General Discussion

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

31. You speak of theory. Here's how it works in reality

Reply to WilmywoodNCparalegal (Reply #24)

Wed Jan 30, 2013, 12:46 PM

Jan 2013

Last edited Wed Jan 30, 2013, 01:20 PM - Edit history (1)

H-1B workers can switch employers at any time as long as their future employer is willing to file a petition on their behalf.

Doesn't happen.

The point of H1B workers is they're cheap and can't resist when you treat them badly. So an "upity" H1B visa holder trying to leave his old employer isn't going to get the new employer to agree to take over.

Plus, the new employer is still limited by the old start date for the visa. Why take over a visa when you can import new?

I'm aware of this working once - the previous employer went bankrupt and the H1B was so desperate he was willing to be paid even worse.

Like any other employee, the H-1B workers have to be held to the same performance standards.

Except they don't. Those "performance standards" are arbitrarily applied with citizens. So what makes you think they'd be objective with H1Bs?

Oh, and while we're on the theory-vs-reality subject, you should also know that companies regularly lie about the job requirements, and then botch the job search so that they can "fail" to find citizens to do the work. I'm contacted regularly by companies seeking to underpay me in a city I don't live in and have never shown interest in moving to. They're using my rejection as proof that they can't find citizens to do the work.

They also frequently under-title the H1B employee to keep the costs even lower - the H1B is doing work of a "Software Engineer V" but is titled "Software Engineer III", and paid like it.

H1Bs are a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. We have plenty of qualified unemployed people in the US. Employers are looking for cheap labor that can be easily intimidated.

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So the new immigration bill would increase visas for high tech jobs. How will this help us again? [View all] still_one Jan 2013 OP

It's not about helping us. MrSlayer Jan 2013 #1

very sad still_one Jan 2013 #2

Yep Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #4

sorry, not corporations introducing this bill. it's dems and repubs in congress nt msongs Jan 2013 #11

Correct. On whose behalf do you suppose this little provision was introduced?? MrSlayer Jan 2013 #12

who exactly do you think they work for? Skittles Jan 2013 #13

That's adorable. nt Union Scribe Jan 2013 #14

the dems and pubs are bribed to introduce it. yes, bribed, because our system is one of legal HiPointDem Jan 2013 #18

"...the corporations write the bills, the legislators sign them..." KansDem Jan 2013 #53

Dems and Repubs bowing to their corporate overlords n/t OhioChick Jan 2013 #50

Naive much? n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #56

I agree....worked for EDS a few years ago Gin Jan 2013 #28

This. nt redqueen Jan 2013 #47

thanks for saving me the typing n/t Blue_Tires Jan 2013 #69

BINGO! Foreigners are paid way less and corporations make billions! DearHeart Jan 2013 #73

+100000000000000 limpyhobbler Jan 2013 #78

It's always about the profits. Always. gateley Jan 2013 #85

you're absolutely right liberal_at_heart Jan 2013 #90

It will help corporations make even MORE profits, which they will kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #3

It will help us by providing more low income service jobs for Americans. DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav Jan 2013 #5

I want to see the undocumented workers get help, but I absolutely do not want to see JDPriestly Jan 2013 #6

I agree with you, my disappointment was the high tech job visa still_one Jan 2013 #7

I would like to see e-verify become mandatory for 3-4 years amandabeech Jan 2013 #41

It Is Like What I Posted In The Past ---- WAGE PARITY WITH THE THIRD WORLD TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 #8

+100000 Thank you. woo me with science Jan 2013 #51

Then what keeps them in the USA? KansDem Jan 2013 #54

Ask anyone in the high tech field if more LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #9

I know. I am a software engineer and I agree still_one Jan 2013 #10

My software engineer husband was laid off from LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #35

Sounds a lot like my situation. After 20 plus years they let us go. I too found a job, but took a still_one Jan 2013 #65

My husband was 59 when he was let go. The ageism he encountered LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #87

Appreciate and understand what you are going through still_one Jan 2013 #88

if the Americans are unemployed hfojvt Jan 2013 #32

Well, those jobs aren't being offered to Americans. LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #34

