Let’s Talk Visas… and I Don’t Mean The Credit Card

This past April it became clear that the usually incredibly popular H1-B visas, of which there are 85,000 issued each year, was far from reaching that number.  Typically tech companies such as Microsoft and Intel are looking to hire foreign-born workers specializing in computer science, engineering, and related fields.

Why the change in numbers you ask?  Commentators attribute the recently-enacted higher standards and greater restrictions placed on the application process and the economic downturn.

In February 2009, President Obama included in his stimulus plan the affirmative obligation for bailout recipients to hire Americans over foreign-born workers.  Although there are many Americans in need of jobs in the country, I agree with the LA Times article that characterizes the H1-B visa workers as a compliment rather than a replacement to the American worker.

A recent study conducted by LegalMatch confirmed the decline in visa applications.  There was an overall decline in H-1B visa inquiries over the past 12 months from the previous year.  Not surprisingly, inquiries for help with green card and other unskilled labor visas remained high.

In my opinion, I think that keeping the application process open until the quota is met is the correct approach to the decline in H1-B interest.  We need to continue to recognize the value that foreign workers play in the booming U.S. technology market and ensure that companies get the workers with the skills they need to continue to prosper.