A look at major immigration proposals – Via CNN
Via CNN.com
Monday, March 27, 2006; Posted: 10:41 p.m. EST (03:41 GMT)
(AP) — Highlights of major immigration proposals in Congress:
Senate Judiciary Committee’s bill:
•
Allows illegal immigrants who were in the United States before 2004 to
continuing working legally for six years if they pay a $1,000 fine and
clear a criminal background check. They would become eligible for
permanent residence upon paying another $1,000 fine, any back taxes and
having learned English.
• New immigrants would have to have temporary work visas. They also could earn legal permanent residence after six years.
• Adds up to 14,000 new Border Patrol agents by 2011 to the current force of 11,300 agents.
• Authorizes a “virtual wall” of unmanned vehicles, cameras and sensors to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border.
•
Creates a special guest worker program for an estimated 1.5 million
immigrant farm workers, who can also earn legal permanent residency.
•
Allows illegal immigrant students with high school diplomas or GED, no
criminal record and meet other criteria to enroll in college or
university or enlist in the military. Permits state schools to charge
such students in-state tuition.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s proposal:
• Requires all employers to verify the identity and immigration status of their employees through an electronic system.
•
Assesses civil penalties of between $500 and $20,000 against employers
for each illegal immigrant they hire and criminal penalties of up to
$20,000 per illegal immigrant hired and up to six months in jail for
engaging in a pattern of employing illegal workers.
• More than
doubles the number of employment-based green cards, from 140,000 to
290,000, and makes more employment-based visas available to unskilled
workers. It also would free up other visas by exempting immediate
relatives of U.S. citizens from being counted in the annual pool of
480,000 visas, and increase country-by-country ceilings on
family-sponsored and employment-based immigrants.
• Cancels visas
of immigrants who have overstayed their visas and requires them to
return to their home country to undergo additional screening at U.S.
consulates.
• Makes it a misdemeanor crime for an immigrant to be in the country illegally.
• Increases the number of visas available for high-tech workers.
• Does not address President Bush’s proposal for a guest-worker program.
House bill passed in December:
•
Requires all employers to use within six years a database to verify
Social Security numbers of employees or face civil or criminal
penalties for hiring illegal workers.
• Requires mandatory detention for all non-Mexican illegal immigrants arrested at ports of entry or at land and sea borders.
•
Establishes mandatory sentences for smuggling illegal immigrants and
for re-entering the United States illegally after deportation.
• Makes illegal presence in the country a felony.
• Makes a drunken driving conviction a deportable offense.
• Requires building two-layer fences along 700 miles of the 2,000-mile border between Mexico and the United States.
• Does not address President Bush’s proposed guest-worker program for illegal immigrants already in U.S.
THE WHITE HOUSE, Office of the Press Secretary: For Immediate Release March 27, 2006
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release March 27, 2006
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Securing Our Border, Enforcing Our Laws, And Upholding Our Values
Today’s Presidential Action
Today, President Bush Attended A Naturalization Ceremony And Discussed His Vision For
Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The President supports comprehensive immigration
reform to secure our border, improve enforcement of our laws, and uphold our values. The
President also discussed his proposal for a temporary worker program that rejects amnesty, allows
foreign workers to fill jobs no American is willing to do, and reduces smuggling and crime at the
border.
America’s Immigrant Heritage Continues To Shape Our Society. Our Nation is bound
together by liberty and a conviction that all people are created with equal dignity and value.
Through the generations, Americans have upheld that vision by welcoming new citizens from
across the globe. Immigrants have helped shape our identity and sustain our economy.
The President Strongly Believes America Is Stronger And More Dynamic When New
Citizens Are Welcomed. The President has called on Congress to increase the number of
green cards that can lead to citizenship. He supports increasing the number of visas available
for foreign-born workers in highly skilled fields. The President signed legislation creating a new
Office of Citizenship at the Department of Homeland Security to promote knowledge of
citizenship rights and procedures; the Office of Citizenship created a new official guide for
immigrants, and the Administration is working with faith-based and community groups to offer
civics and English-language courses. In July 2002, the President signed an Executive Order
making foreign-born members of our military immediately eligible for citizenship. Over the past
four years, more than 20,000 men and women in uniform have become citizens.
Every New Citizen Makes A Lifelong Pledge To Support The Values And Laws Of
America. New citizens have an obligation to learn the customs and values that define our
Nation – including liberty and civic responsibility, equality under God, tolerance for others, and
the English language.
