Coopapalooza

This is just me theorising but if the US wants to get the economy moving again then surely immigration is the place to start. They want to encourage the brightest and best to come to their shores so why bar the way with a difficult, confusing and dispassionate system?

I would have thought that by tweaking the rules here and there they could take in more people who are going to contribute to the economy a lot faster andin turn, help the flat-lining fiscal situation?

Am I being overly simplistic? It seems to me the attitude of the immigration services and to some extent, the nation as a whole is "we want you to come in and help us rebuild our country but only on our terms, when we say so, for how long we want and when we're done with you we will probably ask you to leave!"

Maybe I'm naive or just ignorant to the nuances of it all?

Opinions?

christmasoompa

But there just isn't the demand there at the moment. Why would a company spend thousands of dollars on hiring somebody that needs a visa, when there are so many unemployed US citizens that can start immediately and not cost anything?

If unemployment is so high, then it's going to make it even tougher for a prospective immigrant. As evidenced by the H1B uptake in recent years - a few years ago there was a lottery held on the first day of the program opening each year as there were so many applicants. The past couple of years it hasn't filled for many, many months.

Coopapalooza

That's what I mean though. Why are they pricing themselves out of people who could make a solid contribution to the country? I agree unemployment is an issue but I also think that the sectors that need the skilled workers to grow don't have the workers available in the USA and thet they are going to have to speculate to accumulate?

The issue is that the skilled workers (doctors,nurses,teachers,engineers,IT specialists) who could provide a genuine boost to a flagging economy are not even being given the option to try their hand.

There's a reason the US/UK et al are struggling financially. The USA and UK have been living beyond it's means for years. Two expensive wars and other unforeseen circumstances (Katrina, Global Downturn etc) have brought the situation into stark contrast and a wholesale change in attitudes is needed.

In my opinion the only way they can start to show positive growth is to encourage true growth sectors. Constructions, manufacturing and cars/housing are the likely sources here.

The crux of the matter is that America became the country it is today on the back of immigration.

They would do well to remember the values and attitudes that allowed the best and brightest people of the day to go and live their dreams which at the same time created incredible growth in a relatively short space of time.

christmasoompa

I don't think there is the demand that you think there is for Skilled Workers tbh. The US just doesn't need 'normal' immigrants, certainly not the IT bods or teachers you mention (plenty of those in the US that are unemployed).

If people have specialist enough skills then they can easily get in (as a general rule, if somebody is good enough to be headhunted, then they're good enough to be sponsored for a visa).

So I think the US picks the 'cream of the crop' which isn't necessarily a bad thing. And there are plenty of other countries that do have a need for more immigrants such as Canada, and consequently they are much easier to get in to.

Coopapalooza

Hmm. Perhaps you make a good point. It's maybe for that reason that Canada is coping a bit better than the US.

I genuinely do believe however that the world will be a different place in 4-5 years time. The USA may no longer be the most attractive option for immigrants. What will it do then?

Do you believe they have the skill-set and infrastructure to effectively operate as an insular growing country? I think they do but I think they would do better to relax their strict immigration rules slightly and allow people who have money to invest or people who can genuinely help the country, not have to jump through hoops to get there.

Eventually people will say, it's simply too much hassle

christmasoompa

But they do have ways of getting a visa from investment (you can 'buy' a greencard or invest in a business), and those who can genuinely help the country (i.e. who are in jobs or who have skills that they actually need) can also get in comparatively easily.

So that's already in place. It's just a tight system designed to only allow that that are actually needed or wanted in - why would they relax that for immigrants that aren't needed?

I'm sure that the regular US forum members with expert knowledge of immigration will be along later to comment, but that's my take on it from my (very limited) understanding.

Coopapalooza

My understanding of the process and legislation is also very limited but I just find it strange that in the time when there are lots of people who in the future could drag the economy back to it's feet, the US is even tighter than ever on who they let in.

It's just my opinion though that in the future the economy is going to be a lot more "global" than it is now. I don't think the US can rely on picking and choosing who it allows in as I think there will be aggressive head-hunting from the middle and far east.

There's going to be massive competition which can only be a good thing for immigration which is why I can't understand the policy of making it so difficult for people to get in.

I'm maybe repeating myself but I need coffee and sugar lol

ian-mstm

Were you following the recent "debt ceiling" crisis in the US and how both the US House and Senate vied for position while trying to get the "other people" to agree to their terms?

That was a very minor scuffle compared to what'll happen if/when they take on immigration.


I don't think you're being simplistic. I think you've hit the nail squarely on its head. This is how the US wants things done.

Ian

md95065

The "nuances" are quite simple - during a time of economic decline and increasing ant-immigrant sentiments politicians tend to believe (probably correctly) that voting to make immigration easier is not going to help them to get reelected (no matter whether that decision makes economic sense or not) ...

Coopapalooza

It's quite a complicated subject isn't it. Reading everyone's take on it is quite revealing when you guys are looking at it from the inside out.

But I dop agree that politic's is at the heart of it all. I have a feeling no matter what Mr Obama does anymore, he's only getting one term in the hot-seat....

Coopapalooza

Very very very good point. I think the political system is going to grind to a halt the stickier and more controversial issues become. There's no way the republicans and democrats will agree on anything when there is political capital to be gained sadly.

This coalition in Britain is running on borrowed time just now.Another 12-18 months and we'll be back at the polls.

But you know what, none of this is putting me off. i still want to come and live in the USA with my fine lady. Just a case of building a case strong enough for them to be unable to pass it up!!