More Regarding H-1B Visas

I didn't anticipate my earlier article on H1-B visas to create the hornet's nest it did; but since then I've seen several interesting articles on the topic:

• H-1B Visa Use Cuts Some U.S. IT Worker Wages by Up to 6% - see http://www.cio.com/article/489770/H_B_Visa_Use_Cuts_Some_U.S._IT_Worker_Wages_By_Up_to_?source=nlt_cioinsider. This article is actually from Computerworld, and the information is based on a study released the week of April 17 by New York University's Stem School of Business and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. The report's authors say they are not using the study to take a position on H-1B visa use, and do not discount other research that has found H-1B visa holders are helping U.S. competitiveness.
• Obama administration defends H-1B rule in lawsuit challenging 2008 Bush ruling on visas (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9131045) - the Bush administration had previously moved to increase the amount of time foreign nationals with engineering, science, and other technical degrees can work in the U.S. on student visas (from twelve to 29 months). Although the Obama administration has reversed a number of actions taken by the previous administration, so far there has been no interest in reversing this rule. The White House says the U.S. needs H-1B visas to avoid ‘competitive disadvantage.'
• Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) introduced new legislation to "mend" the H1-B program, saying it allows ‘legal discrimination' - by allegedly allowing companies to fire qualified Americans without cause and recruiting only H-1B workers to replace them. The two senators hope to duplicate the success earlier this year by Grassley and Bernard Sanders (I-Vermont) in getting restrictions placed on H-1B use by financial services receiving bailout funds under TARP. This particular legislation seeks permanent changes in the program particularly when used by offshoring firms. See http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9132052 for additional information.

Obviously, this is a highly emotional issue, and there are numerous articles supporting each side of the topic.

For my initial blog entry on H1-B visas, see http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/40880.

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