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New Materials Tell Story of H-1B Visa Program
The nation’s guest worker system is flawed and needs to be reformed. But sometimes, it’s hard to find hard information about the extent of the program. The AFL-CIO Department for Professional Employees (DPE) has obtained copies of previously unavailable U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reports on the controversial H-1B guest worker program.
The new materials are posted on DPE’s website in conjunction with the release of a new report on the ways employers “game” the H-1B visa system to lower wages and avoid unions.
Two sets of USCIS reports are available on the DPE website. One set, “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Report of H-1B Petitions,” lays out the number of H-1B visas that were requested and actually granted, along with other details about the program.
The other set, “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Characteristics of Specialty Occupation Workers (H-1B) Annual Report,” provides more detailed information about the countries of origin, occupations, educational levels and compensation of H-1B visa recipients.
Each year, the USCIS submits reports to Congress providing detailed information on visa recipients and other persons granted nonimmigrant status in the U.S. These reports contain annually compiled information about the H-1B visa program.
Until now, the reports for 2006 through 2008 were unavailable to the public. DPE gained access to the reports through the assistance of Stan Sorscher, legislative director of Local 2001 of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace-IFPTE (SPEEA).
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6 Comments
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“Gaming the system” is an excellent report. It has an important section concerning the oversupply of American STEM graduates.
Most Americans are under the false impression that Americans, and especially American children, can’t cut it in science and technology. But the truth is that tech & sci companies can’t produce enough jobs for our STEM grads. In fact, we are overproducing to the tune of 3 STEM grads to every 1 STEM job.
This oversupply started in 1985, 5 years before Congress created the H-1b corporate visa program. It’s has excerbated this oversupply of STEM talent because it gives companies the ability to recruit abroad – without ever seeking local talent.
According to DOL’s Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2006-2011 (pg. 35) states: “…H-1B workers may be hired even when a qualified U.S. worker wants the job, and a U.S. worker can be displaced from the job in favor of the foreign worker.”
The tech industry has developed a culture of bypassing qualified minorities and veterans for over 40 yrs; they’ve now had 20 years of bypassing all qualified STEM professionals.
Tech unions can challenge this corporate culture and ensure that Americans can participate in the Digital Age.
A little background. I knew one of those who was allowed to train his H-1B replacement from India. Now, it’s true, he might have changed from when I worked with him as a programmer and he was about the sharpest computer ANYTHING around. His title was Systems Analyst, but he could deal with hardware, software, internet, you-name-it, a totally knowledgeable guy, who had just been moving up the salary scales and was a solid employee. That guy simply loved computers and working with them. If a company let him work with computers and PAID him for it, he was a loyal employee/
I wonder what these companies think they’re actually doing? Did they suppose he didn’t know that nice young Indian man was there to take over his job? And did they think the nice young man was going to be given the full benefit of years and years of experience plus a love of computers in his training. Say Mr. Corporation Man, don’t bet that you’ll be ahead in a couple of years. That kid with no experience doesn’t know the half of what the guy he’s replacing knows. Oh, and he plans to be going back to India in 5 years or so when he’s got the experience he needs to get a good job back there. He let that slip during one training session.
Thank you for this article.
This is a serious problem. I have been discussing this with TechsUnite for several years.
I understand that increases in H-1B are part of the immigration reform bill. Why don’t you address this?
T. Glick, there are no increases on the number of corp work visas in this bill. In fact, all the excellent provisions in S.887, Durbin’s reform bill, are folded into the new CIR bill.
It’s now incumbent upon progressives to oppose the corp culture of bypass. We need to lobby for US policies that figure out what the heck we are going to do with all the STEM professionals our universities are producing.
Microsoft wants to re-design the green card process. This means that we will be returning to the days of social and cultural bypass. In order to continue to outsource jobs, they will need new green card holders, which the bill provides.
GC holders who have been integrated into US society aren’t very good at outsourcing jobs, which is the same problem corps have with US citizens.
Donna Conroy, Director
http://www.brightfuturejobs.com
It would be desirable for Mr Parks had issued an analysis of his referenced USCIS report or provided a direct link to the “Gaming the System”article Tech Worker refers to as this is a topic that has always had the smells bad for workers aspect in its very existance.
I hope the following 12 Days of Unemployment helps lay people understand how H-1B and L-1 visa fraud and abuse ruin the lives of millions of Americans. If you agree, please spread the word.
The Washington State 12 Days of Unemployment
Dedicated to my fellow jobless American citizens living in Washington State displaced by H-1B and L-1 visa fraud and abuse.
I hope all laid off Americans have a roof over your head and a warm meal this holiday season.
On the first day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• 1 H-1B IT Specialist with Washington State Employment Security
On the second day of unemployment my H1 gave to me
• $20 million H-1B wages for 301 Accountant jobs in WA State
On the third day of unemployment my H1 gave to me
• 324,000 unemployed Washington workers in WA State as of Nov 2009
On the fourth day of unemployment my H1 gave to me
• $414 million lost American worker wages for 4,571 H-1B Microsoft employees in WA State
On the fifth day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• 15.4 million unemployed Americans
On the sixth day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• $68.5 million lost American worker wages for 827 H-1B “other computer related” jobs in WA State
On the 7th day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• 74 H-1B budget analysts, with $6 million lost American worker wages in WA State
On the 8th day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• $887 million wages and 10,751 lost jobs for American workers in WA
On the 9th day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• 9.2% unemployment rate in Washington State
On the 10th day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• 10% USA Unemployment rate (11/09) with 15.4 million jobless Americans
On the 11th day of unemployment, my H1 gave to me
• $111,325 average salary for 49 H-1b Finance workers in WA State
On the 12 day of unemployment my H1 gave to me
12+ hours wait to file weekly unemployment claim because system is down. See Day #1
Source: US Dept. of Labor H-1B 2008 FLC Report http://www.flcdatacenter.com/CaseH1B.aspx