O
Ollie
ACCOUNT CLOSED
I just wish the jobs were for americans.
Many Big Businesses Begin the Process of Replacing Fired American Workers with Foreign H-1B Workers
In the midst of a global recession and a slumping economy, with an unemployment rate at 8.1%, the American people expect that U.S. companies would fill any job vacancies by hiring American citizens. According to Fox News, that is not what many American companies are planning to do. Companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and IBM — who have already laid-off thousands of American workers — "will begin applying for the right to hire foreign workers on April 1" by applying for H-1B workers. (Fox News, March 19, 2009).
On April 1, the U.S. government will begin to accept applications for 65,000 H-1B visas that will become available for American companies to hire foreign workers. According to the eligibility requirements, the worker must have attained the equivalent of at least a bachelor's degree to fill a vacancy in a "specialty" occupation. Another 60,000 visas will be made available for several exempted occupational categories. In recent years, all 65,000 nonexempt H-1B visas have been claimed within 48 hours of being made available. (USCIS Update, March 20, 2009).
Undoubtedly, these companies will make the argument that H-1B visa recipients are "high-tech workers" who represent the "best and brightest" from around the world. However, USCIS data show that nearly half of H-1B recipients hold only a bachelor's degree — an achievement to be sure, but one many Americans possess as well. In addition, the same data shows that H-1B visas are frequently issued to import workers who do not possess any high-tech skills. (USCIS Report on H-1B Petitions, Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Report). Finally, several sources — including a May 2008 study by H-1B expert Dr. Norman Matloff - demonstrate that the companies that hire these foreign workers do not pay the workers premium wages which suggests that the workers are no better qualified than their American counterparts. (Center for Immigration Studies Backgrounder, May 2008).
Another issue that warrants consideration in the H-1B debate is the fact that the program is susceptible to fraud. In September 2008, USCIS released the findings of a "Benefit, Fraud & Compliance Assessment" of the H-1B program. In studying a sample of 246 H-1B visa petitions, USCIS found 51 cases that contained at least one instance of fraud or "technical violations" — an overall violation rate of 20.7%. The study also documented several types of H-1B program abuse found in the sample, including petitions containing fake or forged documentation; willful misrepresentation of H-1B status; instances where supposed business locations were nonexistent; and employers who never intended for the beneficiary to fill the actual position offered. In one of these cases, an employer petitioned for an H-1B worker to fill a business development analyst position. When USCIS reviewed this case, however, "the petitioner stated the H-1B beneficiary would be working in a laundromat doing laundry and maintaining washing machines." (USCIS H-1B Benefit Fraud and
Many Big Businesses Begin the Process of Replacing Fired American Workers with Foreign H-1B Workers
In the midst of a global recession and a slumping economy, with an unemployment rate at 8.1%, the American people expect that U.S. companies would fill any job vacancies by hiring American citizens. According to Fox News, that is not what many American companies are planning to do. Companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and IBM — who have already laid-off thousands of American workers — "will begin applying for the right to hire foreign workers on April 1" by applying for H-1B workers. (Fox News, March 19, 2009).
On April 1, the U.S. government will begin to accept applications for 65,000 H-1B visas that will become available for American companies to hire foreign workers. According to the eligibility requirements, the worker must have attained the equivalent of at least a bachelor's degree to fill a vacancy in a "specialty" occupation. Another 60,000 visas will be made available for several exempted occupational categories. In recent years, all 65,000 nonexempt H-1B visas have been claimed within 48 hours of being made available. (USCIS Update, March 20, 2009).
Undoubtedly, these companies will make the argument that H-1B visa recipients are "high-tech workers" who represent the "best and brightest" from around the world. However, USCIS data show that nearly half of H-1B recipients hold only a bachelor's degree — an achievement to be sure, but one many Americans possess as well. In addition, the same data shows that H-1B visas are frequently issued to import workers who do not possess any high-tech skills. (USCIS Report on H-1B Petitions, Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Report). Finally, several sources — including a May 2008 study by H-1B expert Dr. Norman Matloff - demonstrate that the companies that hire these foreign workers do not pay the workers premium wages which suggests that the workers are no better qualified than their American counterparts. (Center for Immigration Studies Backgrounder, May 2008).
Another issue that warrants consideration in the H-1B debate is the fact that the program is susceptible to fraud. In September 2008, USCIS released the findings of a "Benefit, Fraud & Compliance Assessment" of the H-1B program. In studying a sample of 246 H-1B visa petitions, USCIS found 51 cases that contained at least one instance of fraud or "technical violations" — an overall violation rate of 20.7%. The study also documented several types of H-1B program abuse found in the sample, including petitions containing fake or forged documentation; willful misrepresentation of H-1B status; instances where supposed business locations were nonexistent; and employers who never intended for the beneficiary to fill the actual position offered. In one of these cases, an employer petitioned for an H-1B worker to fill a business development analyst position. When USCIS reviewed this case, however, "the petitioner stated the H-1B beneficiary would be working in a laundromat doing laundry and maintaining washing machines." (USCIS H-1B Benefit Fraud and
funny things happen when you try to change the dynamics of the universe. I stand behind.......we should have let em' fall. start over.