Libra
09-11 05:22 PM
thank you gcwait, please also attend rally.
wallpaper HK Holidays Annual Calendar
Jaime
07-20 11:41 AM
Guys, don't be disappointed about the Cornyn amendment failing! Here's why:
There is a lot of noise already (thanks to IV generating it) about the injustices that we legals face, and the urgent need to reform the legal GC path. I am thinking that senators have heard our friend Zoe and are now realizing that such reform is needed and are now trying to determine how to best use or spin such a potential reform in their party's favor. Therefore, even people like Clinton voted no, because if the Cornyn amendment had passed it would have denied them the visibility and publicity that a well-organized and publicized bill would generate. Clinton has spoken in our favor before, and I think that she voted nay now in order to later be part of a more visible (and politically-rewarding) solution for us.
What we REALLY NEED TO DO right now is support IV as much as we can, and continue to create noise and get our VOICE be heard, but we need to act as a group, as a team. Work together, be heard everywhere. Enough already with us being quiet, keeping our heads down while paying taxes and taking all the abuse! We will continue to be great citizens, meet all our duties and obligations, but this time we will ALSO BE HEARD! Let's go! We're strong! We can do this!!!!!
There is a lot of noise already (thanks to IV generating it) about the injustices that we legals face, and the urgent need to reform the legal GC path. I am thinking that senators have heard our friend Zoe and are now realizing that such reform is needed and are now trying to determine how to best use or spin such a potential reform in their party's favor. Therefore, even people like Clinton voted no, because if the Cornyn amendment had passed it would have denied them the visibility and publicity that a well-organized and publicized bill would generate. Clinton has spoken in our favor before, and I think that she voted nay now in order to later be part of a more visible (and politically-rewarding) solution for us.
What we REALLY NEED TO DO right now is support IV as much as we can, and continue to create noise and get our VOICE be heard, but we need to act as a group, as a team. Work together, be heard everywhere. Enough already with us being quiet, keeping our heads down while paying taxes and taking all the abuse! We will continue to be great citizens, meet all our duties and obligations, but this time we will ALSO BE HEARD! Let's go! We're strong! We can do this!!!!!
northstar
09-11 10:44 PM
Contributed $200 just now through Google
2011 2011-2012 calendar large
Totoro
05-02 09:44 AM
Why is there so much discussion surrounding this stimulus package, I thought all of were highly skilled, high educated clique who made the big $$.
I have seen numerous occasions where people boast of large pay packets, bill rates, and now this is a measly $1,200, an amount that could be made with working 2 days is generating such a huge discussion. This does not add up???
This is not only about $$$, it is about discrimination. The Military families who are affected need this money more than we do, and I feel for them. However, what if next time they push through a law the prevents you from claiming any credits, no child tax credits, no mortgage credits, nothing. Then they add new "immigrant taxes", which in fact the ITIN rule already is. The only way to stop more legislation like this one is to stand up for our rights.
Another reason to act on this matter is the SSN issue. I know I have come across several situations when my family members ran into difficulty because they don't have SSNs. This law could provide an opportunity for getting SSNs for family members.
I have seen numerous occasions where people boast of large pay packets, bill rates, and now this is a measly $1,200, an amount that could be made with working 2 days is generating such a huge discussion. This does not add up???
This is not only about $$$, it is about discrimination. The Military families who are affected need this money more than we do, and I feel for them. However, what if next time they push through a law the prevents you from claiming any credits, no child tax credits, no mortgage credits, nothing. Then they add new "immigrant taxes", which in fact the ITIN rule already is. The only way to stop more legislation like this one is to stand up for our rights.
Another reason to act on this matter is the SSN issue. I know I have come across several situations when my family members ran into difficulty because they don't have SSNs. This law could provide an opportunity for getting SSNs for family members.
more...
sampath
04-25 02:04 PM
I did'nt start this thread. I just expressed my opinion supporting it, when I saw others' express their views..
I don't understand what you mean by saying "take this offline". Anyway, if you are the admin, you can delete this thread and put it where you want...
I don't understand what you mean by saying "take this offline". Anyway, if you are the admin, you can delete this thread and put it where you want...
komaragiri
08-07 01:56 PM
What's the source of of this information... Is this u'r guess or from any other source ???