The President Welcomes A Civil And Dignified Debate On Comprehensive Immigration
Reform. Congress is now considering immigration reform proposals. Immigration is an emotional
topic, and we need to maintain our perspective as we conduct this debate.
To Keep The Promise Of America, We Must Enforce The Laws Of America. President Bush’s Proposal For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Includes Three Critical Elements – Securing The Border, Strengthening Enforcement Inside The Country, And Creating A Temporary Worker Program. These elements depend on and reinforce one another. Together, they will give America an immigration system that meets 21st century demands.
The First Element Is Securing Our Border. Since President Bush took office, funding for border
security has increased by 66 percent. The Border Patrol has been expanded to more than 12,000
agents, an increase of more than 2,700 agents, or nearly 30 percent. The President’s FY07 budget
funds another 1,500 new agents. Agents are being provided with cutting-edge technology like
infrared cameras, advanced motion sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Protective
infrastructure, such as vehicle barriers and fencing in urban areas, is being installed. Manpower,
technology, and infrastructure are being integrated in more unified ways than ever before.
The Administration’s Border Security Strategy Is Getting Results. Since President Bush
took office, agents have apprehended and sent home more than 6 million people entering the
country illegally – including more than 400,000 with criminal records. Federal, State, local, and
tribal law enforcement are working together. More than 600,000 illegal immigrants were
apprehended through the Arizona Border Control Initiative last year – an increase of more than
50 percent increase over the previous year. The men and women of our Border Patrol have
made good progress – but we have much more work ahead, and we will not be satisfied until
our agents have full control of our border.
The Administration Is Ending The Practice Of “Catch And Release.” The President has
set a goal to end “catch and release” over the next year. Most illegal immigrants from Mexico
can be returned to Mexico within 24 hours. Non-Mexican illegal immigrants present a different
challenge. For decades, government detention facilities did not have enough beds for the non-
Mexican illegal immigrants caught at the border – so most were released back into society.
They were each assigned a court date, but virtually no one showed up. The Administration is
ending the practice of “catch and release” by increasing the number of beds in detention
facilities by 12 percent this year; the President’s FY07 budget proposes increasing that number
by another 32 percent. The Administration is expanding the use of “expedited removal,” which
allows us to send non-Mexican illegal immigrants home more quickly.
We Are Making Progress In This Effort. Last year, it took an average of 66 days to
process a non-Mexican illegal immigrant. Now, the process is taking only 21 days. This
has helped us end “catch and release” for illegal immigrants from Brazil, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua caught crossing our Southwest border. Since last summer, the
total number of non-Mexican illegal immigrants released into society has been cut by more
than a third. There is more work ahead, and the Administration will work with Congress to
close loopholes that make it difficult to process illegal immigrants from certain countries
and will continue pressing foreign governments like China to take back their citizens who
enter our country illegally.
The Second Element Is Strengthening Enforcement Of Our Laws In The Interior Of Our
Country. Since President Bush took office, funding for immigration enforcement has increased by
42 percent. These resources have helped agents bring to justice smugglers, terrorists, gang
members, and human traffickers. For example, through Operation Community Shield, Federal
agents have arrested nearly 2,300 gang members who were in America illegally, including violent
criminals like the members of the “MS-13” gang.
Better Interior Enforcement Requires Better Worksite Enforcement. Last year, President
Bush signed legislation to more than double the resources dedicated to worksite enforcement.
Next month, the Administration will launch new law enforcement task forces in 11 cities to
dismantle document fraud rings.
The Third Element Is Creating A New Temporary Worker Program That Would Not Provide
Amnesty. A temporary worker program would make the system more rational, orderly, and secure
by providing a legal way to match willing foreign workers with willing American employers to fill jobs
that no American is willing to do. Workers would be able to register for legal status on a temporary
basis. If workers decided to apply for citizenship, they would have to get in line. This program
would help meet the demands of our growing economy and allow honest workers to provide for
their families while respecting the law.
A Temporary Worker Program Is Vital To Securing The Border. Creating a separate, legal
channel for those entering America to do an honest day’s labor would dramatically reduce the
number of people attempting to sneak back and forth across the border. That would help take
pressure off the border and free up law enforcement to focus on the greatest threats to our
security – terrorists, drug dealers, and other criminals. The progra
m would also improve
security by creating tamper-proof identification cards that would allow authorities to keep track
of every temporary worker who is in America on a legal basis and help authorities identify
those who are here illegally.
