More than half of H-1B visas go to India nationals

Source: IT World

1/16/08

More than half of H-1B visas issued are issued to Indian nationals, who received 54% of the total number of temporary visas approved in 2006, according to a government study released Tuesday. And an increasing number of foreign workers who hold these visas -- more than half -- are in computer-related occupations.

China ranked a distant second, at 9%, among H-1B recipients. The next largest group of countries, all with 3% each, were from Canada, South Korea, and the Philippines, the report said.

Authored by the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation, the 588-page "Science and Engineering Indicators 2008" report examines the state of science and engineering training as well as the ability of the U.S. to compete globally, and includes an analysis of H-1B visa trends.

Some of its key takeaways concern education and research. The U.S. spent about US$340 billion in research and development in 2006, a record high. But federal support for basic and applied research has been on a multi-year decline, and the report also warned that U.S. grade school students continue to lag behind other developed countries in science and math.




Read more: http://www.itworld.com/Career/1881/h1b-visas-go-to-india-nationals-080116/

---

~snip~ "Offshore firms are the largest users of the H-1B. In the 2006 fiscal year, the top three employers of H-1B holders were India-based Infosys Technologies, at 4,908 visas; Wipro Ltd., at 4,002; and Tata Consultancy Services at 3,046, according to data released by U.S. Sens Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) last year."

The co-chair of "Friends of India."

citizen having jobs but not ours. They are globalists. They don't feel they represent a country but themselves and that big bag of payoff when they leave public office. They are self interested not public service Americans.

If they feel a shortage of educated and talented workers they certainly aren't in foreign countries. Why not pay for middle class Americans to go to college? The large numbers of GIs from WWII went to college on the public dole and contributed much to our success as a democracy full of innovation and ideas.

:argh:

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

work ethic, outstanding colleges, and modest prospects in India and I'm surprised that their numbers are not nearly 100%.

They have certainly found a niche among college professors where it's publish or perish.

Just browse professional journals and you'll find numerous referred articles with multiple authors. Three professors can each publish an article as lead author with the other two as added authors and each has three published articles.

The same thing happens among professors from all other backgrounds but some groups have learned how to play the game more effectively.

for pennies on the dollar. Not against the indians, or any group, but this practice collapses the system.

The entry level jobs, training grounds for the really smart people when they start out, are filled with low cost labor.

This leaves the experienced people and when they leave, the industry is weakened.

If some one wants to take my job fine, but taking my opportunity to ever learn the skill I have is wrong.

when their companies cut back.

Companies find Indian engineers aren't what they thought they were. They aren't as well trained. They aren't experienced in American business partices, laws, exams for license, etc. In India the educated are treated like royals. They want to be treated that way here also. They don't like working with women.

When I had technical problems with a HP printer they connected me with an Indian engineer. It took days of my time and then it still wasn't fixed. They didn't understand the problem to start with. They ended up sending me a new one. HP brought back their technical service to the US because they were losing cutomers.

Cheap is one thing...good work is another.

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They are no more intelligent than anyone else anywhere on earth. What heaping pile of crap that is.

Gates want no limits on screwing Americans

Gates wants to scrap H-1B visa restrictions http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5687039.html

Screw Microsoft

and Micro$hit!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

H1b visas aren't supposed to displace US workers, but they do just that.

in 2003...

(I had 40+ years of experience in my profession)

I never recovered financially from that...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLBSLLIhUs&feature=related

I found out I didn't need 80K a year...

There is an unbelievable market for US goods, services, and entertainment out there, not to mention infrastructure projects, power plants, weapons, ships, trains, and planes. Unlike the peoples of many other nations, Indians love America and our culture.

But why only on US soil? Why are US citizens not being given visas to go to India for studies?

Less number of US students coming to India for studies

Chalsa (WB), Dec 18: Less number of American students were coming to India for studies because of the "inordinate delay" in getting Indian visas, US embassy public affairs minister counsellor Larry Schwartz claimed here today.

"For some reason or the other, may be bureaucratic process, American students are not getting Indian visas while Indian students are getting US visas and all help to study in America," Schwartz said, addressing a three-day conference for Fulbright scholars in South Asia. "This year 30 American students could not avail Indian visas as they were issued very late," he said.

Another reason for less students coming here was the "interference" by Indian authorities in the choice of subjects of US students, Schwartz said.

He said delays in issuing Indian visas was "unfortunate", especially when indo-us ties were getting stronger. The Fulbright, would shortly open a centre at R.E.C at Silchar in Assam soon to cover more areas in the north-eastern region to help more students get opportunities to study in America, he added.


http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=342876&sid=NAT&ssid=

Why the "Interference?"

my apologies for my previous comments. They weren't directed at you.

Yes, India might just be the most bureaucratic government on the planet. It takes a long time for me to get a visa to go there too. I wish they would fix that. I definitely want more Americans to go to India for school and work. I know Americans who are currently studying and even working in India right this very second. It's not that hard, they do speak English there and it is very affordable. If you are into travel, it's a very unique and spiritual place to visit. Western tourists feel safer in India than most other developing nations.

