Foreign professionals desirous to work in the United States, by way of the H1B visa program, have been plagued by limited H1B visas. As what happened recently, and reported in my recent post, re: FY 2008 H1B quota reached, the visas were gone in one swoop when thousands of H1B visa petitions from employers poured in.
It’s a sad reality for many foreign professionals. They want to work in the United States- but the door to this opportunity doesn’t open wide enough for them.
This is why there has been a hue and cry for more H1B visas. But Uncle Sam has fallen deaf to these pleas.
There’s a welcome news. Foreign professionals, desirous to take a bite of the much sought H1B visa “pie,” have found a new ally. Bill Gates, the world’s richest man with $56 billion rattling around in his pockets, has thrown his support to the clamor for more H1B visas.
Bill recently went to Washington and told a Senate panel that H1B visa limit should be scrapped. He found fault on visa policies that restricted the entry of “great minds” into the United States. Read more about it.
Bill raised a good point. The H1B visa program has played an important role in the economy of the United States. It has been the primary means for U.S. employers who are unable to find suitable U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to fill professional level positions in their companies. It is through the H1B visa program that U.S. employers can attract and hire the best talents and skills from around the world. And many believe that, owing to the H1B visa program, the United States has maintained its global competitiveness in a wide range of scientific and technical fields.
Bill’s view, however, runs counter to the perception of many ordinary Americans about the H1B visa. Ask any Tom, Dick or Harry about the H1B visa, and he’ll readily tell you that an H1B foreign professional is just out to take a job away from him. This explains why efforts to increase the H1B visa quota always meet stiff opposition at every turn.
The question now is, does our friend, Bill, have Uncle Sam’s ear on the H1B issue? Well, it’s too early to tell, but let’s wait and see.
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