Backlash stirs in US against Foreign Worker Visas.....

[MMC]

But amid calls for expanding the nation's so-called H-1B visa program, there is growing pushback from Americans who argue the program has been hijacked by staffing companies that import cheaper, lower-level workers to replace more expensive U.S. employees — or keep them from getting hired in the first place. The H-1B program allows employers to temporarily hire workers in specialty occupations. The government issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas to businesses every year, and recipients can stay up to six years. Although no one tracks exactly how many H-1B holders are in the U.S., experts estimate there are at least 600,000 at any one time. Skilled guest workers can also come in on other types of visas.

The liberal Economic Policy Institute reported last year that only half of U.S. college graduates in science, engineering and technology found jobs in those fields and that at least one third of IT jobs were going to foreign guest workers.

The top users of H-1B visas aren't even tech companies like Google and Facebook. Eight of the 10 biggest H1-B users last year were outsourcing firms that hire out thousands of mostly lower- and mid-level tech workers to corporate clients, according to an analysis of federal data by Ron Hira, an associate professor of public policy at Rochester Institute of Technology. The top 10 firms accounted for about a third of the H-1Bs allotted last year.

The debate over whether foreign workers are taking jobs isn't new, but for years it centered on low-wage sectors like agriculture and construction. The high-skilled visas have thrust a new sector of American workers into the fray: the middle class.....snip~

Backlash stirs in US against foreign worker visas


Guesstimates of 600k still here.....what say ye?

 

[DDD]

Are there any working visas for jobs online? I mean working in USA but never really having to be there physically?

This H-1B visa seems like a visa that requires one to be in USA. Thereby should be more difficult to get. Are there any easier ones to get that enables one to work in USA but not necessarily be there?

 

[clownboy]

Are there any working visas for jobs online? I mean working in USA but never really having to be there physically?

This H-1B visa seems like a visa that requires one to be in USA. Thereby should be more difficult to get. Are there any easier ones to get that enables one to work in USA but not necessarily be there?

You don't need a visa for that. Those folks are foreign contractors. It is a case of both outsourcing AND offshoring. But that isn't the issue at hand here.

 

[jamesrage]

But amid calls for expanding the nation's so-called H-1B visa program, there is growing pushback from Americans who argue the program has been hijacked by staffing companies that import cheaper, lower-level workers to replace more expensive U.S. employees — or keep them from getting hired in the first place. The H-1B program allows employers to temporarily hire workers in specialty occupations. The government issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas to businesses every year, and recipients can stay up to six years. Although no one tracks exactly how many H-1B holders are in the U.S., experts estimate there are at least 600,000 at any one time. Skilled guest workers can also come in on other types of visas.

The liberal Economic Policy Institute reported last year that only half of U.S. college graduates in science, engineering and technology found jobs in those fields and that at least one third of IT jobs were going to foreign guest workers.

The top users of H-1B visas aren't even tech companies like Google and Facebook. Eight of the 10 biggest H1-B users last year were outsourcing firms that hire out thousands of mostly lower- and mid-level tech workers to corporate clients, according to an analysis of federal data by Ron Hira, an associate professor of public policy at Rochester Institute of Technology. The top 10 firms accounted for about a third of the H-1Bs allotted last year.

The debate over whether foreign workers are taking jobs isn't new, but for years it centered on low-wage sectors like agriculture and construction. The high-skilled visas have thrust a new sector of American workers into the fray: the middle class.....snip~

Backlash stirs in US against foreign worker visas


Guesstimates of 600k still here.....what say ye?

Anytime large amount of people have been imported into the US it was so companies can get around having to pay better wages to Americans. The Africans, Chinese,Irish,Italians and others were brought here so businesses could get around having to pay Americans decent wages and better working conditions. I think if a company can import workers then they can either train American workers or import them from other cities or states in the US.

 

[DifferentDrummr]

Part of the H1-B "program" is to get cheaper labor to replace (yes, replace) U.S. jobs. However, it's about more than just money; it's also about power.

You see, when a worker is in the U.S. on an H1-B, that visa is 'sponsored' by the employer, and the worker is not allowed to take any other job. This gives the company pretty much absolute control over the employee, and makes fair bargaining impossible.

 

[radioman]

I think if a company can import workers then they can either train American workers or import them from other cities or states in the US.

Agreed.
Companies CAN do these things.
They just don't want to.
Cheap labor uber alles!!
If the co's can't outsource to the 3rd world, they'll bring the 3rd world here.

PS: I love your sig.

 

[jamesrage]

Agreed.
Companies CAN do these things.
They just don't want to.
Cheap labor uber alles!!
If the co's can't outsource to the 3rd world, they'll bring the 3rd world here.

PS: I love your sig.

Its why Mark Zuckerberg, the Chamber of commerce and a lot of other people are pushing for immigration reform.

 

[radioman]

Its why Mark Zuckerberg, the Chamber of commerce and a lot of other people are pushing for immigration reform.

This is why I dislike business types....even though I've owned small businesses.
The CoC and punks like Zuckerberg have no loyalty to this nation or its citizens.
Their inability to see beyond their own narrow interests is disgusting and unpatriotic.

 

[MMC]

You don't need a visa for that. Those folks are foreign contractors. It is a case of both outsourcing AND offshoring. But that isn't the issue at hand here.

Heya CB. :2wave: Well it has taken from the Middle class, Right? Who has created more and wanted more of these Visas put out? So when the Demos start talking about Middle Class.....this is another area that can be brought their way.

 

[MMC]

Anytime large amount of people have been imported into the US it was so companies can get around having to pay better wages to Americans. The Africans, Chinese,Irish,Italians and others were brought here so businesses could get around having to pay Americans decent wages and better working conditions. I think if a company can import workers then they can either train American workers or import them from other cities or states in the US.

Heya JR. :2wave: What I don't get is.....why aren't they being kept track of? Why is there only Estimates?

 

[polgara]

Heya JR. :2wave: What I don't get is.....why aren't they being kept track of? Why is there only Estimates?

I believe they are certainly being kept track of - they just figure that information is none of our business - "estimates" is supposed to keep us happy, I guess. If we knew the real amount, we might start asking too many questions. You know how we are.....

How's your weather? It dropped down into the mid-40s overnight - now that's not bad, but it has been in the high 80s and very humid during the day here, so the difference was shocking! I wondered if it was going to snow or something...even the Chihuahua looked at me as if to ask "WTH" when I let him out this morning. :mrgreen:

Greetings, MMC. :2wave:

 

[MMC]

I believe they are certainly being kept track of - they just figure that information is none of our business - "estimates" is supposed to keep us happy, I guess. If we knew the real amount, we might start asking too many questions. You know how we are.....

How's your weather? It dropped down into the mid-40s overnight - now that's not bad, but it has been in the high 80s and very humid during the day here, so the difference was shocking! I wondered if it was going to snow or something...even the Chihuahua looked at me as if to ask "WTH" when I let him out this morning. :mrgreen:

Greetings, MMC. :2wave:

Heya Lady P.

One would think they do. I am with those that think we have people here that can do the job. I don't believe we need to bring these people in.....so they can go back home and do what they learn here.

Even with them saying that Half our own college kids weren't able to find jobs. I like JR's Idea. If one state needs so many technical jobs. Let them take from other states first.


We are suppose to get hit with Thunderstorms tonight with chance of Hail and High winds again. I hope it don't knock out the power again. Already the winds are picking up even though it still is sunny out.

 

[jamesrage]

Heya JR. :2wave: What I don't get is.....why aren't they being kept track of? Why is there only Estimates?

Because people would be even more pissed if they found out the numbers are higher.For example when they pushed the Reagan amnesty they under reported how many people were in the country illegally in order to push amnesty.They claimed only 1.3 million illegals would get amnesty, after all was said and done nearly 3 million illegals got amnesty.So when pro-amnesty sources are pushing the 11 million estimate the number is most likely over twice that.