NRI engineer of B-2 Bomber arrested for selling secrets

Honolulu, November 01, 2005
Asha Chopra

NRI, (non-resident Indian) engineer, Noshir S Gowadia called himself a father of the technology that protects the B-2 stealth bomber from heat-seeking missiles has been arrested and accused of selling U.S. military secrets involving the aircraft to a foreign country, the FBI said.

http://www.nriinternet.com/NRI_terrorist/USA/Noshir_Gowadia/Index.htm

if you're racist. Welcome to DU and enjoy your stay here.

ahhh, the 'race card'

didnt take long for that to come out

all i'm saying is, that for all the 'cheap labor', and 'competativeness' H-1b brings

you can subtract the entire cost of the B2 bomber program, that's only 1.5 BILLION per plane

Since I'm personally responsible.

we can subtract it from all of the 'wonderfull contributions'

cause some fuckers are greedy and stupid, has nothing to do with race or nationality.

and they did. He used religious extremism. Now they are our enemy (once our friends)and religious extremists. He created his own monster so it seems.

Just prior to 911 Bush gave Bin Laden $40 million or so of our tax dollars. That was to fight drugs...or was it the other way around? Well it was the amount Bush owned him from a bad oil deal. The Bush family are friends with the Bin Laden family. Bin Laden was in the CIA.

Fact is the Taliban and the Alliance want us gone. We are like the Russians wanting their oil\gas\resources. Their women are worse off under Bush officials and his so called democracy.

If you don't win the hearts and minds of the people they won't give you their resources, bank accounts, oil or support.

it does not indicate that anywhere in the article.

Plus, he's one person - not indicative of how over a billion people feel about the US.

Gift kids are in every society. Let them use their own gifted kids to solve their problems in India.

and see what happens. Where is American investment in new Colleges, and high level science?

not a lack of colleges. the industries and such have been outsourced to make other countries rich...like India and China. Only the few are rich though...the rest dirt poor slaves.

Yeah, let's give all of our jobs to people from other countries...they can do all the work while all of us US citizens can draw unemployment/welfare.:sarcasm:

That's what I call them. They have strong family ties, respect for parents and bosses, work hard, are smart and don't expect to make more than you do just out of college. Take a look at the residents in medicine at any hospital. They're probably 80% or more from India. On the other hand, they arrive here with a medical degree and no huge dept like our American students, who are trying to get into surgery, ophthalmology, or some other residency that leads to big bucks down the road.

lost the job because of the competitiveness of global economy

Because she cares the MOST out of all candidates when it comes to labor!!1!!!!

. . . . except when the reality switch gets turned on.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC01Df03.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/538674.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/593175.cms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLBSLLIhUs
Hillary pushes for more h1-b visas and outsourcing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLNOSGM2jK4
Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy (part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgdrh2Bc95M
Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy (part 2)

:thumbsup:

Upon review, there were some gem posts that I couldn't let go ignored.

If only more people read it and reconsidered the potential damage they'll cause by nominating "The Inevitable". I guess helping your fellow men and women is overrated.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Instead, I'm seeing people frustrated with the U.S. Government handing out visas to "Indian outsourcing firms, which often hire workers from India to train in the U.S. before returning home to work." See Post #21.

BTW....What does "Can't beliver even DU has KKK" mean?

We have globalization of capital, not globalization of labor--how many laid off US programmers/engineers can go to India and find employment?


<edit to add> It's also called protecting the middle class. If programmers and engineers get laid off and are unable to find a decent paying job, how does that help the economy? How does that help the United States?

Seriously, would you blame someone for wanting a good job and better life? Is that so different from what you or anyone else wants?

since anyone who wants what we have is just as entitled?

shouldnt we replace the Department of Defense with a Department of Concession?

It could be a Bureau for anyone in the world to go up to and tell why they want what any us citizen has. Then, the citizen would be ordered to surrender it

would you start bloviating about straw men? I think you'd take the job. I would.

are you a US citizen?

God, I love America. I don't plan to ever leave.

I'm Irish and German

I never put their interests above the USA

Some people think that humanity is far more important than imaginary red and blue lines on a map...


"never put their interests above the USA"
I put the interests of humanity above that of any one country....

not an American

I'm a human. I'm a Christian. I'm an American. I'm a Texan. I'm a friend. I'm a worker. I'm a lot of things...

but above all, I'm human...

Maybe you're not. Maybe you're simply an American-- not a friend, nor a worker, nor a human. If labels enable you to more easily validate your place in the scheme of things, good on you :)

i'm a realist

i certainly to not want to advance American interests above the interests of other nations, but I believe in the reciprocal as well

I'm humble enough to realize that I dont control the world, that other nations have a right to defend their turf, and if i dont defend my interests, i'll quickly lose them

India's attitude toward the USA is 'what's yours is mine, and what's mine is mine'

dont believe me?

just look at the immigration laws - they can take our jobs, we cant take theirs

Well, I'd give you more credibility if you had not said, "you're not an American"-- so that remark you about your humility is, well... difficult to believe (at best).

As for me, on my day of judgment, I doubt that I'll get gigged because my girlfriend is an undocumented worker. However, I do think I'd get gigged if I didn't do everything I could to help another human survive-- regardless of whatever side of your imaginary red and blue lines on the map label them to you...

'regardless of whatever side of your imaginary red and blue lines on the map label them to you...'

if you think lines on a map are imaginary, you're not an American

"if you think lines on a map are imaginary, you're not an American"

They exist no where but our own limited imaginations. Hence, they are imaginary. Anyways, see post #83.

"The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."
Thomas Paine

You really need to do your homework, then come out and play.

and I believe India and the USA can work together to benefit both countries. I don't believe that I am putting India's interests above the USA.