A Temporary Worker Program Should Not Provide Amnesty. Granting amnesty unfairly
allows those who break the law to jump ahead of people who play by the rules and wait in the
citizenship line. Amnesty would also encourage future waves of illegal immigration, increase
pressure on the border, and make it more difficult for law enforcement to focus on those who
mean us harm. For the sake of justice and the sake of border security, the President firmly
opposes amnesty.
# # #
US Senate panel approves broad immigration reform
WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) – An immigration reform bill that
would create a guest worker program pushed by President George W. Bush
and give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to earn citizenship
was approved on Monday by a U.S. Senate panel.
The first step toward comprehensive legislation was passed by the
Senate Judiciary Committee and now goes to the full Senate for debate.
Including the contested guest worker program, which would allow
future temporary workers a chance to become permanent residents, sets
the stage for a bruising battle over immigration. The bill would also
give some of the millions of illegal immigrants a chance to legalize
their status and earn eventual citizenship.
House of Representatives-passed legislation has focused solely on
tightening border security and enforcing immigration law, and many
conservative Republicans say the guest worker provision is a form of
amnesty.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
Read the preliminary CNN take on the issue
Thousands March in L.A. Over Immigration
Via Yahoo News
LOS ANGELES – Tens of thousands of immigrant rights advocates from
across Southern California marched Saturday in protest of federal
legislation that would build more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border
and make helping illegal immigrants a crime.
The march followed rallies on Friday that drew throngs of protesters to major cities around the nation.
On Saturday, demonstrators streamed into downtown Los Angeles for
what was expected to be one of the city’s largest pro-immigrant
rallies. The crowd was estimated at more than 100,000, said police Sgt.
Lee Sands.
Many of the marchers wore white shirts to symbolize peace and also
waved U.S. flags. Some also carried the flags of Mexico and other
countries, and even wore them as capes.
Elger Aloy, 26, of Riverside, a premed student, pushed a stroller with his 8-month-old son at Saturday’s Los Angeles march.
“I think it’s just inhumane. … Everybody deserves the right to a better life,” Aloy said of the legislation.
The House of Representatives has passed legislation that would make
it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally, impose new penalties on
employers who hire illegal immigrants and erect fences along one-third
of the U.S.-Mexican border. The Senate is to begin debating the
proposals on Tuesday.
Immigration legislation sends protesters to city streets
VIA CNN.com
Friday, March 24, 2006; Posted: 6:02 p.m. EST (23:02 GMT)
Demonstrations held in Arizona, California, Georgia and Wisconsin
TV coverage showed the Phoenix march stretching for several blocks.
PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) — Thousands of
people across the country protested Friday against legislation cracking
down on illegal immigrants, with demonstrators in Phoenix, Los Angeles,
California, and Atlanta, Georgia, staging school walkouts, marches and
work stoppages.
Congress is considering bills that would make
it a felony to be illegally in the United States, impose new penalties
on employers who hire illegal immigrants and erect fences along
one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border. The proposals have angered many
Hispanics.
The Los Angeles demonstration led to fights between
black and Hispanic students at one high school, but the protests were
largely peaceful, authorities said.
Chantal Mason, a sophomore at
George Washington Preparatory High, said black students jumped Hispanic
students as they left classes to protest a bill passed the House in
December that would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally.
“It
was horrible, horrible,” Mason said. “It’s ridiculous that a bunch of
black students would jump on Latinos like that, knowing they’re trying
to get their freedom.”
In Phoenix, police said 10,000
demonstrators marched to the office of Republican Sen. Jon Kyl,
co-sponsor of a bill that would give illegal immigrants up to five
years to leave the country. The turnout clogged a major thoroughfare.
“They’re
here for the American Dream,” said Malissa Greer, 29, who joined a
crowd estimated by police to be at least 10,000 strong. “God created
all of us. He’s not a God of the United States. He’s a God of the
world.”
Kyl had no immediate comment on the rally.
At least
500 students at Huntington Park High School near Los Angeles walked out
of classes in the morning. Hundreds of the students, some carrying
Mexican flags, walked down the middle of Los Angeles streets, police
cruisers behind them.
The students visited two other area high
schools, trying to encourage students to join their protest, but the
schools were locked down to keep students from leaving, said Los
Angeles district spokeswoman Monica Carazo.
