4 ms·

What is "wrong" about that? It's a simple reality: there are way more people desiring to immigrate to the USA than the government thinks it can handle.

by ng12 9y ago

sumitgt 9y ago
Yeah, but why not make it merit based? Currently it uses an arbitrary value of where you are born. This forces people from India to stay on H1-B for 15-20 years, and prevents them from easily changing jobs or opening a business.
- ng12 9y ago
  There are lots of merit-based immigration programs (EB1, EB2, EB3, O1, etc). H1-B is a lottery by design; it's supposed to be the "labor pool" visa.
  - sumitgt 9y ago
    I don't think you understand. EB2 actually has per-country caps. Once you are in the Eb2 queue, you have to wait 15-20 years if you were born in India. That is what needs to be fixed. The process should be completely merit based.
    - throwaway613834 9y ago
      > EB2 actually has per-country caps. Once you are in the Eb2 queue, you have to wait 15-20 years if you were born in India. [...] The process should be completely merit based. Because... can I ask why, exactly?
      - sumitgt 9y ago
        why what? Not sure which part of that quote you are referring to.
        throwaway613834 9y ago
        I'm asking why you think the immigration process should be merit based. What objective would it optimize for?
c2h5oh 9y ago
Per country of origin cap makes little sense. Canadian immigration process assigns points for various qualities and qualifications legislature deemed desired and every couple of weeks x top scoring applicants get an immigration visa (pr).
- ng12 9y ago
  The US does have a system like that. The EB Visa is a permanent visa for high-skilled workers: EB1 is the highest-priority for advanced degree holders, EB3 is lower-priority for generally skilled workers. H1-B is designed to just be a pool to temporarily fill labor shortages in the US. It's not intended to be the path for PR hence why it's admittedly arbitrary.
  - kartD 9y ago
    > H1-B is designed to just be a pool to temporarily fill labor shortages in the US. It's not intended to be the path for PR hence why it's admittedly arbitrary. I think that is incorrect. It is expected for F-1 students to move to an H1-B (which allows intent to immigrate) and then move to PR (usually via an EB)
    - ng12 9y ago
      It's not set up that way. It's only easier by virtue of already living in the US and having qualifications gained in the US system.
  - sumitgt 9y ago
    You do realize, even in the EB system, there are per-country caps based on the country of birth? Which means, if you are from India and are waiting in the EB2 queue, you have to painfully maintain H1-B status for 15-20 years.
    - ng12 9y ago
      I did not. It seems to me then the real problem is India's brain drain. I don't see how lifting the cap would be good for American workers or the Indian economy.

What is "wrong" about that? It's a simple reality: there are way more people desiring to immigrate to the USA than the government thinks it can handle.

by ng12 9y ago

What is "wrong" about that? It's a simple reality: there are way more people desiring to immigrate to the USA than the government thinks it can handle.

sumitgt 9y ago

Yeah, but why not make it merit based? Currently it uses an arbitrary value of where you are born. This forces people from India to stay on H1-B for 15-20 years, and prevents them from easily changing jobs or opening a business.

ng12 9y ago
There are lots of merit-based immigration programs (EB1, EB2, EB3, O1, etc). H1-B is a lottery by design; it's supposed to be the "labor pool" visa.
- sumitgt 9y ago
  I don't think you understand. EB2 actually has per-country caps. Once you are in the Eb2 queue, you have to wait 15-20 years if you were born in India. That is what needs to be fixed. The process should be completely merit based.
  - throwaway613834 9y ago
    > EB2 actually has per-country caps. Once you are in the Eb2 queue, you have to wait 15-20 years if you were born in India. [...] The process should be completely merit based. Because... can I ask why, exactly?
    - sumitgt 9y ago
      why what? Not sure which part of that quote you are referring to.
      - throwaway613834 9y ago
        I'm asking why you think the immigration process should be merit based. What objective would it optimize for?

c2h5oh 9y ago

Per country of origin cap makes little sense. Canadian immigration process assigns points for various qualities and qualifications legislature deemed desired and every couple of weeks x top scoring applicants get an immigration visa (pr).

ng12 9y ago
The US does have a system like that. The EB Visa is a permanent visa for high-skilled workers: EB1 is the highest-priority for advanced degree holders, EB3 is lower-priority for generally skilled workers. H1-B is designed to just be a pool to temporarily fill labor shortages in the US. It's not intended to be the path for PR hence why it's admittedly arbitrary.
- kartD 9y ago
  > H1-B is designed to just be a pool to temporarily fill labor shortages in the US. It's not intended to be the path for PR hence why it's admittedly arbitrary. I think that is incorrect. It is expected for F-1 students to move to an H1-B (which allows intent to immigrate) and then move to PR (usually via an EB)
  - ng12 9y ago
    It's not set up that way. It's only easier by virtue of already living in the US and having qualifications gained in the US system.
- sumitgt 9y ago
  You do realize, even in the EB system, there are per-country caps based on the country of birth? Which means, if you are from India and are waiting in the EB2 queue, you have to painfully maintain H1-B status for 15-20 years.
  - ng12 9y ago
    I did not. It seems to me then the real problem is India's brain drain. I don't see how lifting the cap would be good for American workers or the Indian economy.