'I don't believe that I am putting India's interests above the USA. '

bullsh-t

"India and the USA can work together to benefit both countries." This will never happen, due to both of our governments and corporate interests.

Investors can voice their opinions to corporations. Voters can elect leaders who represent their interests and gently persuade them on votes. The power might be limited but it is there for you to use.

India was very socialist and protectionist until around 1991 or so. That's when the economy took off like a rocket and the country's middle-class was created for the very first time and quality of life improved across the board.

NT!

So the military prevents foreign nationals from coming in and stealing our jobs? Man-- that's seriously rich....

if defending our standard of living and way of life is not legitimate, then what ARE we defending?

what does the pentagon defend? (besides the obvious of defense spending)

A military is put into place only to defend against the military of the enemy (Von Clauswitz).

I think they understand my point far better than you do

"I think they understand my point far better than you do"

Or Von Clauswitz...

However, maybe you could elucidate me (I'm not a very bright person). Maybe you expound with both precision and relevance how America would use it's military to prevent foreign nationals from working in the U.S.

Surely you're not suggesting that destroying opportunities within one middle class to lift another's is sound economic policy for everyone, and not just the extremely wealthy of both nations?

I don't want to destroy opportunities for anyone. I just want liberal DUers to stop blaming Indian people for taking advantage of job opportunities which are very much legal and honest.

I do support the program, however I will be open to reforms to make it fairer to American workers. There is a minimum wage for those workers which I believe is $60,000 but I don't have a source. Similar requirements for healthcare, retirement benefits, and so on can help level the playing field. I don't want to shut them out of the game, just level the field.

I'd like your thoughts on post #78. I'm not calling you out, only want your thoughts, if you don't mind. :)

Have our state department take it up with their government, which is very much beholden to us economically. We should pressure them to match our efforts on this issue.

We're on the same page.

I do not blame the Indian people for "taking our jobs" but instead the US corporations for sending our jobs there. It's all a race to the bottom.....India is already getting too expensive and US corporations are already looking at China, Malaysia, Brazil, etc. The Indian owned IT companies are following corporate America's lead and doing the same. Indians becoming unhappy now, as well.

I once came across an Indian IT forum that I can't seem to locate at the moment. (I'll look again later) Half of the Indians were complaining of how they were being treated by Americans for "taking their jobs", etc. (they were name calling, etc....you get the picture) The other half were saying that they could sympathize with the US IT worker. They went back and forth talking about the same thing happening to them down the road and how many of them would react the same. Very interesting read.

Our corporations and governments are pitting all of us against one another.....for the cheapest.

It's the companies, not the workers.

:toast:

:toast:

so what do you make of this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU

I have been forced to write requirements for jobs at a previous company for this exact reason. Not enough people understand how these laws are being broken everyday.

sorry,

First off, blame the corporations. If you haven't noticed, it's their fault.

Second, they (corp.) are doing it to make their business processes more efficient. Rather than keep an in-house IT dept. They can contract out as needed. They feel that is lowering their costs, and they can use that to grow and enter new markets. That creates jobs for Americans. You can't outsource everything.

Third, India now has a huge market for American goods and services. Those people who now have better lives, now want to purchase things they couldn't have before. This creates jobs for Americans.

Obviously it's not seamless. The jobs created are in different fields. And many people will be unable to adapt. But instead of blaming Indians, why not ask Bill Gates why he is not finding enough workers? Is he not looking hard enough? Is he worried about cost or technical ability or work ethic? Ask him. He has more control over this than I do.

;-)

This part's about the H1B visa expansion, just to be clear...

It's very difficult. The part I know about is the database development, admin, and architecture side. There is still a shortage of highly qualified, experienced IT personnel to fill the mid level and up jobs. There are a lot of people who *think* they're qualified, and a lot of people who *think* that their number of years in the industry means that they are highly experienced, but when they come in for interviews? Yikes. It pays to cast the net as wide as possible, and hire from the world and not just from the neighborhood.

In the IT jobs inside the US, I don't think it's a pay issue either. It doesn't matter where a person comes from, whether they are a local resident and US citizen or an H1B visa holder relocating from another country, the comp is the same for the same job and level of experience.

BTW I like your third point about outsourcing very much :-) :thumbsup:

US. They are importing foreign workers because they are cheaper. Ask any engineer, teacher, chemist, nurse, computer expert, etc.organization.

The importation of cheap technology and professional workers is causing the shortage because when students spend a fortune to go to college there are no jobs for them. The jobs have been outsourced.

My well educated and experienced husband is retiring soon. Lucky for us his once huge company is being sold off or merged with another. It happened once before. As workers retire in the company, they aren't being replaced with younger ones either.

Study: There Is No Shortage of U.S. Engineers

2007-04-04

A new study argues that the offshoring of U.S. jobs is caused by cost savings and not a shortage of U.S. engineers or better education in China. However, the study warns that the United States is losing its global edge.

A commonly heard defense in the arguments that surround U.S. companies that offshore high-tech and engineering jobs is that the U.S. math and science education system is not producing a sufficient number of engineers to fill a corporations needs.

However, a new study from Duke University calls this argument bunk, stating that there is no shortage of engineers in the United States, and that offshoring is all about cost savings.

This report, entitled "Issues in Science and Technology" and published in the latest National Academy of Sciences magazine further explores the topic of engineering graduation rates of India, China and the United States, the subject of a 2005 Duke study.

In the report, concerns are raised that China is racing ahead of both the United States and India in its ability to perform basic research. It also asserts that the United States is risking losing its global edge by outsourcing critical R&D and India is falling behind by playing politics with education. Meanwhile, it considers China well-positioned for the future.

Dukes 2005 study corrected a long-heard myth about India and China graduating 12 times as many engineers as the United States, finding instead that the United States graduates a comparable number.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Careers/Study-There-Is-No-Shortage-of-US-Engineers/

You're right, it is about the cheap-ass labor.

Does India want American workers? Does anybody?

HB1 visas should not be allowed if there are American citizens willing to do the work. That's how other countries operate.

When I was in academia, I tried to get jobs in Canada, but non-Canadians are allowed to take university teaching jobs there ONLY if there are no qualified Canadian citizens or permanent legal immigrants.

It used to be that way in the U.S., too.

ours does not. They are traitors.

4) "Content: Do not post messages that are inflammatory, extreme, divisive, incoherent, or otherwise inappropriate. Do not engage in anti-social, disruptive, or trolling behavior. Do not post broad-brush, bigoted statements."

What do US student visas have to do with H1-bs?

Yes yes I know. You think Indians love America and you do not wish to disparage them.

At least in obvious terms.

:eyes:

Come back when you can hold an intelligent conversation without all the naive name calling.

In fact you are so superior in your debating skills, you are running away.

And I notice you didn;t answer my questions (sorry just borrowing your buddy antigop's debating tactic which you seem to have no problem with).

to workers of BOTH countries.

Note the debate/conversation between "IronLionZion" and I. We debated and ended up in agreement over issues. No smart-ass one liners. It's a "Debate Forum" not a name-calling forum. Grow up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLBSLLIhUs
Hillary pushes for more h1-b visas and outsourcing

I doubt you have a clue as to how many US workers are in India.

I hate to see people lose their jobs but what makes you more special than some factory worker?

And why the need for the Indian scapegoat? Why the dependence on it? Don't half of H1Bs go elsewhere?

Oh yeah, it helps to have a brown person to blame to get Americans all riled up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLBSLLIhUs
Hillary pushes for more h1-b visas and outsourcing

It is trying to protect American jobs, just as the Indians are now waking up to knowing how US workers have felt for years.
I believe in all fairness. I'd just like to know why raising the H1B cap "should be okay" with US citizens, but the same does not apply to India.

This article really isn't off-topic, but pertains to exactly what we all want....FAIRNESS. We all want free and FAIR trade right? The same goes for jobs, security and decent working conditions.

Less number of US students coming to India for studies

Chalsa (WB), Dec 18: Less number of American students were coming to India for studies because of the "inordinate delay" in getting Indian visas, US embassy public affairs minister counsellor Larry Schwartz claimed here today.

"For some reason or the other, may be bureaucratic process, American students are not getting Indian visas while Indian students are getting US visas and all help to study in America," Schwartz said, addressing a three-day conference for Fulbright scholars in South Asia. "This year 30 American students could not avail Indian visas as they were issued very late," he said.

Another reason for less students coming here was the "interference" by Indian authorities in the choice of subjects of US students, Schwartz said.

He said delays in issuing Indian visas was "unfortunate", especially when indo-us ties were getting stronger. The Fulbright, would shortly open a centre at R.E.C at Silchar in Assam soon to cover more areas in the north-eastern region to help more students get opportunities to study in America, he added.

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=342876&sid=NAT&ssid=

personal information to a foreign country. What do they care? It is only profit for them. They would sell it when given a change. They do that in the US today and some are put in jail. In India no.

It is not wise or good business in the end.

http://www.youtube.com/programmersguild

Lots more info here....
http://programmersguild.org/docs/cohen.html

Yes, it's wonderfull we have an african american and a woman running for president

Too bad they BOTH support discrimination against American citizens via H-1b. (John Edwards does too - every one of them except Kucinich) They have not changed their positions in suppoort of RAISING h-1b even though the economy is plunging into recession!!!)

As long as the candidate supports H-1b, I stay home and watch them lose - I've done that since 1996. I've never voted republican.

Yes, I'm still doing my duty - I contacted all my reps about this. To my astonishment, only REPUBLICAN Chuck Grassley listened to me

People who care more about the Democratic party than American workers can go to hell

Tech workers were just the guinea pig for the h-1b/outsourcing process. Former fed vice chair Allan Blinder says that 30-40 million American jobs are vulnerable to this process - he's right. It's a LABOR issue, not a tech issue - any white collar job is at risk - and the Democrat party SUPPORTS this evil process.

Tech workers got nailed in the 2001 recession and have never recovered. They advance this crap in recessions, turning setbacks into devestations.

That's why this coming recession may be the end of some American's middle class experience

you are not supposed to share this information.

looks like you might get a raise?

'desparate shortage of workers'

got laid off?

'that's globalization

it's exactly the opposite of a farm program

even noted economist Milton Friedman called H-1b 'a subsidy to corporations'

I was raised a democrat, and still believe in it's principals of the past

but if you cant see, that no matter what it says, it's committed to the destruction of the American middle class, along with the republicans, you're blind

Source: 2003 Merrill Lynch SA Market Study

around 200,000 Indian-American millionaires.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_American#Statistics_on_Indians_in_the_US

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_Americans

I recommend you read the whole wiki entries. They are a huge eye-opener.

But I remember what post you were referring to. (as well as the response) My eyebrows were raised at your post as well, as you said that "1 out of every 16 Indians" is a millionaire. You also worded it as those living "in" India.

I wish that post wasn't deleted. But I did NOT word it as in India. My whole post was concerning Indian-Americans, which was off-topic for your thread hence the deletion.

how easily you work both sides of the street

any american makes any observation about indians, and you immiediately thow out 'racist'

yet, you beat your chest about Indians

you're not against making observations about indians

as long as they are praise

racism is negative. Positive observations are...well...positive.

that's censorship

you want the door to swing one way

Ok-- sorry. My mistake-- I've actually been taking you seriously. I know better than to do that now. I'll leave you to your devices and labels.
:toast:

12/06/2007

Senator Grassley sponsored H-1B Supplemental Fee legislation which the Senate passed but collapsed. In the "unrelated" "Farm" Bill session, the Senator requested a ten-minute time and made the following statement on the Senate floor.

Mr. President, earlier this year, the Senate tried to solve the very complex and emotional issue of immigration reform. The immigration bill we considered included border security, interior enforcement, and amnesty. It also included many needed reforms to our legal immigration process. I said throughout the debate that Congress needs a long-term solution to the immigration issue. We cannot pass a bandaid approach that includes a path to citizenship for law breakers; rather, Congress needs to improve our legal immigration channels. I firmly believe companies want to hire legal workers, and people want to enter the United States legally. If we fix our visa policies, we can restore integrity to our immigration system, and all parties can benefit.

But if we cannot pass a comprehensive bill--and I think as time goes on it is going to look more difficult as we go into an election year--if we cannot pass such a comprehensive bill, I think that we should consider passing legislation we can agree on. I am taking the floor at this time to talk about the H-1B visa provisions that were included in the immigration bill and ask my colleagues to take a second look at these needed reforms. Many companies use H-1B programs. It has served a valuable purpose. But we need to reevaluate how this program operates and work to make it more effective.

The H-1B program was officially created in 1990, although we have brought foreign workers legally into our country for over 30 years. It was brought into existence to serve American employers that needed high-tech workers. It was created to file a void in the U.S. labor force. The visa holders were intended to file jobs for a temporary amount of time, while the country invested in American workers to pick up the skills our economy needed. We attached fees to the visas that now bring in millions of dollars. These fees and the dollars that come with it are invested in training grants to educate our own workforce. We use the funds to put kids through school for science, technology, engineering, and math skills. We provide students with scholarships with the hope that they will replace imported foreign workers. Unfortunately, the H-1B program is so popular, it is now replacing the U.S. labor force rather than supplementing it.

The high-tech and business community is begging Congress to raise or eliminate the annual cap that currently stands at 85,000 visas each year. These numbers do not include and account for those who are exempt from the cap. For instance, we don't count employees at institutions of higher education or nonprofit research organizations. We don't count those who change jobs or renew their H-1B visa. My point is, we have many more than 85,000 H-1B visas distributed each year. I am here to tell my colleagues that increasing the visa supply is not the only solution to the so-called shortage of high-tech workers. Since March of this year, the Senator from Illinois, Mr. Durbin, and I have taken a good look at the H-1B visa program. We have raised issues with the Citizenship and Immigration Service as well as the Department of Labor. We have asked questions of companies that use the H-1B visa, and I have raised issues with attorneys who advise their clients on how to get around the permanent employment regulations.

I would like to share what I have learned. I want to give some fraud and abuse examples. Unfortunately, there are some bad apples in the H-1B visa program. In 2005, a man was charged with fraud and misuse of visas, money laundering, and mail fraud for his participation in a multistate scam to smuggle Indian and Pakistani nationals into the United States with fraudulently obtained H-1B visas. The man created fictitious companies, often renting only a cubicle simply to have a mailing address. He fabricated tax returns and submitted over 1,000 false visa petitions. Another man pled guilty last August to charges of fraud and conspiracy. This man and an attorney charged foreign nationals thousands of dollars to fraudulently obtain H-1B visas. He provided false documents to substantiate their H-1B petitions.

The Programmer's Guild, a group representing U.S. worker interests, filed over 300 discrimination complaints in the first half of 2006 against companies that posted ``H-1B visa holder only'' ads on job boards. Anyone can go on the Internet and find jobs that target H-1B visa holders. There are more than just national anecdotes, however. Everyday Americans are affected. Since looking into the H-1B visa program, some of my constituents have come to me and spoken out against abuses they see. One of my constituents has shared copies of e-mails showing how he is often bombarded with requests by companies that want to lease their H-1B workers to that Iowan. There are companies with H-1B workers who are so-called ``on the bench,'' meaning they are ready to be deployed to a project. Hundreds of foreign workers are standing by waiting for work. Some call these H-1B ``factory firms.'' This Iowan even said one company went so far as to require him to sign a memorandum of understanding that helps the H-1B factory firm justify to the Federal Government that they have adequate business opportunity that requires additional visa holders. It is a complete falsification of the market justification for additional H-1B workers. These firms are making a commodity out of H-1B workers.

They have visa holders but are looking for work. It is supposed to be the other way around. There should be a shortage or a need, first and foremost. Then and only then do we allow foreign workers to fill these jobs temporarily. Another constituent sent me a letter saying that he saw firsthand how foreign workers were brought in while Iowans with similar qualifications were let go. He tells me he is a computer professional with over 20 years experience. He was laid off and has yet to find a job. He states: I believe has a history of hiring H-1B computer personnel at the expense of qualified American citizens. Another Iowan from Cedar Falls wrote in support of our review of the H-1B program. He is a computer programmer with a master's degree and over 20 years of work experience in that field. He says: Despite all of my qualifications, in the last four years I have applied to over 3,700 positions and have received no job offers. He believes he is in constant competition with H-1B visa holders.

I received a letter from a man in Arizona who works for a company that employs dozens of H-1B workers. When he asked his supervisor why so many foreign nationals were being hired, the head of human resources said: If the company has an American and a person from India, both with the same skill set, the company will hire the person from India because they can pay them less. These are firsthand stories from U.S. workers. I ask those begging for an increase in foreign workers to explain these cases to me. Why are Americans struggling to get jobs as software developers, data processors, and program analysts? Senator Durbin and I inquired with several foreign-based companies that use the H-1B program. Rather than sending a letter to all companies that use the program, which would be over 200 companies, we decided to start our investigation with foreign-based entities. Our intention was to learn how foreign companies are using our visas. We learned that the top nine foreign-based companies used 20,000 visas in 2006.

Think of what a high percentage that is of the 85,000, just nine foreign-based companies, 20,000 visas in the year 2006. I say that twice for emphasis. It just so happens that Indian companies are using one-third of the available visas we allocate each year, but there is more to learn. We are not done asking questions. We, meaning Senator Durbin and I, continue to talk to U.S.-based companies and companies in our own States that use the program. The Citizenship and Immigration Service also has concerns. Our review has prompted discussion among the executive branch, businesses, labor unions, and workers, and workers are the ones we are concerned about. So we are not the only ones asking questions.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service is also worried about fraud in the program. This agency's investigative arm, that subdivision called the Fraud Detection and National Security unit, is doing a fraud assessment of the H-1B and L visa programs. I asked the unit to brief my staff on their work, and they reported they are not finished with analyzing the data. Senator Collins of Maine and I put the agency on notice that we are anxiously awaiting this report so we may continue our quest to reform the program appropriately. In the meantime, the bill Senator Durbin and I introduced includes measures to rein in the abuse. It goes a long ways to close some loopholes to protect American workers. It is our hope that these measures will bring the program back to its original mission; that is, to help U.S.-based companies find highly skilled workers to fill the shortage for a temporary period of time. That is what the H-1B visa program is all about. Under current law, companies can bring in foreign workers on an H-1B visa without first attempting to hire an American.

Our bill would require every employer to attest that it is not displacing a U.S. worker by hiring an H-1B visa holder and that the employer has taken good-faith steps to recruit U.S. workers for the jobs in which an H-1B visa holder is being sought. Why would anyone oppose this measure? Our bill also gives more oversight and investigative authority to the Department of Labor. Right now the Department may only review labor certification for ``clear indication of fraud and misrepresentation.'' The Secretary of Labor is unable to review applications for anything but what the law calls incompleteness and cannot initiate an investigation unless requested. This means the Labor Department in effect is required to turn a blind eye to information that is suspicious.

To remedy this problem, our bill provides the Department of Labor the ability to initiate an investigation on its own and gives the Department of Labor more time to review applications. The Department could also do random audits of any company that uses the program. Aside from these measures, our bill would prohibit employers to only advertise available jobs to H-1B visa holders. It would encourage information sharing between the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security. It would double the penalties for employer noncompliance with the H-1B program requirements. I am happy to report that most of these commonsense solutions were included in the immigration bill. I challenge any of my colleagues to oppose these needed reforms before we talk about increasing the number of H-1B visas or at the very least in conjunction with that process.

Today I take the floor to tell my colleagues that I am willing to work on this issue before the end of the year. I know businesses want more visas. I know groups that represent workers and visa holders want reforms. I know the American people want a sensible system in place that gives their children a chance at these highly skilled jobs. Some of my colleagues think the solution is increasing the annual cap on H-1B visas and doing nothing else. Before we agree to import more foreign workers, let's restore integrity in this H-1B program. The system needs a makeover. I am willing to consider an increase in the H-1B visa supply, but only if reforms are included. We must fix the loopholes before we just allow more foreign workers to come in and take jobs that Americans want to do. I would think my colleagues would want this program to work as it was intended by its original authors. My colleagues should want to protect the jobs of our various constituencies and help our businesses find the workers they truly need.

http://www.greencardapply.com/news/news07/news07_1206.htm

but then, I AM one of the people who went to his office to talk about this

will you ask each of the Democrats who ask for your vote

'can you meet republican Senator Grassley's standard of standing up for American workers? If not, why not?'

Senator Grassley is a Senior Republican on the Senate immigration committee. 1 of 9 Senators

He's also known as a straight shooter - hard to dismiss

when he calls something fraud, it nearly always is, and everyone in washington knows it

They accussed the Republicans of being "lawless". Seems they have no excuse now but are the same law breakers regarding illegals and "free trade" which is destroying America. It violates every law we have including the Constiution.

Do they want to lose yet another election?

This is urgent. email me through this site if interested. You should have your resume or CV ready. It is $90,000 and is in Eagan, Minnesota, a suburb of the twin cities. The project is 2 years but you are welcome to stay on if you want. Um, you will get benefits: 401K, health, dental, vision, life, relocation expense reimbursement, credit card, cell phone, laptop, etc. Oh yes, it is an Indian IT consulting company, and it's growing rapidly. www.tcs.com You will have great job security.

The requirements are below:

I desperately need a seasoned Project Manager for a new customer with following skillset. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate in TCS till now. If you or anybody in your team knows anyone outside TCS who can fit this role, we’ll be happy to hire him/her in TCS at an extremely attractive compensation package.



Here are the skill sets:



· Very good understanding of SDLC

· Experience with 20+ people software development project

· 5+ years of experience in managing large onsite –offshore engagements

· Good estimation skills

· Good communications skills both oral and written

· Strong Object oriented experience but .NET/SQL is preferred

· Understands the value of Q/A and have a good idea how quality improves the efficiency

· Quick learner, dependable and intelligent

· Proficient in MS Project

· PMP Certification is an asset

About Tata Consultancy.....all negative.

Here's a post from a few days ago.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3140013&mesg_id=3140101

American IT has become dependent on Indian H1Bs. This has been a 20-year process that has destroyed countless opportunities for Americans.

Go back to the early '90s. There weren't enough people to support all the Windows and Unix deployments. As a "TEMPORARY" measure, H1B quotas were raised to allow additional workers to come and help while Americans were trained.

However, this was a good opportunity to bring in enough workers to bring down salaries and consulting rates enjoyed by Americans. This led to the outsourcing of jobs.

Meanwhile, India does a great job churning out qualified IT workers through a combination of education AND on-the-job training.

Meanwhile back in the US, much lip service is given to the need for math and science excellence. However, the jobs are not there to back up the rhetoric. It becomes more difficult to get an IT job because projects are being sent offshore.

Entry and mid-level programming jobs are almost non-existent here because this work is down offshore for cheap. Traditionally, project managers were developed. First you were a programmer, then analyst, and then, with a good understanding of all the steps, you might become a project manager.

Americans jobs continue to be sent offshore. India continues to present trained AND experienced workers. We continue to fail to copy this very sensible and effective program.

the primary qualifications contain these statements:

"5+ years of experience in managing large onsite –offshore engagements"
and
"Understands the value of Q/A and have a good idea how quality improves the efficiency"

Sounds to me, there is a conflict in the required skillset. Anyone that has been in this field for over 5 years knows that offshore engagements, always under deliver on the SOW requirements and extend beyond the estimated project milestones.

"Strong Object oriented experience but .NET/SQL is preferred"
All .NET languages implement OO methodologies. In fact, all objects are derived from the base System.Object in the .NET framework. The conjunction "but" tells me that the author has no understanding of what they are looking for. .NET is object oriented.

"We have not been able to find a suitable candidate in TCS till now."
Reading this sentence in its current form, states that a candidate has already been found. (assuming that the author was meaning to use the word "until" in place of where they used "till")

Where is the understanding of the value of Quality Assurance (Q/A) when they typed up these qualifications?

:rofl:

I'm saving your post.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

My job exists because of this. Senator Clinton asked TCS to invest in Buffalo, NY and hire local graduates of western NY colleges. That's how I got my current job.

Governor Strickland has done that in Ohio as well. We just opened up a rather large campus in Cincinnati and are hiring thousands of locals there (read WASPs). This is important for Ohio and they are getting a much needed economic boost after the all-american manufacturing companies kicked them to the curb. The Jacksonville, FL office is hiring some entry-level locals right now too. You don't need any advanced skills as they will train you onsite. There are investments in Detroit, Michigan. Democrats are asking for this local investment. If American multi-national corporations can't provide enough jobs, then maybe foreign multi-national corporations will. An off-shore center opened in Bangalore, India and then closed again within the year because it made better logistical cost benefits to have it done from Cincinnati instead. The Cincinnati government was much more helpful than the Bangalore government for that case.

Not all outsourcing is to off-shore. Not all is Indian. There are super-majority of Americans in American outsourcing firms like Accenture, IBM, EDS, etc.

I'm open about myself. I have nothing to hide.

problem is, you're stealing it off someone else's table

only after countless posts defending h-1b, and telling us how much 'Indians contribute to USA' did you finally concede you work for outsourcing, a process that threatens to implode America's white collar middle class, to the benefit of India - that says it all

OF COURSE you favor H-1b if you work in outsourcing, H-1b is absolutely essential for outsourcing

I'll admit that you are very loyal to your country, but that country isnt the USA

It's absolutely insane that Americans feel obligated to extend 'the American Dream' to immigrants (Indians engaged in outsourcing to India) who have a self serving attitude that the American dream is doomed, so they might as well loot it back to their home country!

(I was fully aware of Hillary's role in that, and that's hardly a defense for you. She's despicable, and perfect evidence on how the Democratic party stabs American workers in the back)

I'm surprised that an open racist would be on here this long,...but there plenty of thinly veiled racists that have been here for some time.

(and from rants on this board) HRC did ask Tata to invest and they brought 10 jobs to Buffalo.

"Clinton Says “Outsourcing Does Work Both Ways.” Crain’s New York Business wrote, “Mrs. Clinton maybe motivated by a desire to uphold the free trade legacy of the Clinton years. <…> In an appearance on CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight, she boasted about attracting 10 jobs to New York from India-based Tata Consulting. When Mr. Dobbs inquired if she had understood the degree to which Tata, which helps U.S. companies outsource, wasstealing American jobs, Mrs. Clinton rejoined: ‘They’ve actually brought jobs to Buffalo. Outsourcing does work both ways.’”

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/memo1.pdf

Also:

"But in Buffalo, the fruits of the Tata deal have been hard to find. The company, which called the arrangement Clinton's "brainchild," says "about 10" employees work here. Tata says most of the new employees were hired from around Buffalo. It declines to say whether any of the new jobs are held by foreigners, who make up 90% of Tata's 10,000-employee workforce in the United States."

http://almosteverafter.blogspot.com/2007/09/clinton-woos-outsourcers-feared-by-us.html

I'll have to look into Cinci.

when outsourcing (her husband's NAFTA, etc.) over the years resulted in the loss of half their population? Ten workers won't do it.

Their ability to have cheap power was also sold off to the Canadians and
Brits (who now use that power for Toronto, CN). The then Republican governor of NY State allowed and probably even supported it. Niagara Mohowk power was built at great expense by the citizens of Buffalo. It was stolen from them with an excuse that "privitizing" it would be cheaper and repairs would be made. The rates and power outages went up. I can never remember a day without power when I was there let alone the week one they had after a snow storm.

Buffalo had clean and cheap power so they grew as an industrial and shipping city (on the Great Lakes). Today our government policy has destroyed this once great city. The University of Buffalo is now the largest employer.

NAFTA and "smaller government" stinks to high treason and criminal robbery. No citizen was asked to vote on any such deal.

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TCS cuts staff salaries in tune with tough times (TATA)

Source: Economic Times India

30 Jan, 2008, 0230 hrs IST,S Srinivasan

MUMBAI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest software exporter, is effecting a small across-the-board cut in employee salaries based on the company’s performance in the third quarter, a move reflecting caution amid tough times for the outsourcing industry. A top company official confirmed the move while stock market analysts said TCS is sending signals that revenue growth has not met internal targets and employees can’t expect a big wage increase this year.

TCS has clipped a portion of the variable pay linked to its performance, effectively reducing an employee’s salary by about 1.5% for the January-March quarter, TCS executive director and global human resources head S Padmanabhan told ET. “We undertake a review of variable pay every quarter and this time, we decided to make an adjustment,” he said. “We will revisit it in April.”

This is the first time in two years that the IT giant has reduced the variable portion linked to company performance. Mr Padmanabhan said the outsourcing sector faces macroeconomic challenges, which had to be factored in the quarterly review. The variable pay related to individual performance has not been touched, he added.

“This can send a strong signal to the employees that revenues have not measured up to internal targets,” a Mumbai brokerage analyst said. “The cut is small and is unlikely to attract a howl of protests, but employees will get the message that all is not well with the sector. Instead of giving them a shock at the time of annual salary review, the management has sought to lower their expectations of wage inflation through this small cut,” the analyst said.

TCS had reported a 5% quarter-on-quarter revenue growth and 6.7% rise in net profit for October-December, in line with market expectations. It had expressed ‘cautious optimism’ in the face of fears over a US slowdown and reasserted its ability to manage the rise in rupee’s external value.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Outsourcing_woes_force_TCS_to_cut_salaries/articleshow/2741768.cms

Also: TCS salary cut: Tell us!
January 31, 2008

In what could be an indicator to the tough times ahead for IT companies, Tata Consultancy Services plans to cut employees' salaries.

In an internal note sent to employees, TCS said that the company had not met its the third quarter internal economic value-added (EVA) target and as such it plans to make up for the losses with a cut in the variable pay given to employees.

The slowdown in the United States, the subprime crisis and the rising rupee are gradually taking a toll on the performance of Indian IT companies and employees are bearing the brunt of it.

Is this a sign of more trouble to follow for the IT sector? Are the days of high salaries and bonuses over? Is the TCS move good if it were to be a short-term strategy? Do you think more companies will cut staff wages? Tell us.

Comments Below. Very Interesting.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jan/31msg.htm

is way out of hand. We can't possibly handle the flow from over populated countries such as India, China, etc. without it having a negative effect on ours.

I've seen lots of older people from India and China in my small town. They come here for benefits. They get lost in the huge population around Chicago. No one sends them back.

Chicago is a Sanctuary City (contrary to immigration laws and the Constitution). They come in from everywhere for all kinds of reasons. Now the Cook county hospital is in deep financial debt so they are sending the responsibility to a private company. That is sending their mismanagement to another groups so they as politicians can blame someone else.

You criminal\traitor politicians are killing us from your mismanagement and fraud of illegal wars and open borders. You are not doing public service.

Get it straight. These people are not jumping borders. They are entering legally and pay taxes.

If you have a problem, go bitch about the fucking VISA itself, not people using it to have a better life.

Me thinks you may be a bit uncomfortable having brown people in your "small town".

do you think Canada would take me in and give me free health care, citizenship, education, etc.? You bet not unless I applied for citizenship. If my Visa ran out....I would be sent back to the US.

They are a nation of laws. We no longer are.

Some are from Poland, Russia, Bosnia, etc.

What are you talking about?

Looks like you barely know English.. :eyes:

Hispanic is their own colonialism.

I lived in Mexico. The ligua franca of Mexico is indeed Spanish.

:eyes:

Really not.

"So what? We should learn Hispanic, Chinese, Russian?"

Shouldn't every American be fluent in at least one other language? If figure if you're not, you didn't take full advantage of the education I in part paid for you to have. Slacker...

You're damn right we should learn Spanish (Hispanic isn't a language), Chinese, Russian etc.

When you learn a foreign language, you learn more about your own, first of all. Secondly, studies have shown that foreign language study opens up new areas of learning for the brain and makes us think more critically and in new ways. What's wrong with that?