Got it from my Attorney. Not sure whether USCIS shares any processing information regularly with them.
Got it from my Attorney. Not sure whether USCIS shares any processing information regularly with them.
more...
diptam
06-10 10:27 PM
[QUOTE=dilbert_cal]Guys/Gals - Those of you who are planning to file your 140 and/or 485 and are worried about the future consequences, please stop worrying about the bill and first of all get your 140 and/or 485 filed.
Now, when you are done with it , please help IV to ensure that the current bill has enough amendments to make our future secure.
QUOTE]
Why only guys from May 16th 2007 to Oct 2008 are selectively victimized -
My 140 is filed just on May 16th - what is my Sin ??
Now, when you are done with it , please help IV to ensure that the current bill has enough amendments to make our future secure.
QUOTE]
Why only guys from May 16th 2007 to Oct 2008 are selectively victimized -
My 140 is filed just on May 16th - what is my Sin ??
2010 annual calendar 2011.
immi_twinges
07-20 05:47 PM
1) Contact senators who voted yea...Lets specify that we are thanking them because they are supporting legal immigration...Lets make them aware that legal immigrants are prospective voters too.
2) Contact the 2 faced senators like Clinton and Obama and express dissapointment
3) Contact senators like Kennedy...who say they believe in immigration system but vote ney for legal immigration and express your thoughts
4)Contact USINPAC and ask what they are doing to help us?
2) Contact the 2 faced senators like Clinton and Obama and express dissapointment
3) Contact senators like Kennedy...who say they believe in immigration system but vote ney for legal immigration and express your thoughts
4)Contact USINPAC and ask what they are doing to help us?
more...
gc_on_demand
05-27 03:47 PM
If I may suggest it may help our funding drive if we allow smaller contributions. (20$ or 10$) both recurring and one time.
I know at least a couple of people who would do a 20$ 2-3 times a year but won't do a $50. Anecdotal but may hold true for a lot more people.
-dslamba
We should do that .. Only fear is people who are contributing 50 will change to 20.. and what if those new members wont contribute ?
I know at least a couple of people who would do a 20$ 2-3 times a year but won't do a $50. Anecdotal but may hold true for a lot more people.
-dslamba
We should do that .. Only fear is people who are contributing 50 will change to 20.. and what if those new members wont contribute ?
hair annual calendar 2011 printable
jimytomy
04-11 08:15 PM
@AllVNeedGCPC : Did you get any updates on your I-485 ?
@gene77 : Any update on your REF ?
Thanks!
jimytomy
@gene77 : Any update on your REF ?
Thanks!
jimytomy
more...
chi_shark
02-23 02:18 PM
It means USCIS has pre-adjudicated your I-485 if it was filed before october 2008.
i thought it meant that you had to wait 4 months after your priority date is current to have any expectation of adjudication... no?
i thought it meant that you had to wait 4 months after your priority date is current to have any expectation of adjudication... no?
hot FR Holidays Annual Calendar
Gravitation
05-01 02:12 PM
I have some black dots in my Control Panel? What is the meaning of a black dot?
And how does one give black dot to some one? When I try to add reputation to a post, I can only see I approve or I disapprove options. I would imagine I approve=green and I disapprove=red. Where does a black dot fit into this scheme?
The gray dots come when you get either approval/disapproval from somebody who has:
less than 30 posts.
overall negative reputationgray dots have no affect on your reputation. This is to prevent new or disreputes from irresponsibly affecting others' reputations.
And how does one give black dot to some one? When I try to add reputation to a post, I can only see I approve or I disapprove options. I would imagine I approve=green and I disapprove=red. Where does a black dot fit into this scheme?
The gray dots come when you get either approval/disapproval from somebody who has:
less than 30 posts.
overall negative reputationgray dots have no affect on your reputation. This is to prevent new or disreputes from irresponsibly affecting others' reputations.
more...
house CA Holidays Annual Calendar -
tinamatthew
07-21 05:54 PM
Hi Tina,
Do you know any employer or recruiting agency (in NY) who can help sponsoring physical therapists for 140 & 485.