Amnesty won't work: Secure our borders | The American Legion
Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., said, "This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forth an amnesty bill like this." - See more at: Amnesty won't work: Secure our borders | The American Legion

 

[MMC]

Because people would be even more pissed if they found out the numbers are higher.For example when they pushed the Reagan amnesty they under reported how many people were in the country illegally in order to push amnesty.They claimed only 1.3 million illegals would get amnesty, after all was said and done nearly 3 million illegals got amnesty.So when pro-amnesty sources are pushing the 11 million estimate the number is most likely over twice that.

Amnesty won't work: Secure our borders | The American Legion
Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., said, "This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forth an amnesty bill like this." - See more at: Amnesty won't work: Secure our borders | The American Legion

Wow Teddy Kennedy said that huh. Imagine that!

 

[CanadaJohn]

I don't presume to know the answers, but could part of the problem here be that Americans are paying outrageous amounts for a decent education/degree and when they get out of university/college they are so deep in debt that they're reluctant to accept entry level, low paying jobs in their preferred profession. Many young people expect, as their parents did, to receive higher paying job offers simply because university degrees had a far more attractive reputation then they do now. Today, only the very elite of the elite students get the choice jobs and others are left with the scraps. Other countries, like Canada, also have superior universities and colleges and produce excellently educated students at a fraction of the cost in the US.

 

[DDD]

You don't need a visa for that. Those folks are foreign contractors. It is a case of both outsourcing AND offshoring. But that isn't the issue at hand here.

Nah, you need a visa to work irrelevant if you are there or not. Just curious whether working while not being in USA requires a special type of visa. Hoping that it is an easier one to get too.

 

[CanadaJohn]

I should note as well that here in Canada the government issues almost 200,000 foreign worker visas/permits annually. Considering the population of the US is ten times that of Canada and your economy is many times more than that the size of Canada's, I'd expect that the US could easily accommodate upwards of 2 million foreign worker visas if your economy was vibrant.

The difference between the US and Canada, however, appears to be that we don't have anywhere near the numbers of undocumented and in the shadows workers that the US has.

 

[MMC]

I should note as well that here in Canada the government issues almost 200,000 foreign worker visas/permits annually. Considering the population of the US is ten times that of Canada and your economy is many times more than that the size of Canada's, I'd expect that the US could easily accommodate upwards of 2 million foreign worker visas if your economy was vibrant.

The difference between the US and Canada, however, appears to be that we don't have anywhere near the numbers of undocumented and in the shadows workers that the US has.

Heya CJ. Well trying to increase these Visas and others. Then trying to increase Student visas all at time when people are out of work and jobs that aren't coming back. When our own people need the work and education. Is just wrong IMO.....we need to look to our own First before solving others problems.

 

[DifferentDrummr]

I should note as well that here in Canada the government issues almost 200,000 foreign worker visas/permits annually. Considering the population of the US is ten times that of Canada and your economy is many times more than that the size of Canada's, I'd expect that the US could easily accommodate upwards of 2 million foreign worker visas if your economy was vibrant.

The difference between the US and Canada, however, appears to be that we don't have anywhere near the numbers of undocumented and in the shadows workers that the US has.

Funny you should bring that up, John.

Although the U.S. issues that many H-1B visas annually, each visa lasts for three years and can be extended three additional years beyond that. The math works out to about 700,000 H-1B workers in the U.S. at any given time.

Not to mention, there are other legal ways for guest workers to take jobs in the U.S. One example is student visas, some of which are converted to H-1Bs on graduation. Companies can also transfer workers into the U.S. if those individuals have been working for the same company overseas for at least 3 years (the L-1 visa).

And then, as you said, there are all kinds of fraud and abuses.

 

[CanadaJohn]

Heya CJ. Well trying to increase these Visas and others. Then trying to increase Student visas all at time when people are out of work and jobs that aren't coming back. When our own people need the work and education. Is just wrong IMO.....we need to look to our own First before solving others problems.

Hi MMC - here in Canada, it's simply a matter of supply and demand - many companies are looking for highly skilled, highly educated individuals as well as many tradespeople in manufacturing, often in resource development fields. Bringing in new people, many who eventually become citizens, also helps to mitigate against an aging population and a reduced birth rate amongst Canadians. You just have to look at Japan to see the problems of an aging population, low birth rate, and a hegemonic or pure citizen base.

