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While this does happen for certain things, and certain segments, it's definitely not true for specialty areas like machine learning. ML / AI specialists command

While this does happen for certain things, and certain segments, it's definitely not true for specialty areas like machine learning. ML / AI specialists command higher salaries because of simple supply and demand. In my personal experience, I have never seen a company hire someone on an H1B that wasn't seen as the best person for the job. Immigration status was simply a non issue at the sponsoring companies I've worked at. On the other hand, I've worked at places that rejected out of hand anyone that did need sponsorship because the company simply didn't have scale to hire immigration lawyers.

bdcravens 8y ago
> I have never seen a company hire someone on an H1B that wasn't seen as the best person for the job My understanding is that H1B isn't designed to expand the hiring pool but to fill a gap where the local pool is effectively 0.
- steego 8y ago
  > My understanding is that H1B isn't designed to expand the hiring pool but to fill a gap where the local pool is effectively 0. Maybe that was the intent, but is that true in practice? My experience has been that it expands the hiring pool because most places simply want to hire the best skill they can get for the money. Honestly, the idea that you're going to restrict H1B visas to scenarios where they couldn't hire an American first is very naive and misguided. If American workers want to ensure their wages aren't being driven down, they have to abandon these antiquated policies that only benefit employers who want to hire cheap foreign workers because the policy artificially puts them at a disadvantage in the job market. It's ironic that Americans think putting foreign workers at a disadvantage in the job market gives them an advantage. The truth is it ends up hurting them more because it's these policies that are the tools use to exploit foreign workers' situation. Why would you hire an American if you have the tools to hire and retain a foreigner who wants it more? If they have to find another sponsor, they're less likely to job hop or ask for a raise.

bdcravens 8y ago

> I have never seen a company hire someone on an H1B that wasn't seen as the best person for the job My understanding is that H1B isn't designed to expand the hiring pool but to fill a gap where the local pool is effectively 0.

steego 8y ago
> My understanding is that H1B isn't designed to expand the hiring pool but to fill a gap where the local pool is effectively 0. Maybe that was the intent, but is that true in practice? My experience has been that it expands the hiring pool because most places simply want to hire the best skill they can get for the money. Honestly, the idea that you're going to restrict H1B visas to scenarios where they couldn't hire an American first is very naive and misguided. If American workers want to ensure their wages aren't being driven down, they have to abandon these antiquated policies that only benefit employers who want to hire cheap foreign workers because the policy artificially puts them at a disadvantage in the job market. It's ironic that Americans think putting foreign workers at a disadvantage in the job market gives them an advantage. The truth is it ends up hurting them more because it's these policies that are the tools use to exploit foreign workers' situation. Why would you hire an American if you have the tools to hire and retain a foreigner who wants it more? If they have to find another sponsor, they're less likely to job hop or ask for a raise.