I got a NY work permit and got my crdentials evaluated but unfortunately that emplyer is no longer having job vacancy. Now I am stuck and don't know if I can get benefit from some other employer.
Any input would be greatly helpful.
A lot of employers are willing to sponsor Schedule A applications, as far as you get your own lawyer & bare the costs, especially if they don't have an immigration department. So you may want to let them know that you have a lawyer who can file as soon as. Some employers already have the employment notice.
You may already know these, but here goes
www.ptjobs.com
www.physical-therapist.com/
rehaboptions.com/phone.html
physicaltherapist.com
Do you know any employer or recruiting agency (in NY) who can help sponsoring physical therapists for 140 & 485.
I got a NY work permit and got my crdentials evaluated but unfortunately that emplyer is no longer having job vacancy. Now I am stuck and don't know if I can get benefit from some other employer.
Any input would be greatly helpful.
A lot of employers are willing to sponsor Schedule A applications, as far as you get your own lawyer & bare the costs, especially if they don't have an immigration department. So you may want to let them know that you have a lawyer who can file as soon as. Some employers already have the employment notice.
You may already know these, but here goes
www.ptjobs.com
www.physical-therapist.com/
rehaboptions.com/phone.html
physicaltherapist.com
tattoo FR Holidays Annual Calendar
santb1975
06-21 03:58 PM
you rekindled our hopes on this funding drive
another 100$ from IL
PayPal Receipt ID: 70125366SU56XXXXX
GO IV!!!!
another 100$ from IL
PayPal Receipt ID: 70125366SU56XXXXX
GO IV!!!!
more...
pictures IL Holidays Annual Calendar -
ramus
07-06 01:29 PM
When you come with such statement please give source?
it seems they are planning to honor the July VB and make chanes in Aug VB. So I guess they will accept the applications in July. :rolleyes:
it seems they are planning to honor the July VB and make chanes in Aug VB. So I guess they will accept the applications in July. :rolleyes:
dresses Annual Calendar 2011-2012
alterego
06-16 11:30 AM
If you are stuck at Atlanta PERM backlog center , please email your case number and explain them that your application has been pending for a LONG time and request them to help us get out of this grave situation. Also, please post on this thread after you have sent an email so that others can be motivated to do the same. We need to send as many emails as possible to get any positive feedback. I know that DOL mentioned that they will start processing our applications soon, but we need to keep up the pressure from our end so that it has some positive effect.
I know most of the people on this forum are not in this situation ..... but let's see how many can come out of this selfishness and help others by emailing / phoning DOL Atlanta to help other brothers who want to file AOS just like them...... When phone campaigns / email campaigns happen .... we who are stuck at Atlanta help others tooo... so let's see how many on this form help us now...
Here is the info :
email : Perm.DFLC@dol.gov
Phone : 404-893-0101
Thanks
Champak (Same as 1 and 2)
Didn't realise they now have a PERM backlog center. I thought baclkog centers were only for traditional and RIR labours, I guess there is no end to the circus of immigration life.
I know most of the people on this forum are not in this situation ..... but let's see how many can come out of this selfishness and help others by emailing / phoning DOL Atlanta to help other brothers who want to file AOS just like them...... When phone campaigns / email campaigns happen .... we who are stuck at Atlanta help others tooo... so let's see how many on this form help us now...
Here is the info :
email : Perm.DFLC@dol.gov
Phone : 404-893-0101
Thanks
Champak (Same as 1 and 2)
Didn't realise they now have a PERM backlog center. I thought baclkog centers were only for traditional and RIR labours, I guess there is no end to the circus of immigration life.
more...
makeup RU Holidays Annual Calendar
p1234
09-13 08:15 PM
I'm getting red dots now for believing in the right!
Who cares? Give all the red dots in the world...:D
Who cares? Give all the red dots in the world...:D
girlfriend Annual Calendar
priti8888
06-24 04:13 PM
Think about this
Only EB India /China /mexico/Philipines(ICMP) suffers the most for their GC's
EB ROW do not worry about GC process as much as ICMP. Their wait is not more then 2-3 years.
Its wrong to generalize that since ICMP's suffer , all other EB's suffer.
