Tech Industry Rushes to Grab New H1-B Worker Visas (2014, apartment)

[abqcd]

Just because I like to stir the pot...

WSJ Paywall: Tech Industry Rushes to Grab New H1-B Worker Visas - WSJ

As the presidential race has thrust immigration and job displacement center stage, demand for foreign skilled-worker visas coveted by tech companies is expected to far outstrip supply again this year, likely prompting the government to hold a lottery.
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U.S. companies can sponsor 65,000 foreigners with at least a bachelor’s degree from any university. An additional 20,000 visas go to individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. Universities and nonprofits, which aren’t subject to a cap, also use H-1Bs to hire many workers each year.
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On the campaign trail, the program has been blamed by some candidates for enabling employers to hire cheaper foreign labor at the expense of U.S. workers.
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Republican rival Ted Cruz, who supported the program’s expansion in 2013, has called for a moratorium until it is reviewed. Democratic contender Bernie Sanders also is a critic; Hillary Clinton is a supporter.
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Mr. Hira, a critic of the program, said the Obama administration has failed to protect U.S. workers’ interests. “The not so subtle message to American workers is ‘tough luck’—you should be replaced by a cheaper H-1B guest worker.”

Many H-1Bs are issued to offshore outsourcing companies, especially from India, which have U.S. subsidiaries that bring in foreign labor they subcontract to American banks, retailers and others. Critics say those foreigners displace U.S. workers because they are often paid lower wages.

[calicoastal]

Add a $50k/yr fee (rising with inflation) for each H1-B hired. If it is all about "talent" and not about money, then corporations shouldn't mind. Use the money raised for education.

[abqcd]

Originally Posted by calicoastal

Add a $50k/yr fee (rising with inflation) for each H1-B hired. If it is all about "talent" and not about money, then corporations shouldn't mind. Use the money raised for education.

Also, if it's all about talent, why is it a lottery? Instead, they should rank all applications 1 to N in order of salary, and let the highest paid (and presumably the most valuable) be granted. This would incentivise companies to not only pay H1Bs more, but mitigate the cost saving advantage of hiring them over Americans. Of course, Mark Zuckerberg would call me a "racist" for saying such things, that happen to impact his bottom line.

[LuvSouthOC]

Title should be:

Tech Industry Rushes to REPLACE CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE WORKERS With New H1-B Worker Visas

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Observation.

Lots of the jobs go to H1Bs who are in their 30s. Some have family in tow. They are not in any position to say "F U" walk out the door and move to a hipster hood in a cheaper metro.

Meanwhile, your typical 20 or 30-something American is likely to still be single or if married a DINK. Much more mobile within the US.

Labor arbitrage gets weird when the labor mobility is with the natives and lack of it with H1Bs.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

Title should be:

Tech Industry Rushes to REPLACE CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE WORKERS With New H1-B Worker Visas

It is typically OR not AND from what I have personally experienced. If the company is inclined to replace their current workforce with H1 workers, they are not likely to hire Americans for new positions either.
Outsourcing is only about saving $$, nothing else. The only way companies using outsourcing are able to expand their workforce is by replacing a prospective American worker with 2+ H1 worker.

This nonsense started all the way back in Ronald Reagan's administration much like the current recession we are still in. When greedy, sinister corporations are able to sponsor politicians like an actual individual and put them in their back pocket, you know the system is ultimately open to indefinite corruption.

Shame on those who ruined and continue to ruin this (once) great nation.

[nightlysparrow]

Last year the cap was met in 5 days. Expect the same this year.

[Fiona8484]

Originally Posted by calicoastal

Add a $50k/yr fee (rising with inflation) for each H1-B hired. If it is all about "talent" and not about money, then corporations shouldn't mind. Use the money raised for education.

I never realized that it costs that much. Do you have a link that backs it up? Not denying it's true, just curious where that info came from.

Welp, good thing the companies can get the H1-B people, they are the only ones who are going to want to live in Silicon Valley with 3 guys in a 1 bedroom crappy apartment priced at $2,500.

[abqcd]

Originally Posted by NYinCA2014

I never realized that it costs that much. Do you have a link that backs it up? Not denying it's true, just curious where that info came from.

Welp, good thing the companies can get the H1-B people, they are the only ones who are going to want to live in Silicon Valley with 3 guys in a 1 bedroom crappy apartment priced at $2,500.

No, he is saying that the government should add a $50K fee to H1B applications. Today, I think the fee is only a couple thousand. That said, I don't think adding an H1B tax actually solves the real problem.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by abqcd

No, he is saying that the government should add a $50K fee to H1B applications. Today, I think the fee is only a couple thousand. That said, I don't think adding an H1B tax actually solves the real problem.

Yes it does, it'll make hiring citizens a better deal.