What will an H-1B cap hike bring to U.S.? [View all]
Leading critic warns of 'internal (U.S.) brain drain' as foreign competition rises for American tech jobs
January 31, 2013 07:10 AM ET
Computerworld - WASHINGTON -- Ten U.S. senators this week agreed to sponsor a bill that would allow the annual H-1B visa cap to rise to as high as 300,000, leaving opponents and some researchers concerned.
Under the proposal, the cap would begin at 115,000 and rise as H-1B demand increases or fall when it slackens. Critics say the plan would escalate problems already faced by U.S. workers.
Adding more entry-level and young H-1B workers may boost offshoring and put pressure on wages, increase age discrimination and discourage U.S. students from entering the IT business, say opponents.
The Senate proponents say the H-1B visas are needed to fill critical jobs and keep the U.S. competitive. The visas give companies the ability to hire who they want.
More: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236396/What_will_an_H_1B_cap_hike_bring_to_U.S._
Snip~ "At a 2011 House hearing on H-1B visa issues, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) said she had asked the Labor Dept. for a report the average wage for computer system analysts in her district. The result: $92,000 overall for entry level workers, but department also reported that the entry level rate prevailing wage rate for an H-1B worker was $52,000. "We can't have people coming in and undercutting the American educated workforce -- that is just a problem," Lofgren said."
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