The US southern border is a mess which lessens American sympathies towards immigration and new people in the country. Hope you guys can work it out sometime soon.

 

[MMC]

Hi MMC - here in Canada, it's simply a matter of supply and demand - many companies are looking for highly skilled, highly educated individuals as well as many tradespeople in manufacturing, often in resource development fields. Bringing in new people, many who eventually become citizens, also helps to mitigate against an aging population and a reduced birth rate amongst Canadians. You just have to look at Japan to see the problems of an aging population, low birth rate, and a hegemonic or pure citizen base.

The US southern border is a mess which lessens American sympathies towards immigration and new people in the country. Hope you guys can work it out sometime soon.

I can understand when mitigating an aging population. But if for example.....Illinois needs high tech workers. Then they should look to other states. Even if it means bringing them in. Most of these High end tech jobs become perm in most cases anyways.

 

[CanadaJohn]

I can understand when mitigating an aging population. But if for example.....Illinois needs high tech workers. Then they should look to other states. Even if it means bringing them in. Most of these High end tech jobs become perm in most cases anyways.

And what if the high tech workers in Oregon, as an example, don't want to pack up their lives and move to Illinois - what then? In the "Land of the Free" you can't force people to relocate. So Illinois is forced to look elsewhere. Problem is, your country, mine too, makes it too easy for people to be without work for long periods of time. Here in Canada, places like the Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland, with long histories of low employment opportunities have had their best and brightest move to Ontario and now Alberta for high paying jobs and a chance at a better life. In America, there are very few places that I'd say are as economically depressed and so people aren't as likely to want or need to move. But America looks great to almost every other country in the world, even strong European and Asian economies, and so you always have an abundance of highly skilled, highly educated, highly motivated people who want a chance to come to America to work - Canada is the same, to a lesser extent.

I don't have answers, but that's the reality. You need to find a way to get migrant, low wage workers into your country for those jobs that Americans won't do, but have them travel there and then back, not hide in country in the shadows for years and years - it's what Canada does - we have lots of migrant workers from Central and Southern America who come in on work visas solely to harvest crops and other farm type labour - they're transported in then transported out and back in again the following year - they get to make money here and take it home with them and then come back again the following year. I suppose Canada may be more diligent about enforcing such migrant worker laws/permits to ensure only legally permitted workers are in country and working.

As I say, I don't have answers for America's problems in this regard but I fully understand the anger and frustration that's overflowing now in places like Texas, Arizona and California.

 

[DifferentDrummr]

You need to find a way to get migrant, low wage workers into your country for those jobs that Americans won't do, but have them travel there and then back, not hide in country in the shadows for years and years - it's what Canada does - we have lots of migrant workers from Central and Southern America who come in on work visas solely to harvest crops and other farm type labour - they're transported in then transported out and back in again the following year - they get to make money here and take it home with them and then come back again the following year.

Agreed, but low-wage workers don't come to the U.S. on H-1Bs. Their sponsors use these visas to steal well-paid jobs from Americans who would be more than happy to take them.

 

[CanadaJohn]

Agreed, but low-wage workers don't come to the U.S. on H-1Bs. Their sponsors use these visas to steal well-paid jobs from Americans who would be more than happy to take them.

Can't say that I know the details and intricacies of this issue but seems counter intuitive that businesses would go to the expense of recruiting and transporting in highly skilled, highly educated foreign workers under the H-1B program if there were scads of Americans lining up for the jobs at the wages offered. Now, that may be the issue - perhaps foreign workers are prepared to work or at least start working at a lower wage than some Americans will. But it still defies logic, at least to me, that these high paying jobs aren't being scooped up by Americans if they have the qualifications to fill them.

 

[DDD]

I should note as well that here in Canada the government issues almost 200,000 foreign worker visas/permits annually. Considering the population of the US is ten times that of Canada and your economy is many times more than that the size of Canada's, I'd expect that the US could easily accommodate upwards of 2 million foreign worker visas if your economy was vibrant.

Hey John,

What about Canada then? Are visas to work online in Canada special since one does not has to be in Canada in order to work and be payed?