Its totally baseless to generalize that since ICMP's dont invest , go back to home countries due to GC , everybody does.
US does not gain from intelligent Indians only. There are PhD's and smart ppl from other countries as well.
Only EB India /China /mexico/Philipines(ICMP) suffers the most for their GC's
EB ROW do not worry about GC process as much as ICMP. Their wait is not more then 2-3 years.
Its wrong to generalize that since ICMP's suffer , all other EB's suffer.
Its totally baseless to generalize that since ICMP's dont invest , go back to home countries due to GC , everybody does.
US does not gain from intelligent Indians only. There are PhD's and smart ppl from other countries as well.
hairstyles KR Holidays Annual Calendar
mbawa2574
09-17 08:55 PM
There cannot be partners for LLC located internationally ?
onemorecame
07-24 12:14 PM
I think I have been very lucky so far. I don't think USCIS processes based on anything concrete, I think it's a little random. Or maybe I am just lucky.
I applied for PERM in Sep 2006 - EB3 - India.
I got approved for PERM in Mar 2007.
I applied for I-140 and I-485 concurrently in Jun 2007.
I-140 got approved July 20, 2007 and on July 23, 2007 I received all 4 receipts for I-140, I-485, EAD and AP. So my approval came before my receipt. I live in California so everything went to Nebraksa.
Lawyers emailed saying they also received the EAD card yesterday July 23, 2007.
Now I have to wait for only AP and Adjustment. And I still have 5 years left on my H1-B (2 years on this visa and then another extension).
So I say, anything is possible. I wake up every morning and pray to USCIS because they made my life better :) :) :)
how did you applied in i-485 on June 2007? or you applied on July 2nd?
I applied for PERM in Sep 2006 - EB3 - India.
I got approved for PERM in Mar 2007.
I applied for I-140 and I-485 concurrently in Jun 2007.
I-140 got approved July 20, 2007 and on July 23, 2007 I received all 4 receipts for I-140, I-485, EAD and AP. So my approval came before my receipt. I live in California so everything went to Nebraksa.
Lawyers emailed saying they also received the EAD card yesterday July 23, 2007.
Now I have to wait for only AP and Adjustment. And I still have 5 years left on my H1-B (2 years on this visa and then another extension).
So I say, anything is possible. I wake up every morning and pray to USCIS because they made my life better :) :) :)
how did you applied in i-485 on June 2007? or you applied on July 2nd?
pappu
08-12 10:55 AM
Senate Passage of Border Security Legislation
August 12, 2010
Today, I come to the floor to seek unanimous consent to pass a smart, tough, and effective $600 million bill that will significantly enhance the security and integrity of our nation’s southern border—which currently lacks the resources needed to fully combat the drug smugglers, gun-runners, human-traffickers, money launderers and other organized criminals that seek to do harm to innocent Americans along our border….
The best part of this border package, Mr. President, is that it is fully paid for and does not increase the deficit by a single penny. In actuality, the Congressional Budget Office has determined that this bill will yield a direct savings to taxpayers of $50 million….
The emergency border funds we are passing today are fully paid for by assessing fees on certain types of companies who hire foreign workers using certain types of visas in a way that Congress did not intend. I want to take a moment to explain exactly what we are doing in this bill a little further because I want everyone to clearly understand how these offsets are designed.
In 1990, Congress realized that the world was changing rapidly and that technological innovations like the internet were creating a high demand in the United States for high-tech workers to create new technologies and products. Consequently, Congress created the H-1B visa program to allow U.S. employers to hire foreign tech workers in special circumstances when they could not find an American citizen who was qualified for the job.
Many of the companies that use this program today are using the program in the exact way Congress intended. That is, these companies (like Microsoft, IBM, and Intel) are hiring bright foreign students educated in our American universities to work in the U.S. for 6 or 7 years to invent new product lines and technologies so that Microsoft, IBM, and Intel can sell more products to the American public. Then—at the expiration of the H-1B visa period—these companies apply for these talented workers to earn green cards and stay with the company.
When the H-1B visa program is used in this manner, it is a good program for everyone involved. It is good for the company. It is good for the worker. And it is good for the American people who benefit from the products and jobs created by the innovation of the H-1B visa holder.
