I have a few questions for DUers about immigration, RE: You know what this is about

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78. H-1B "easy" or not, depends on your perspective

Walk through any IT department of any major US company and tell me again that H-1B are hard to get. If they are difficult, it is only due to the number of applicants. and yes, I know about the lottery. I also know that some seriously unqualified and under-educated people manage to skate through that "high skills" requirement.* I also know that some cheating temp staff companies figured out how to get multiple slots in the lottery when they only have one position, thus improving chances of their guys coming over.

The REASON so many people get here on H-1B visas is that companies (not necessarily the direct managers of the filled positions) prefer certain aspects of the H-1B model over hiring Americans (of any color - but good luck finding black Americans in programming departments). Both parties are afraid of pissing off the tech companies by shutting off their supply of wage slaves.

* some H-1B hires are quite good, actually high-skilled, and wonderful people to work with. But the program has a pretty high miss rate with that "high skills" target. Or whoever called it that has a much different definition of "high skills" than I do. Ya know what? Maybe raise the bar for that skills requirement a bit. Then for the individuals that DO qualify, they have less competition in the lottery and it becomes easier for them. They deserve it and we need them - let's do that!! But no, it will somehow raise costs on the corporations who take advantage of the program, so never mind, can't risk that campaign cash.