In Georgia, activists
said tens of thousands of workers did not show up at their jobs Friday
after calls for a work stoppage to protest a bill passed by the Georgia
House on Thursday.
USCIS ISSUES H-1B FILING GUIDANCE
Press Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Public Notice March 24, 2006
USCIS ISSUES H-1B FILING GUIDANCE
Employers may begin filing petitions for FY 2007 on April 1st Washington, D.C.– USCIS will begin accepting filings for the FY2007 H-1B cap on April 1, 2006. In anticipation of this event, USCIS is reminding the public of important regulatory requirements. H-1B petitioners should keep this emphasis in mind as they prepare petitions in order to avoid delays in processing and possible Requests For Evidence (RFE).
8 CFR 214.2(h)(2)(B) requires that petitioners provide a detailed itinerary of the dates and places where work will be performed if those services will be provided in more than one location. For example, a labor contractor or consultant who hires H-1B workers to work at client sites must provide in advance an itinerary with dates and places where the worker will perform that work.
In addition, 8 CFR 214.1(c)(4) requires that an applicant for extension of status have maintained his or her nonimmigrant status. In situations in which an H-1B worker is changing to an employer other than the one for which the initial H-1B petition was approved, USCIS will require that the worker changing employers demonstrate that he or she actually did perform work for the original petitioning employer for a significant length of time. In situations in which the H-1B worker is processing abroad, USCIS will work closely with the Department of State to ensure that this same level of integrity is applied to consular processed H-1Bs.
USCIS – On March 1, 2003, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services became one of three legacy INS components to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS is charged with fundamentally transforming and improving the delivery of immigration and citizenship services, while enhancing the integrity of our nation’s security.
Hispanics march in Milwaukee against immigration bills
March 23, 2006
(CNN) — Thousands of demonstrators
marched in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Thursday to oppose tough
anti-immigration legislation sponsored by their Republican Congressman
Jim Sensenbrenner.
House Resolution 4437 would make all
undocumented immigrants felons and require all employers to verify the
immigration status of its employees.
The House already has passed
Sensenbrenner’s bill, and Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, has introduced
a companion bill in the Senate that also would make it a felony to be
in the United States without the proper paperwork.
Sensenbrenner
said in a statement last year that his bill would help “regain control
of our borders and prevent illegal immigration” as well as “help
strengthen and promote our compassionate and welcoming legal
immigration system.”
About 30,000 protesters on Thursday marched
into downtown Milwaukee as part of a demonstration titled “A Day
Without Latinos” in which Latinos were encouraged to take time from
their jobs to march, according to Voces de la Frontera, which organized
the event. Dozens of Milwaukee businesses also closed Thursday in
protest.
“A Day Without Latinos,” the theme of the Milwaukee
protest, borrows its name from a 2004 comedy called “A Day Without a
Mexican,” in which California wakes up one day to find that it’s
Hispanic residents have inexplicably disappeared.
The Milwaukee
march was one of several recent protests organized across the nation by
groups opposed to immigration bills considered by Congress.
The
Senate Judiciary Committee has until Monday to vote on the competing
legislation, but one Senate aide said the prospects on Senators taking
action did not seem bright. The aide called negotiations in the Senate
“slow going” and predicted a showdown over the bill.
Critics of
the legislation say Sensenbrenner is trying to deport the 11 million to
12 million people who are in the United States illegally. Proponents
say keeping tabs on immigrants is vital to national security. President
Bush echoed that sentiment in comments to reporters Thursday.
“Part
of enforcing our borders is to have a guest-worker program that
encourages people to register their presence, so that we know who they
are and says to them, ‘If you’re doing a job an American won’t do,
you’re welcome here for a period of time to do that job.’ “
But Democrats are saying the Frist and Sensenbrenner measures go too far.
“This
bill would literally criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even
Jesus himself,” said Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York.
The Web
site for Voces de la Frontera, which in Spanish means Voices from the
Border, states that in addition to turning immigrants into felons and
pressuring employers, Sensenbrenner’s bill also could affect
immigrants’ driving privileges and emergency medical care.
Bush urges ‘civil’ immigration debate
VIA CNN
March 23, 2006
WASHINGTON (AP) — Anticipating
turbulent debate over immigration, President Bush urged Congress on
Thursday to grapple with the emotional issue in a way that avoids
pitting groups against each other.
The Senate is to take up
immigration next week — and the president and the leader of his party
are starting out with different ideas about the best way to address the
estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country.
