateo, CA
94402.
Apr 8th 2001, 11:10 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
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There's no surprise in this. In an economic downturn the first type of recruitment to
stop is the hiring of foreign nationals. Those already in the US on H-1B ought to be
aware of the requirements of the visa and its terms, though I think the "10 day rule"
is rather harsh.
When my UK work permit expires I have to leave the UK if I have not taken steps to
extend it. The situation is essentially the same as that the US. As I understand it,
an H-1B is a dual intent visa and a holder of this type of visa can take steps toward
permanent residency if he or she wishes to do so. The ITAA has nothing to do with
immigration, the rules for which, while complicated, are not impossible to understand
or complete in a timely manner.
joe
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There's no surprise in this. In an economic downturn the first type of recruitment to
stop is the hiring of foreign nationals. Those already in the US on H-1B ought to be
aware of the requirements of the visa and its terms, though I think the "10 day rule"
is rather harsh.
When my UK work permit expires I have to leave the UK if I have not taken steps to
extend it. The situation is essentially the same as that the US. As I understand it,
an H-1B is a dual intent visa and a holder of this type of visa can take steps toward
permanent residency if he or she wishes to do so. The ITAA has nothing to do with
immigration, the rules for which, while complicated, are not impossible to understand
or complete in a timely manner.
joe
Apr 9th 2001, 5:41 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn...10404hnh1b.xml[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> ITAA says U.S. to fall short of H-1B visa quota[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> By Ashlee Vance[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> SAN DIEGO -- A soured U.S. economic climate has created a drastic change in the[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> country's recruitment of foreign technology talent. As a result, this could[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> mark the first year in recent times that the United States does not butt heads[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> against its cap on H-1B foreign worker visas -- a situation with both negative[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> and positive effects, according to industry experts.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
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And non-existent, as it recently turned out. It is based on a misunderstanding.
Instead of 10 days, you actually don't have any time at all - but INS says that they
will look at individual circumstances and may excuse you.
There is a bright side to it: if you stay and fall out of status, you won't accrue
time towards the three-year and ten-year bans until the date your I-94 expires.
Ingo
I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. For reliable advice, please consult
with a professional immigration attorney.
For further information, check the following frequently-requested links.
For many questions, you may find answers at
http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html (Department of State)
or http://ins.usdoj.gov (INS).
For consular policies and visa reciprocity fees, find your consulate in
http://travel.state.gov/links.html
For DOL Faxback status information: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/
For information on affidavit of support for marriage to US citizens (I-864), go to
http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html and http://travel.state.gov/checklist.html
For information on entering the US as a K-1: http://www.k1poelist.com/
For poverty levels, see http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/00poverty.htm
For information on H/L/O/P visa extensions at Dept. of State in St. Louis, MO, see
http://travel.state.gov/revals.html
For non-official information, check:
(When using these sites, and any Web sites, please watch out for privacy, as I do not
know all site operators.)
http://www.visalaw.com http://www.shusterman.com http://www.immigration.com
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall http://www.murthy.com/ http://www.srs-usvisa.com
http://www.getusavisa.com http://greencard-lottery.virtualave.net/
http://www.jcvisa.com (H-1B) http://www.h1bresources.com (marriage and fiancee)
http://www.kamya.com/misc/ (marriage and fiancee) http://www2.apex.net/users/thehydes
http://www.formshome.com http://www.workpermit.com
This is not an endorsement of any of these Web sites. I am not affiliated with any of
the Web site owners and do not receive nor accept payment in return for listing them,
and typically don't even know them.
(if believe you have a good immigration-related Web site and want your Web site
listed here, please e-mail me).
[usenetquote2]>> http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn...10404hnh1b.xml[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> ITAA says U.S. to fall short of H-1B visa quota[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> By Ashlee Vance[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> SAN DIEGO -- A soured U.S. economic climate has created a drastic change in the[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> country's recruitment of foreign technology talent. As a result, this could[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> mark the first year in recent times that the United States does not butt heads[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> against its cap on H-1B foreign worker visas -- a situation with both negative[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>> and positive effects, according to industry experts.[/usenetquote2]
[usenetquote2]>>[/usenetquote2]
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And non-existent, as it recently turned out. It is based on a misunderstanding.
Instead of 10 days, you actually don't have any time at all - but INS says that they
will look at individual circumstances and may excuse you.
There is a bright side to it: if you stay and fall out of status, you won't accrue
time towards the three-year and ten-year bans until the date your I-94 expires.
Ingo
I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. For reliable advice, please consult
with a professional immigration attorney.
For further information, check the following frequently-requested links.
For many questions, you may find answers at
http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html (Department of State)
or http://ins.usdoj.gov (INS).
For consular policies and visa reciprocity fees, find your consulate in
http://travel.state.gov/links.html
For DOL Faxback status information: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/
For information on affidavit of support for marriage to US citizens (I-864), go to
http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html and http://travel.state.gov/checklist.html
For information on entering the US as a K-1: http://www.k1poelist.com/
For poverty levels, see http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/00poverty.htm
For information on H/L/O/P visa extensions at Dept. of State in St. Louis, MO, see
http://travel.state.gov/revals.html
For non-official information, check:
(When using these sites, and any Web sites, please watch out for privacy, as I do not
know all site operators.)
http://www.visalaw.com http://www.shusterman.com http://www.immigration.com
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall http://www.murthy.com/ http://www.srs-usvisa.com
http://www.getusavisa.com http://greencard-lottery.virtualave.net/
http://www.jcvisa.com (H-1B) http://www.h1bresources.com (marriage and fiancee)
http://www.kamya.com/misc/ (marriage and fiancee) http://www2.apex.net/users/thehydes
http://www.formshome.com http://www.workpermit.com
This is not an endorsement of any of these Web sites. I am not affiliated with any of
the Web site owners and do not receive nor accept payment in return for listing them,
and typically don't even know them.
(if believe you have a good immigration-related Web site and want your Web site
listed here, please e-mail me).
Apr 9th 2001, 7:11 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
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>
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Eh? Do you have a cite for this? I'm about (as in Wednesday) to enter this position
myself. I looked through some of the sites referenced in your .sig, but didn't find
anything obviously about this.
Thanks
>
>
Eh? Do you have a cite for this? I'm about (as in Wednesday) to enter this position
myself. I looked through some of the sites referenced in your .sig, but didn't find
anything obviously about this.
Thanks
