H-1B demand may be retreating as feds increase scrutiny

[OhioChick]

A small decline from May in the number of H-1B petitions gives rise to theories on cause

July 22, 2009 07:09 AM ET

Computerworld - WASHINGTON - For what may by the first time, the number of H-1B petitions withdrawn by applicants or rejected by U.S. authorities is exceeding the number of new petitions for the visas.

The numbers have resulted in a slight decrease over the past two months in the H-1B visa petition count on the scale of a rounding error. The drop may be little more than a short-term phenomenon, but it is inviting theories as to its cause, ranging from increased U.S. scrutiny of the H-1B petitions to the general economy.

The U.S. has received approximately 44,900 visa petitions toward its 65,000 H-1B visa cap, one of two caps, since it began accepting petitions on April 1. But the number of visa petitions reported in mid-May by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) was 45,500 visas. There has been a net decline of 600 visa petitions from May to June.

A USCIS spokesman, in an e-mail, said the reason for the decline is that the number of denials, withdrawals of applications and revocations are "quite simply" exceeding the number of new filings. The U.S. has a second H-1B cap of 20,000 set aside for graduates from U.S. universities with advanced degrees. In raw numbers, that cap number has been reached.

In sum, the U.S. has received 65,000 H-1B petitions since April 1 for 85,000 available visas for the fiscal that begins Oct. 1. The combined cap may well be reached in the months ahead, but for now, demand has flatlined.

In the past year, the USCIS has increased the requirement for a wide range of documents to support visa applications to the point that the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) says the requirement is "bordering on harassment."

The small H-1B decline reported by the USCIS may well be nothing more than a counting error, but Vic Goel, an immigration attorney in Reston Va., said it has more to do with cases being denied or withdrawn.

Goel said he has had clients withdraw pending H-1B cases because they couldn't get the large amount of material sought by authorities in time to meet government deadlines, or because the USCIS was seeking new documentation. In the later instance, USCIS officials have asked IT consulting firms to obtain letters from clients with detailed descriptions of the duties performed by H-1B workers, their salaries, hours, benefits, and the length of the assignment, among other things, which has not been a normal business practice, he said.

"Not many companies are going to give such a letter to a vendor without serious reservations, which could jeopardize the business relationship," Goel said.

More: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135779/H_1B_demand_may_be_retreating_as_feds_increase_scrutiny

[ihavenobias]

1. K & R n/t

[FreakinDJ]

2. H1B = Most Abused Visa Program

[Deja Q]

4. If it wasn't abused, there wouldn't be a problem

And to the trollie-poos who have me on ignore: I said "abused", not "used", so bugger off already you prejudicial twerps. ;) :D

[sledgehammer]

5. Abuse is bad, scrutiny is good!

No govt program is above scrutiny. For the last 8 years, there was a free ride. Hopefully not anymore.

Keep the program, but keep watching it like a hawk. No leeway for those who abuse the system.

[FreakinDJ]

6. I used to run a website for "Marriage Based Visas"

and know Immigration law thouroghly.

The things H1Bs get away with is alarming and would never pass on a K-3 or K-1 visa application. It was common knowledge and practice for Indian applicants to file multiple applications under variations of their name - and never were held accountable for it

John T Smith
J T Smith
J Tyler Smith
Johnathan Tyler Smith ect, ect

and that was just the applicants....

The employers had a whole other set of methods by which they cheated the law and were never held accountable

[Deja Q]

3. Didn't you post a link a while ago saying that expatriates were being ditched for local talent?

Something along those lines?

Just one possible reason of many...

[FreakinDJ]

7. I believe I did but can't remember where to find the article now

[OhioChick]

8. How's this?

India firing foreign workers to give jobs to locals


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Jobs/Expatriate_executives_making_way_for_local_hires/articleshow/4039529.cms

[KakistocracyHater]

9. I want high school principals required to show Grades 9-12 actual jobs available

& what classes they should be taking to prepare for those jobs. In removing the idiot "no child left" mess they should put in this(above) & just a simple gateway checking on progress. All those empty shopping malls would be made into high schools in my "education overhaul dream"; apprenticeships would make a fierce comeback & middle class & underclass parents would no longer do as the wealthy SAY & let their children stay at home.

Like Paris & the Kardashians-seen them? They don't kick their kids out-why should we? Multi-generational households were the norm til the 1950s broke up those families into smaller nuclear families.

I see the pizza places are not owned by Americans, & Long John Silvers isn't, & even the corner market is esl-where are the Americans? I know we are not 'ashamed' to own such franchises, I think the possibility is being overlooked. My vast family tree has military personnel, nurses aides, janitors, construction workers-but no owners of Popeye's, or any similar place; I have alot of relatives seeking jobs too. The passiveness frightens me, it takes money to make money is a HUGE stumbling block, but what can able-bodied men & women DO to get a job? We are all dependant on someone bigger to create jobs.

[notesdev]

10. Now, start prosecuting for fraud

Notice they they withdraw in droves the moment you actually check the paperwork.

H1-B is a wage reduction program!