Bush
wants Congress to create a program to allow foreigners to gain legal
status in the United States for a set amount of time to do specific
jobs. When the time is up, they would be required to return home
without an automatic path to citizenship.
Bush said Thursday
that his message is: “If you are doing a job that Americans won’t do,
you’re welcome here for a period of time to do that job.”
Comment on India’s The Economic Times Article Titled — “Worried about H-1B visa? Take the L1 route”
I recently came across an article by “An Immigration Lawyer From Mumbai” in India’s The Economic Times (Online Edition). The article is titled “Worried about H-1B visa? Take the L1 route”. The author writes passionately regarding the L-1B visa; by way of background, this is a visa that in limited instances is a good replacement for the H-1B. The article, however, paints an incomplete portrait.
The author neglects to mention the two most basic and substantial obstacles which stand in the way of L-1B visa aspirants and their sponsors: 1) the L-1B visa holder cannot be ‘body-shopped’ and 2) the visa holder must possess ‘specialized knowledge’ which is defined as “special knowledge possessed by an individual
of the petitioning organization’s product, service,
research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests
and its application in international markets, or an advanced
level of knowledge or expertise in the organization’s
processes and procedures.” This is obviously a difficult burden to bear during processing, especially in heavy traffic consulates such as Chennai or New Delhi. Requirements such as these unfortunately preclude a great majority of the software consulting companies that place workers at third-party job sites from sponsoring these visas.
Cases such as the Matter of Colley, Matter of Penner,
and Matter of Sandoz Crop Protection Corporation stated that the beneficiary
of an L-1B petition must possess proprietary or unique knowledge.
In these cases, a beneficiary would qualify only where their employers were using unique or specially patented
software or equipment not used by other employers in the
same industry. For example, a beneficiary proficient in
using software developed by his or her employer would qualify
for L-1B status, but a beneficiary with expertise in highly
sophisticated software developed by another company would
not qualify.
The FY2007 H-1B Season Is Upon Us – By Ashwin Sharma, Esq.
March 20, 2006
By Ashwin Sharma
The FY2007 H-1B visa quota opens Saturday April 1, 2006. There is no way to predict how long the quota will last with any degree of accuracy, therefore, it is adviseable to file petitions as soon as possible. Last year’s quota ran out Mid-August 2005 – it was expected by many to last until at least September or October 2005. Since the IT market is booming, it is expected that this year’s quota will run out faster than last year.
Employers can petition for H-1B nonimmigrant workers as early as six months prior to the employee’s anticipated start date. Therefore, if an employer wishes to have an employee start on October 1, 2006, the earliest date that the employer may file the petition with the USCIS is April 1, 2006.
This year I urge those of you who hold a US Masters degree or higher to file only for one of the 20,000 visas available for holders of advanced degrees. Ensure that your attorney has selected this exemption, and not the regular 65,000. This will obviously increase the number of visas for other applicants who only hold an undergraduate degree.
Some pointers to maximize your success of obtaining an H-1B this year:
-
File early.
-
Ensure that you have compiled all of the documentation that your employer or attorney has requested. Missing, incomplete, or unlegible supporting documentation will contribute to higher than normal processing delays due to the hectic filing period immediately following April 1, 2006. On a related note, confirm that your employer has also put together all necessary documentation. Following up with employers is crucial, especially those who are not familiar with the H-1B process.
-
Make legible copies of all documents. Always include photocopies of both sides of your SSN and I-94 (if applicable).
-
Again, if applicable, be sure to get your educational evaluations completed early.
-
Include documentation showing your valid status until at least October 1, 2006. If you are presently in H4 or other dependent status, obtain documentation showing that your spouse is in valid status until at least October 1, 2006.
-
Make certain that your job title matches your educational and/or work experience background. Consult the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), 2006-07 Edition to investigate the correlation between your job title, job duties and skill sets with your qualifications.
-
Make sure that your employer is offering the prevailing wage for your job and job location.
-
Discuss any past visa denials with your attorney.
Click here to view our firm’s H-1B page, or call us at 904-779-0111 if you have any questions about H-1B processing.
Market Is Hot For High-Skilled In Silicon Valley
By PUI-WING TAM
February 28, 2006; Page B1
Five years after the dot-com bubble burst, job growth has returned to Silicon Valley. But it’s a different kind of growth than in past recoveries, favoring higher-skilled workers.
