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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
High tech industry asks Congress for more H-1B visas as clock ticks
Compete America, a high-tech industry coalition, sent a letter to every member of Congress Wednesday urging lawmakers to increase the cap on H-1B visas for highly educated foreign workers before the end of the year.
“At a time when other nations are aggressively taking steps to improve their own competitive position, the United States is failing to do so by sustaining a highly-skilled visa system that turns away future innovators,” the group said. “We should not take our position as the world’s innovation leader for granted, and our visa system should better reflect the realities of today’s global environment. “
The letter urges lawmakers “to keep this issue at the top of your list.”
The number of H-1B visas allowed by law has fluctuated in recent years in response to the U.S. economy and the highs and lows of the technology industry and is now set by Congress at 65,000. In addition, 20,000 more foreign citizens with advanced degrees from American universities are allowed to stay in work in the United States.
Critic say that the H-1B program depresses wages for American workers and has many flaws including limited enforcement mechanisms.