Every day, companies like Oracle, Cisco, Apple and others use the H-1B visa program in the exact way I have just described—and their use of the program has greatly benefitted this country.
But recently, some companies have decided to exploit an unintended loophole in the H-1B visa program to use the program in a manner that many in Congress, including myself, do not believe is consistent with the program’s intent.
Rather than being a company that makes something, and simply needs to bring in a talented foreign worker to help innovate and create new products and technologies—these other companies are essentially creating “multinational temp agencies” that were never contemplated when the H-1B program was created.
The business model of these newer companies is not to make any new products or technologies like Microsoft or Apple does. Instead, their business model is to bring foreign tech workers into the United States who are willing to accept less pay than their American counterparts, place these workers into other companies in exchange for a “consulting fee,” and transfer these workers from company to company in order to maximize profits from placement fees. In other words, these companies are petitioning for foreign workers simply to then turn around and provide these same workers to other companies who need cheap labor for various short term projects.
Don’t take my word for it. If you look at the marketing materials of some of the companies that fall within the scope covered by today’s legislation, their materials boast about their “outsourcing expertise” and say that their advantage is their ability to conduct what they call “labor arbitrage” which is—in their own words—“transferring work functions to a lower cost environment for increased savings.”
The business model used by these companies within the United States is creating three major negative side effects. First, it is ruining the reputation of the H-1B program, which is overwhelmingly used by good actors for beneficial purposes. Second, according to the Economic Policy institute, it is lowering the wages for American tech workers already in the marketplace. Third, it is also discouraging many of our smartest students from entering the technology industry in the first place. Students can see that paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for advanced schooling is not worth the cost when the market is being flooded with foreign temporary workers willing to do tech-work for far less pay because their foreign education was much cheaper and they intend to move back home when their visa expires to a country where the cost of living is far less expensive.
This type of use of the H-1B visa program will be addressed as part of comprehensive immigration reform and will likely be dramatically restricted. We will be reforming the legal immigration system to encourage the world’s best and brightest individuals to come to the United States and create the new technologies and businesses that will employ countless American workers, but will discourage businesses from using our immigration laws as a means to obtain temporary and less-expensive foreign labor to replace capable American workers.
Nevertheless, I do wish to clarify a previous mischaracterization of these firms, where I labeled them as “chop shops.” That statement was incorrect, and I wish to acknowledge that. In the tech industry, these firms are sometimes known as “body shops” and that’s what I should have said.
While I strongly oppose the manner in which these firms are using the H-1B visa to accomplish objectives that Congress never intended, it would be unfortunate if anyone concluded from my remarks that these firms are engaging in illegal behavior.
But I also want to make clear that the purpose of this fee is not to target businesses from any particular country. Many news articles have reported that the only companies that will be affected by this fee are companies based in India and that, ipso facto, the purpose of this legislation must be to target Indian IT companies.
Well, it is simply untrue that the purpose of this legislation is to target Indian companies. We are simply raising fees for businesses who use the H-1B visa to do things that are contrary to the program’s original intent.
Visa fees will only increase for companies with more than 50 workers who continue to employ more than 50 percent of their employees through the H-1B program. Congress does not want the H-1B visa program to be a vehicle for creating multinational temp agencies where workers do not know what projects they will be working on—or what cities they will be working in—when they enter the country.
The fee is based solely upon the business model of the company, not the location of the company.
If you are using the H-1B visa to innovate new products and technologies for your own company to sell, that is a good thing regardless of whether the company was originally founded in India, Ireland, or Indiana.
But if you are using the H-1B visa to run a glorified international temp agency for tech workers in contravention of the spirit of the program, I and my colleagues believe that you should have to pay a higher fee to ensure that American workers are not losing their jobs because of unintended uses of the visa program that were never contemplated when the program was created.
This belief is consistent regardless of whether the company using these staffing practices was founded in Bangalore, Beijing, or Boston.
Raising the fees for companies hiring more than 50 percent of their workforce through foreign visas will accomplish two important goals. First, it will provide the necessary funds to secure our border without raising taxes or adding to the deficit. Second, it will level the playing field for American workers so that they do not lose out on good jobs here in America because it is cheaper to bring in a foreign worker rather than hire an American worker.