Because the Americans will have other options jeff47 Jan 2013 #36

but if they do not have other options now hfojvt Jan 2013 #45

They don't have the option to get massively underpaid jeff47 Jan 2013 #66

Employees won't just leave unless the pay in their job and/or the working conditions are JDPriestly Jan 2013 #76

FFS, try reading. jeff47 Jan 2013 #82

But the interest in unemployed Americans in finding jobs should be more highly considered JDPriestly Jan 2013 #89

When there are or were plenty of jobs, H1-B visas were not such a controversial subject. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #75

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #15

This will make the RICH us ... GeorgeGist Jan 2013 #16

So, only lower paid workers should lose jobs to immigrants? Warren Stupidity Jan 2013 #17

as with everything, they start with those least able to defend themselves, with fewest allies, HiPointDem Jan 2013 #19

All immigrants are either children, retired/disabled or working age adults. If they are working age, pampango Jan 2013 #20

H1Bs aren't immigrants jeff47 Jan 2013 #21

I knew that but it is an important distinction, so thanks for pointing it out. pampango Jan 2013 #22

Which is why you chose to change the subject, I guess. Romulox Jan 2013 #26

From the poster I was responding to? pampango Jan 2013 #38

No. Not all immigrants should be low-paid workers. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #77

H-1Bs are non-immigrant visas that allow the holder to seek permanent residence WilmywoodNCparalegal Jan 2013 #24

You speak of theory. Here's how it works in reality jeff47 Jan 2013 #31

Response - lengthy WilmywoodNCparalegal Jan 2013 #46

Thank you for your post. MrYikes Jan 2013 #52

Your perspective is from an environment where people stay close to theory jeff47 Jan 2013 #68

A couple of responses WilmywoodNCparalegal Jan 2013 #74

unless the employer is committing fraud JDPriestly Jan 2013 #81

I'm well aware that there are penalties that are supposed to prevent fraud jeff47 Jan 2013 #86

The H1-B visas bring in people to fill jobs that Americans could be trained or are capable of doing. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #80

H1Bs are not cheap. athena Jan 2013 #49

They're cheaper than the alternative jeff47 Jan 2013 #67

There is no 'regular' visa that does not leave them at the whim of an employer WilmywoodNCparalegal Jan 2013 #70

Read your first damn 4 words jeff47 Jan 2013 #72

+1000 lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #57

What a ridiculous answer. TL;DNR version: "you gotta exploit SOMEBODY!". Romulox Jan 2013 #25

What does "TL;DNR version: you gotta exploit SOMEBODY!" mean? pampango Jan 2013 #33

Things change. earthside Jan 2013 #30

+1 area51 Jan 2013 #92

Still waiting for a *coherent* answer to this one. nt Romulox Jan 2013 #27

I don't think that you're going to get a coherent answer to any immigration amandabeech Jan 2013 #43

The story back when they were losing those jobs jeff47 Jan 2013 #39

Two reactions lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #58

The only "us" it helps are profiteers. ananda Jan 2013 #23

We call working class people "racists" for daring to ask this question. Why are white collar Romulox Jan 2013 #29

Good question. n/t amandabeech Jan 2013 #44

Heh. +1. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #59

H1Bs provide one of the few skilled labor pathways to citizenship in the United States ponsheki Jan 2013 #37

If you want to encourage such people to move here jeff47 Jan 2013 #40

Well said, jeff47. pampango Jan 2013 #48

That isn't what has been happening. There are plenty of highly skilled people here who want to work still_one Jan 2013 #61

There is a real shortage of EEs and MechEs Recursion Jan 2013 #71

H1-B visas take jobs from qualified Americans. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #83

Because they pay Social Security and Medicare taxes but don't receive benefits Recursion Jan 2013 #42

That is an interesting point, not necessarily fair to them still_one Jan 2013 #62

Not *remotely* fair to them Recursion Jan 2013 #63

Define "us". lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #55

Because skilled immigrants who earn good salaries buy cars, which helps car dealers. Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #60

Skilled immigrants with regular visas who wait their turn can do that. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #84

An enormous group of engineers and scientists are in their later forties and fifties. bluestate10 Jan 2013 #64

It was even in the inauguration speech limpyhobbler Jan 2013 #79

It also creates a brain drain in developing countries LittleBlue Jan 2013 #91

K&R woo me with science Feb 2013 #93