H-1B bill seeks to 'staple' green cards to Ph.D.s

[ardvark]

Source: Computerworld

H-1B bill seeks to 'staple' green cards to Ph.D.s
Arizona congressman introduces bill to exempt foreign Ph.D. grads from H-1B limits
By Patrick Thibodeau
Comments(3)



April 3, 2009 (Computerworld) The inability of Congress to agree on immigration reform legislation has become a roadblock for H-1B proponents looking for new laws that would boost the number of available visas.

But the backers of the program are not giving up, as a new bill introduced this week aims to exempt foreign graduates of U.S. Ph.D. programs from counting toward a cap on H-1B visas.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), introduced what he calls the "Stopping Trained in America Ph.D.s From Leaving the Economy Act of 2009 (HR 1791)." By design, the bill's acronym, Staple, represents the stapling of science, technology, engineering and mathematics Ph.D. diplomas onto green cards, granting their holders permanent residency.


Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=knowledge_center&articleId=9131048&taxonomyId=1&intsrc=kc_top

[Eric J in MN]

1. There are Americans with Ph.D.s who need work. NT

NT

[crazylikafox]

3. My american Math PhD son just accepted a job in Europe because there were no jobs in the US.

And I'm happy about it because his only other job offer was in the middle east. So my only son has to leave the country to find work, while we're handing H1b's golden passports? Fuck that.

[ardvark]

4. you've hit the nail on the head about one of the worst issues of H-1b

is that it forces children to seek employment farther and farther away from their families

[Deja Q]

9. But, let's get real, especially as the media proves it time and again:

Families are worthless.

[Bill McBlueState]

16. As a recent PhD recipient,

I'm starting to wonder if we'll see more American PhD holders seeking work in Europe. At least in my field, Europe is leading all kinds of projects that used to be the exclusive purview of the US.

[mat_kc]

20. An important question to ask is,

what made Europe better than US in Math related research- guessed it right, lack of talent pool in that subject. This is reflected from fact that universities across US struggle to recruit faculty. NASA has been successful since 50% of it are foreigners with PhDs from US universities. This is a step in the right direction.
SM

[OhioChick]

13. You're absolutely right. n/t

[ardvark]

2. I'd like to STAPLE this rotten bill to this Flake's head - NT

[2Design]

5. bs - no more h1b's - they come here and live without working earning

scholarships, funds, etc, because of no income, use our systems and then get a phd and take our jobs - this is not working for me

[TheCoxwain]

6. I hate to prick your bubble .. but how many Americans ( as a percentage) are willing

to become a grad student and slog their butts off for 6 years ..

There just arent enough American applicants to these programs .. My wife does research at NYU school of Medicine ... All her American born colleagues are over 50 .. Go figure!!

[Gormy Cuss]

7. There just aren't enough American applicants with the money for those programs.

That more than anything is what drives the demographic. It's not about Americans being unwilling, it's being unable.

[Deja Q]

10. I'm going back for more education and am spending rather a lot of money. AND

it's a loan; nobody is giving me a damn thing. No subsidies, nothing.

I will get great grades.

You bet I am worthy of a valuable, valued, well paying job so I can pay back the cost of the loan.

I might be able to lessen the load by getting a scholarship or *gasp* a grant...


Also, read this:

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11181-0.html?forumID=6&threadID=179848&start=0

[Endangered Specie]

15. BS, right now there are too many Phd graduate/students

than there are Phd jobs.

[OhioChick]

17. One of my kids is going into medicine...

He said that he has a "full" class of American kids, all of whom are very bright. Problem is, many will have to drop out next year. Their parents are losing their jobs, the kids can't find jobs to help out with the cost and many are worried if they'll be able to get student loans next year due to the financial crisis.

The kids are bright and willing....

[w4rma]

19. Americans did it in the past when there were incentives and will do it again if there were now. (nt)

[crikkett]

12. We should give them H1-Bs but make them unionize, that way

we keep the best brainiacs in this country without undercutting wages.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. And in other -- totally unrelated -- new....

Congress took steps to guarantee that fewer Americans would be able to get PhD.s by slashing the amount of federal money available for student loans, as well as educational grants given to states and directly to colleges and universities, forcing higher education facilities in the United States to rely more heavily on foreign, non-American students in order to survive.

[Deja Q]

11. Link?

:(

[TechBear_Seattle]

18. I had hoped that the :sarcasm: tag wouldn't be needed

Sorry about that.

[Summermoondancer]

14. They aren´t willing to work with people already here that are poor

yet those who could stay and work in their own countries for a heafty salary they want to give a green card? What happened to all the wait in line crap? Oh that is right...it just applies to Mexicans.:mad: