SUSPEND OR LIMIT H1B & Other Work Visas. Companies Have Abused These Programs For Profit.

[TheMastersNemesis]

Now I really hate Trump & company but they are probably right on immigration work visas. We do not need them as far as I am concerned after my experiences at DOL since Reagan.

I worked at DOL for 24 years as an employment program specialist. And I was really mad about how these work visa programs were really actually used to REPLACE QUALIFIED AMERICANS by corporations. I interviewed so many unemployed qualified American workers even veterans who were replaced by H1B visa holders after being forced to train their replacements.

We had an immigration clearance order file in our job bank where companies HAD TO LIST jobs that companies said it needed foreign workers. They had to list jobs with the NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE that the GOP killed. The job REQUIREMENTS WERE ALMOST THE EXACT REQUIREMENTS ON THE IMMIGRANTS VISA.

I even interviewed an American engineer whose entire department was replaced with foreign workers. Plus these work visa workers were brought in to expedite the transfer of entire departments to country of origin. H1B's result in massive outsourcing of good paying American jobs.

THERE WERE PLENTY OF AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL WORKERS TO TAKE THESE JOBS. THE COMPANIES JUST WANTED TO PAY 50% of the wages.

ADDENDUM - It is not that we do not need H1B visas entirely, but this program has been grossly abused for years.

[elehhhhna]

1. Staffing professional here

The abuses in the IT world are well-documented and appalling. However if we do away with this program entirely, our energy companies will not be able to find petrophysicists, who, by the way, make a shit ton of money, H1B or not.

[TheMastersNemesis]

4. Was Not Talking About Doing Away With H!B. Needs To Be Carefully Regulated.

I just saw too many unemployed workers who had to train their replacement when they were already qualified. Plus these workers were brought in to prepare the job to be sent overseas where the pay was ridiculously less paid than in the US. There were plenty of well qualified applicants in our files when I was at DOL. It is just that it was about profit and knocking down wages. The motives were so clear.

And it is no better today really. American workers are last on the list in too many cases. And we do need immigrant workers in some categories. And we do need work visas but companies should be required to pay the same wage as they would an American citizen.

As I said I do not like Trump at all, but I can understand why voters believe him and go to him.

[Sgent]

2. We do need a type of H1-B visa

but they have been widely abused.

One option I saw Trump's team float (which I'm actually ok with), is instead of doing a lottery system, to auction them off. If a company has to pay 50k+ for a H1-B its a lot less likely to use it to undercut an IT worker making 80k.

I would make exceptions for research and training positions, professorships, etc.

[Amishman]

10. An auction is a good solution

I've spent a decent chunk of my career in IT, and have met about a dozen people who were currently on H1B visas or had come over on an H1B and since stepped up to permanent residence. Only about half were good at their jobs, and all of their jobs could easily be staffed by a US citizen. Definitely not a case of unique knowledge or skillsets.

Keep the program for the rare circumstances where an onshore candidate truly cannot be found, but make it a lot more expensive and lover the number of visas available

[beachbum bob]

3. H1B abuses go back decades and not limited to IT but across all engineering

disciplines. I worked at a manuf company 35 years ago that made it habit to bring in Indian engineers at 1/3 of the salary and with the promise of a green card....any questioning and they were sent back....

H1B only existence is to undercut american salaries...and to profit the company...always has been and will be

[TheMastersNemesis]

5. Based On My DOL Experience Of 24 Years You Are Right On,

I would say that the need for H1B visas is really much more the exception than the rule. H1B should be for exceptional needs. And I did not see exceptional needs when I was on the DOL job. The job descriptions that I looked at under the Immigration Job Order Clearance program were nothing more than the resume of the person they wanted. Like speaking an obscure Mandarin Chinese dialect when it was really not needed.

[sarah FAILIN]

6. There are probably 40 or so visa holders where I work

They make it possible for probably 1500 local citizens to have jobs and I am thankful for them. Our company is not a local company and they bring in professionals from other parts of the world to make sure everything is done correctly. We could not function without them. Our town would suffer an economic catastrophe if this company left.

This trying to keep foreigners out sounds too much like what Trump pushes

[TheMastersNemesis]

9. I Understand Your Position.

I realize that eventually we will be completely global possibly even at the governmental level in a generation or so. However, through the present economic transition we will owe it to our own citizenry to use H1B and other immigration work visas sensibly and properly. In my own experience at DOL I saw so many American workers who were qualified at a profitable health company being replaced for cheaper labor who were no better qualified for the job they were being put into.

If the true need is really there, then sure a visa is the way to go. I just did not see companies being honest or ethical about what they were doing.

[sarah FAILIN]

13. This is a foreign company.

I am not angry that they want people from inside their company in high tech and management positions. I expect this. Our town is grateful for the jobs. Eliminate the visas, companies like mine won't feel welcome. They already have to prove locals aren't missing out on jobs.

[sharedvalues]

7. We need H1Bs to keep worldwide talent - program needs reform.

Here's an old comment on H1B program:

India accounts for the most H1-B visas at 102,382 since 2005. The next highest is the United Kingdom at 30,755. That's interesting - India does account for 25% of H1-B's, however the rest of the top 10 is: UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Japan, China, Venezuela, South Korea. Six of the top 10 are wealthy countries with high standards of living - the people from those countries are quite likely skilled professionals.


------

H1B Program needs reform but we need ways to keep global talent in the US, not push them away.

First change needed is rule tying H1B worker to their job. Workers should be able to stay in the country for 6-12 months after leaving a job to look for another.
Other changes needed: prevent outsourcing companies from sucking up all lottery visas, raise minimum H1B salary.


Our economy runs on innnovation and benefits from other countries' talent moving here. Whatever we do let's keep that talent here in the US. UK, China, Australia, etc. would LOVE to take away those talented foreigners.

[TheMastersNemesis]

8. I Largely Agree. However H1B Visa Must Be Severely Tightened Up.

If an H1B visa means the layoff of an American worker who is qualified and in the job it must be denied. If a company cannot prove there is no other option then it must also be denied. H1B's are necessary but we must do all we can to make sure it is NOT abused like it is now. And if a company violates the law it should be fined severely. The present abuse is far beyond epidemic and is primarily used to cut costs at the expense of American workers. Corporate bosses think Americans are paid too much and should make 1/2 of what they are now. Employers bitched all the time about that.

Otherwise we will see abuses like we do now. If you saw what I saw at DOL or if anyone did we would see a demand for very tight restrictions. I can assure you that a lot of European countries control their very closely.

[FormerOstrich]

11. H1B Visa's are abused

I believe the H1B program is horribly abused and rigs the system against American workers.

There are many recruiting firms that hire only H1B workers. A great many corporations use these firms exclusively for hiring. The cozy arrangement has facilitated converting full-time jobs into permanent "temporary" contract work filled with H1B Visa workers.

I have experienced, many times, H1B Visa workers that are immediately placed in positions that American workers would never even be able to get an interview.

The program needs completely revamped!

[TheMastersNemesis]

12. It Has Needed To Be Revamped For 40 Years.

Actually this program has been so grossly and unethically exploited it is tragic. And I can tell you having worked at DOL for 24 years I saw so many workers who were screwed it is sickening.

WE HAVE ENOUGH AMERICAN WORKERS FOR THESE JOBS. THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.