Reactions to the STOU

[desigirl]

Check out some of the reactions (article as well as the comments) to the President's call for Immigration reform!

Obama makes H-1B, Green Card reform a priority - Computerworld Blogs (http://blogs.computerworld.com/17722/obama_makes_h_1b_green_card_reform_a_priority)

[ravi.shah]

Check out some of the reactions (article as well as the comments) to the President's call for Immigration reform!

Obama makes H-1B, Green Card reform a priority - Computerworld Blogs (http://blogs.computerworld.com/17722/obama_makes_h_1b_green_card_reform_a_priority)

Awareness is increasing.... and realisation is happening..
Hopefully something materializes soon !!!:)

[buddyinsd]

Obama's point was direct. "Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense."

He needs to get his basics right first. What does he mean that they send them back home to compete against US? 99.99% of them apply for H1Bs in the 20K reserved for students and if that quota gets used up, they even are allowed to get into the regular pool of 65%. With minimal knowledge, Mr. Prez is making big comments...More like a joke :D

Check out some of the reactions (article as well as the comments) to the President's call for Immigration reform!

Obama makes H-1B, Green Card reform a priority - Computerworld Blogs (http://blogs.computerworld.com/17722/obama_makes_h_1b_green_card_reform_a_priority)

[gk_2000]

Obama's point was direct. "Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense."

He needs to get his basics right first. What does he mean that they send them back home to compete against US? 99.99% of them apply for H1Bs in the 20K reserved for students and if that quota gets used up, they even are allowed to get into the regular pool of 65%. With minimal knowledge, Mr. Prez is making big comments...More like a joke :D

You have to remember, he is talking about the present POLICIES, and what your F1 visa expects from you. Not what people may manage to do (by hook and sometimes by crook)

[Goodintentions]

Dear All,

First of all, the idea of this note is to present some facts and thoughts, not to take sides. I am stuck in the GC line for a very long time and I have nothing to gain.

1. The present GC line is clogged due to the fact that between 2001 - 2003 (or 2004, I do not remember) the H1B quota was increased from 65000 to 130000 and even to 215000 at one point. Most of the skilled folks came from India but there was no proportional increase in GC quota for India

2. In other words, the US government prefers people to come and work at reduced wages and go back to their native countries. Every year wave after wave of new comers can keep coming, to keep costs low and profitability high, but they will not be encouraged to settle here. Like it or not, Capitalism is all about making money, everything else is secondary!

3. Many Indian companies stopped processing H1Bs after they realized that despite draconian bonds and vieled threats, the Indian techies on H1Bs switched jobs and started filing for GCs

4. Currently there is no limit on L1 visas. I am not sure how many actually come with L1 visas, but wherever I have been I have noticed that 80% of the project colleagues hold L1 visas. This implies that this no. could probably run to several thousands. Technically, H1B has been the eyesore to many people who comment about foreign workers though people coming on L1 far outweigh employees on H1. Is this because H1s have the option to file for GC (except ofcourse L1A)?

5. Under the circumstances, it is not clear how increasing H1Bs will help when there is a continuous inflow of L1 skilled workers over and above the 65000 H1 quota. Further, most of the H1 employees file for their GCs and join the eternal line and the never ending wait. So, in reality (like me) they get stuck with their employers and due to various family commitments, such as grown up children going to high school / college, are forced to pull on and sacrifice their entire active work life, under the threat of job insecurity!

6. The right and scientific approach would be to take a clear statistical account of all the skilled manpower available (US Citizens, GCs, EAD holders, EB2 / EB3 friends in the endless GC line) and try to map this data with the available jobs and the projected market situation over the next 5 years. Based on the scientific, quantitative analysis the government should decide on bringing in additional workforce. That would be logical and mathematical. There is no point flooding the market and creating social tension.

7. Instead of further complicating the quagmire of GC, the government should consider granting permanent residency to legal immigrants who have put in 10 continuous years of stay, without any criminal record

8. It is only in the USA that the system of giving GCs is NOT time bound. In every other western nation, every milestone has a definite pre-defined time period. I do not mind if the US says, "Stay for 20 years to get a GC!" Well , then it becomes a personal choice for one to take it or leave it. Sadly, we do not have this option!

Let us hope that something will work out before the end of the current term (2012)

Best wishes!