Let me tell you what objective folks around the world are saying about the impact of this fee increase. In an August 6, 2010, Wall Street Journal article, Avinash Vashistha—the CEO of a Bangalore based off-shoring advisory consulting firm—told the Journal that the new fee in this bill “would accelerate Indian firms’ plans to hire more American-born workers in the U.S.” What’s wrong with that? In an August 7, 2010 Economic Times Article, Jeya Kumar, a CEO of a top IT company, said that this bill would “erode cost arbitrage and cause a change in the operational model of Indian offshore providers.”
The leaders of this business model are agreeing that our bill will make it more expensive to bring in foreign tech workers to compete with American tech workers for jobs here in America. That means these companies are going to start having to hire U.S. tech workers again.
So Mr. President, this bill is not only a responsible border security bill, it has the dual advantage of creating more high-paying American jobs.
Finally, Mr. President, I want to be clear about one other thing. Even though passing this bill will secure our border, I again say that the only way to fully restore the rule of law to our entire immigration system is by passing comprehensive immigration reform….
The urgency for immigration reform cannot be overstated because it is so overdue. The time for excuses is now over, it is now time to get to work.
August 12, 2010
Today, I come to the floor to seek unanimous consent to pass a smart, tough, and effective $600 million bill that will significantly enhance the security and integrity of our nation’s southern border—which currently lacks the resources needed to fully combat the drug smugglers, gun-runners, human-traffickers, money launderers and other organized criminals that seek to do harm to innocent Americans along our border….
The best part of this border package, Mr. President, is that it is fully paid for and does not increase the deficit by a single penny. In actuality, the Congressional Budget Office has determined that this bill will yield a direct savings to taxpayers of $50 million….
The emergency border funds we are passing today are fully paid for by assessing fees on certain types of companies who hire foreign workers using certain types of visas in a way that Congress did not intend. I want to take a moment to explain exactly what we are doing in this bill a little further because I want everyone to clearly understand how these offsets are designed.
In 1990, Congress realized that the world was changing rapidly and that technological innovations like the internet were creating a high demand in the United States for high-tech workers to create new technologies and products. Consequently, Congress created the H-1B visa program to allow U.S. employers to hire foreign tech workers in special circumstances when they could not find an American citizen who was qualified for the job.
Many of the companies that use this program today are using the program in the exact way Congress intended. That is, these companies (like Microsoft, IBM, and Intel) are hiring bright foreign students educated in our American universities to work in the U.S. for 6 or 7 years to invent new product lines and technologies so that Microsoft, IBM, and Intel can sell more products to the American public. Then—at the expiration of the H-1B visa period—these companies apply for these talented workers to earn green cards and stay with the company.
When the H-1B visa program is used in this manner, it is a good program for everyone involved. It is good for the company. It is good for the worker. And it is good for the American people who benefit from the products and jobs created by the innovation of the H-1B visa holder.
Every day, companies like Oracle, Cisco, Apple and others use the H-1B visa program in the exact way I have just described—and their use of the program has greatly benefitted this country.
But recently, some companies have decided to exploit an unintended loophole in the H-1B visa program to use the program in a manner that many in Congress, including myself, do not believe is consistent with the program’s intent.
Rather than being a company that makes something, and simply needs to bring in a talented foreign worker to help innovate and create new products and technologies—these other companies are essentially creating “multinational temp agencies” that were never contemplated when the H-1B program was created.
The business model of these newer companies is not to make any new products or technologies like Microsoft or Apple does. Instead, their business model is to bring foreign tech workers into the United States who are willing to accept less pay than their American counterparts, place these workers into other companies in exchange for a “consulting fee,” and transfer these workers from company to company in order to maximize profits from placement fees. In other words, these companies are petitioning for foreign workers simply to then turn around and provide these same workers to other companies who need cheap labor for various short term projects.
Don’t take my word for it. If you look at the marketing materials of some of the companies that fall within the scope covered by today’s legislation, their materials boast about their “outsourcing expertise” and say that their advantage is their ability to conduct what they call “labor arbitrage” which is—in their own words—“transferring work functions to a lower cost environment for increased savings.”
