Tech Demand Likely to Be Strong in Annual H-1B Lottery

[OhioChick]

Despite layoffs thinning the U.S. tech work force, IT companies like Microsoft are expected to be among the companies competing for coveted H-1B visas when the annual government lottery for educated foreign workers gets under way.

Predictions are that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is again likely to quickly hit its ceiling of 65,000 H-1B visas when the controversial program's annual lottery for educated foreign workers begins April 1. In 2008, the same quota was met in a single day, not to mention a supplemental program that provides for 20,000 additional foreign workers with advanced degrees.

The H-1B program is a temporary work visa program much prized among tech companies, particularly Microsoft and Indian outsourcing companies, to employ foreign guest workers who have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in a job category that is considered by the USCIS to be a "specialty occupation." Tech employers insist the program is essential in the face of what they say is a shortage of U.S. IT workers.

Critics of the program, including U.S. Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Bernie Saunders (I-Vt.), are suspicious of those claims and have threatened legislation to impose greater accountability and transparency on the program. Tech layoffs and recent arrests tied to fraud and abuse in the system have only heightened the debate about H-1B visas.

However, business is still expected to be brisk when the lottery begins.

More: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Management/Tech-Demand-Likely-To-Be-Strong-In-Annual-H1B-Lottery/

This is insane, given the high unemployment rate.

[notadmblnd]

1. I was cut back from my employer 4 years ago.

recently there was an opening for an old position I held while working there. I applied. haven't heard back.

[OhioChick]

2. I hope you hear back soon. n/t