Spike in H-1B workers enrolled at Wash. colleges at in-state tuition rate

[Newsjock]

Source: KUOW

As the state lawmakers head back to Olympia this month, we take a look at how one bill passed last year is playing out. The bill granted in–state tuition to foreign professionals and their families. Many of these are H1–B visa holders who work at places like Microsoft and Amazon. Since the law passed, new enrollments among this group have shot up at the UW and at community colleges around the region.

... But at the UW, enrollment of new H visa students has shot up 80 percent this fall, compared to last fall. New enrollments at the state's community colleges is also up more than 60 percent during that same period.

On average, resident tuition at the UW is $10,000 less than for nonresidents. The university estimated it would lose $430,000 in tuition this year, due to the law change. That cost will likely go up if H visa holder enrollments continue to climb.

... From Parson's perspective, the bill was specifically carved out to benefit companies like Microsoft and its H1–B workers.

In fact, some nicknamed this legislation the Microsoft subsidy bill. That's mainly because Microsoft is the second largest employer of H1–B workers in the country. But also because the bill's main sponsor was Democratic Representative Ross Hunter, who worked at Microsoft for 17 years.

Read more: http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=19094