Netflix
Inc.’s hiring shifts are typical. During the tech boom, the online movie-rental service created 100 customer-service jobs near its Los Gatos, Calif., headquarters in the heart of Silicon Valley. After the tech bust in 2000, Netflix eliminated half of those positions. But the total headcount at Netflix’s Silicon Valley offices has grown 20%, to nearly 200 staffers in the last few years.
That’s because Netflix, while shedding some lower-end jobs, has aggressively created new, higher-level jobs. It’s adding jobs in departments such as Web engineering and product development: That groups’ hiring of engineers jumped 20% to more than 50 people in 2005 alone. “Our new engineers have an average of seven to 15 years experience,” says Patty McCord, Netflix’s chief talent officer. “Five years ago, we hired people with three to five years of experience.”
![[Turning Around]](https://i0.wp.com/online.wsj.com/public/resources/images/MK-AF854_VALLEY_20060227193308.gif)
Past tech recoveries tended to bring new lower-skilled jobs as well as high-skill jobs. This time, tech firms — from big companies like Hewlett-Packard Co. to mid- and small-size firms such as Netflix, Adobe Systems Inc., and SanDisk Corp. — have moved lower-skill jobs out of the Silicon Valley area to cheaper locations, or outsourced them to foreign countries. The new
jobs they are creating locally often require specialized skills in engineering and design. Young companies like Google Inc. are simply starting out hiring at the high end, further shifting the overall balance.
A study last month by Joint Venture Silicon Valley, a nonprofit group representing businesses and government agencies in the area, found the nation’s tech capital had a net increase in jobs in 2005 for the first time in four years. Most of the growth came in the category of creative and innovation services, including firms in research and development, scientific and technical consulting and industrial design. In total, the number of Silicon Valley jobs in these areas grew 4% from 2002 to 2005, reaching 72,734. At the same time, the number of jobs in electronic-component manufacturing — which tend to involve assembly and other repetitive tasks — dropped 28% to 23,772, while jobs in semiconductor-equipment manufacturing fell 23% to 58,133. Overall, 14% of all the jobs in Silicon Valley today
belong to a sector called core design, engineering and science. That exceeds the comparable 9.3% slice of the work force in Austin, Texas; 8.7% in Seattle; and 8.3% in San Diego, according to the study.
Bill Gates is for big raise in H-1B visas
S Rajagopalan
Washington, March 21, 2006
VIA http://www.hindustantimes.com
Flying into Washington DC on a rare visit, Microsoft chief Bill
Gates has added his powerful voice to the demand that US Congress clear
the decks for a hefty increase in the number of H-1B visas.
Gates,
faced with the shortage of Indian and other foreign techies, decided to
come down to the US capital and personally lobby for an end to visa
woes that have affected the operations of Microsoft and other US giants.
The
visit came amid moves to come up with a legislation in the Senate to
raise the H-1B cap from 65,000 visas a year to 115,000, with a built-in
provision for 20% increase every year. “The high skills immigration
issue is by far the No. 1 thing. This is gigantic for us,” the world’s
richest man told the Washington Post and pointed to the irony
of Indian techies having to go back after doing advanced computer
courses in the US because of the visa shortage.
“It’s kind of
ironic to have somebody graduate from Stanford Computer Science
Department and there’s not enough H1B visas, so they have to go back to
India,” he said, adding: “And I have people who have been hired, who
are just sitting on the border waiting.”
Beginning fiscal 2004,
the H-1B visas are down to 65,000 from a peak of 195,000 allowed for
the preceding three years. The drop is so precipitous that the whole
H-1B quota is now exhausted well before the start of the fiscal year.
Gates
grumbled that he has a hard time understanding the logic of those who
decry the outsourcing of American jobs, but are still reluctant to the
entry of high-skilled people who are catalysts for US growth.
Alongside
the move to raise the H-1B cap, Gates backs the Bush administration’s
plan to boost the teaching of math and science in US high schools as
part of the long-term goal to expand the supply of qualified Americans
for tech jobs.
The U.S. Immigration Law Blog by Ashwin Sharma 
Sen. Arlen Specter bill would provide for more H-1B visa numbers
A bill being drafted by Sen.
Arlen Specter, who chairs the Senate judiciary committee overseeing immigration issues, is proposing to increase the number of
H-1B visas issued annually from 65,000 to 115,000, with an option to
increase the cap yearly by 20%. A spokeswoman for Specter says details
of the proposal are still being worked out. However, the committee is
slated to discuss immigration legislation on March. 27.