Report reveals benefits of H-1B visa plan to US
Source: Agencies |
April 1, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
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A GROUP that backs a visa program designed to bring high-skilled foreign workers to the United States says that some of the approximately US$3 billion in visa fees paid by employers benefits science and math scholarships, US worker training and anti-fraud activities.
A report issued this week by the National Foundation for American Policy points to the fees as a reason to maintain the visa program. The foundation supports policies allowing businesses to hire foreign staff.
The money has paid for 58,000 student scholarships distributed by the National Science Foundation and for 100,000 US workers to get training through the Labor Department, says the report. Some opponents say the visas cost Americans jobs.
H-1B visas allow foreigners to work in the US. The visas are temporary, are good for up to six years and can lead to a green card if an employer sponsors the worker. Businesses maintain they are important for bringing needed skills that cannot be found in the US and are necessary because waits for green cards, which provide legal residency, are too long.
"In addition to being required to pay professionals on H-1B visas the same wage as a comparable US worker, the H1-B fees, the legal costs, the staff time and the uncertainty of the immigration process demonstrate the employers really need these individuals and they're complementing the US work force rather than taking jobs from US workers," said Stuart Anderson, the foundation's executive director.
The organization's report was issued before a House subcommittee's hearing yesterday on the H1-B visas. It is one in a series that the subcommittee has had about immigration as Republicans in the House majority try to build support for tougher immigration enforcement amid the slumping US economy and continued high unemployment rates.
A report issued this week by the National Foundation for American Policy points to the fees as a reason to maintain the visa program. The foundation supports policies allowing businesses to hire foreign staff.
The money has paid for 58,000 student scholarships distributed by the National Science Foundation and for 100,000 US workers to get training through the Labor Department, says the report. Some opponents say the visas cost Americans jobs.
H-1B visas allow foreigners to work in the US. The visas are temporary, are good for up to six years and can lead to a green card if an employer sponsors the worker. Businesses maintain they are important for bringing needed skills that cannot be found in the US and are necessary because waits for green cards, which provide legal residency, are too long.
"In addition to being required to pay professionals on H-1B visas the same wage as a comparable US worker, the H1-B fees, the legal costs, the staff time and the uncertainty of the immigration process demonstrate the employers really need these individuals and they're complementing the US work force rather than taking jobs from US workers," said Stuart Anderson, the foundation's executive director.
The organization's report was issued before a House subcommittee's hearing yesterday on the H1-B visas. It is one in a series that the subcommittee has had about immigration as Republicans in the House majority try to build support for tougher immigration enforcement amid the slumping US economy and continued high unemployment rates.
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