Indian Trade Group Proposes New H-1B Visa Approach

[undeterred]

The Indian software industry association Nasscom is proposing that the U.S. Congress create a new category of visas to replace the increasingly controversial H-1B visas. As Nasscom sees it, Congress should create a "service" visa to allow companies to send workers to the United States for a limited amount of time. The new visa would not lead to immigration status or permanent residency.

Som Mittal, Nasscom's president, told The Economic Times that the new service visa would be similar to the European work permit for overseas workers. Mittal added that he hoped the new visa would alleviate U.S. concerns over abuses in the visa process. "We do not wish to encourage the abuse of visas for immigration. Our objective is to get the work done and bring back our people. There are 11,000 to 12,000 Indians who go to the U.S. for work and their average stay is less than two years," Mittal said.

The H-1B program is a temporary work visa program allowing American companies and universities to employ foreign workers who have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in a job category that is classified by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as a "specialty occupation." The program is particularly supported by the technology industry.

Critics of the program have long claimed that U.S. employers are using H-1B visas to hire workers for less than the U.S. prevailing rate, but the controversy gained serious traction after the government released a report that highlighted rampant fraud in the H-1B program. The report revealed a more than 20 percent violation rate by employers using the program.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Management/Indian-Trade-Group-Proposes-New-H1B-Visa-Approach-631896/?kc=EWKNLCSM09012009STR1

[Hawkeye-X]

1. How about you create your own DAMN jobs in your own DAMN country?

Obama needs to SEVERELY restrict H1-B visas to less than 200 people. And only one year. Then they can try to find jobs in their own country.

I'm sick and tired of losing my job to H1-B assholes for lower pay.

And I'm in the Information Technology field, disillusioned and maybe thinking of a career change.

Hawkeye-X

[sybylla]

3. A career change?

To what, if I might ask?

I'm in technology and been disillusioned for a couple of years during which I've been looking for a job doing something corollary. But there are no teaching jobs. Government layoffs abound. I've thought about going back to banking but the pay is crap. I graduated college in '99 full of hope. Instead, I've spent most of the time since looking for work in my field.

Who'd have thought?

[Hawkeye-X]

6. I don't have a degree, so my choices are limited.

Although my parents have been STRONGLY encouraging me to go back to school, and I've been seriously thinking about going to Bel Rea Veterinary Institute to become an animal technician or lab assistant of some sort. I love animals, and I want to help them in any way I can.

I'm kinda inspired by the Animal Planet TV show - Emergency Vets - these folks are just under 2 miles from my house, and I'd love to work for Dr. Taylor.

Hawkeye-X

[sybylla]

2. Such a convenient work-around for them.

Why am I not surprised?

[Larkspur]

4. This is basically changing the brand name of H-1B visas

[OhioChick]

5. Screw the Indian trade group...

Last time I checked, they were NOT part of the U.S.