The business model used by these companies within the United States is creating three major negative side effects. First, it is ruining the reputation of the H-1B program, which is overwhelmingly used by good actors for beneficial purposes. Second, according to the Economic Policy institute, it is lowering the wages for American tech workers already in the marketplace. Third, it is also discouraging many of our smartest students from entering the technology industry in the first place. Students can see that paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for advanced schooling is not worth the cost when the market is being flooded with foreign temporary workers willing to do tech-work for far less pay because their foreign education was much cheaper and they intend to move back home when their visa expires to a country where the cost of living is far less expensive.
This type of use of the H-1B visa program will be addressed as part of comprehensive immigration reform and will likely be dramatically restricted. We will be reforming the legal immigration system to encourage the world’s best and brightest individuals to come to the United States and create the new technologies and businesses that will employ countless American workers, but will discourage businesses from using our immigration laws as a means to obtain temporary and less-expensive foreign labor to replace capable American workers.
Nevertheless, I do wish to clarify a previous mischaracterization of these firms, where I labeled them as “chop shops.” That statement was incorrect, and I wish to acknowledge that. In the tech industry, these firms are sometimes known as “body shops” and that’s what I should have said.
While I strongly oppose the manner in which these firms are using the H-1B visa to accomplish objectives that Congress never intended, it would be unfortunate if anyone concluded from my remarks that these firms are engaging in illegal behavior.
But I also want to make clear that the purpose of this fee is not to target businesses from any particular country. Many news articles have reported that the only companies that will be affected by this fee are companies based in India and that, ipso facto, the purpose of this legislation must be to target Indian IT companies.
Well, it is simply untrue that the purpose of this legislation is to target Indian companies. We are simply raising fees for businesses who use the H-1B visa to do things that are contrary to the program’s original intent.
Visa fees will only increase for companies with more than 50 workers who continue to employ more than 50 percent of their employees through the H-1B program. Congress does not want the H-1B visa program to be a vehicle for creating multinational temp agencies where workers do not know what projects they will be working on—or what cities they will be working in—when they enter the country.
The fee is based solely upon the business model of the company, not the location of the company.
If you are using the H-1B visa to innovate new products and technologies for your own company to sell, that is a good thing regardless of whether the company was originally founded in India, Ireland, or Indiana.
But if you are using the H-1B visa to run a glorified international temp agency for tech workers in contravention of the spirit of the program, I and my colleagues believe that you should have to pay a higher fee to ensure that American workers are not losing their jobs because of unintended uses of the visa program that were never contemplated when the program was created.
This belief is consistent regardless of whether the company using these staffing practices was founded in Bangalore, Beijing, or Boston.
Raising the fees for companies hiring more than 50 percent of their workforce through foreign visas will accomplish two important goals. First, it will provide the necessary funds to secure our border without raising taxes or adding to the deficit. Second, it will level the playing field for American workers so that they do not lose out on good jobs here in America because it is cheaper to bring in a foreign worker rather than hire an American worker.
Let me tell you what objective folks around the world are saying about the impact of this fee increase. In an August 6, 2010, Wall Street Journal article, Avinash Vashistha—the CEO of a Bangalore based off-shoring advisory consulting firm—told the Journal that the new fee in this bill “would accelerate Indian firms’ plans to hire more American-born workers in the U.S.” What’s wrong with that? In an August 7, 2010 Economic Times Article, Jeya Kumar, a CEO of a top IT company, said that this bill would “erode cost arbitrage and cause a change in the operational model of Indian offshore providers.”
The leaders of this business model are agreeing that our bill will make it more expensive to bring in foreign tech workers to compete with American tech workers for jobs here in America. That means these companies are going to start having to hire U.S. tech workers again.
So Mr. President, this bill is not only a responsible border security bill, it has the dual advantage of creating more high-paying American jobs.
Finally, Mr. President, I want to be clear about one other thing. Even though passing this bill will secure our border, I again say that the only way to fully restore the rule of law to our entire immigration system is by passing comprehensive immigration reform….
The urgency for immigration reform cannot be overstated because it is so overdue. The time for excuses is now over, it is now time to get to work.
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