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Everyone is pretty aware that most H1-b visa holders aren’t exactly highly-skilled labor. It’s been heavily abused at this point. How could you argue otherwise

by debt 7y ago

Everyone is pretty aware that most H1-b visa holders aren’t exactly highly-skilled labor. It’s been heavily abused at this point. How could you argue otherwise when the minimum salary for a H1-b eligible position is $60,000? This seems to be correcting a massive loophole in the already broken H1-b program.

arcticbull 7y ago
I'm trying to be very specific in not arguing about the merits of the program but in how the change was implemented and what that means. You made promises to these people and now you're breaking them (assuming you're an American, as the government acts on your behalf). You can choose not to make the promises again in the future, but that's totally different. I'm not opining on the merits of the decision but in how it was made, and that's equally important if not more so. Just to address some misinformation -- again without opining -- I don't think the H-1B program has a $60K minimum wage as you assert. The program requires your employer pay you at least the prevailing wage for your job in the geographical area. This information is maintained by the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration National Prevailing Wage Center (DOLETA NPWC), I kid you not. A prospective employer of an H-1B worker is required to file an LCA (labor conditions application) with the Department of Labor showing that they are paying at least the prevailing wage. The form is here [1]. Frankly if you search [2] you'll see a software developer would need to be paid between $95K and $175K in San Francisco depending on seniority. Sounds about right, tbh. [1] https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/ETA_Form_9035CP.pdf https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/ETA_Form_9035CP.... [2] https://flcdatacenter.com/OesQuickResults.aspx?code=15-1132&area=41884&year=19&source=1 https://flcdatacenter.com/OesQuickResults.aspx?code=15-1132&...
nl 7y ago
Everyone is pretty aware that most H1-b visa holders aren’t exactly highly-skilled labor. "Everyone is pretty aware" seems like a way of avoiding examining the facts. H1-B visas are explicitly designed for skilled labor, and most non-US citizens working in the US at places like Google and Facebook come under a H1-B visa. So.. maybe "most" aren't high skilled labor, but 90% of applicants are jobs requiring high STEM knowledge[1], so it seems like a bit of evidence to support your view here might be useful. It’s been heavily abused at this point. This is possible, but it seems like the solution would be to attack the abuse problem rather than banning the spouses of people who are doing the right thing. [1] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/27/key-facts-about-the-u-s-h-1b-visa-program/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/27/key-facts-a...

by debt 7y ago

arcticbull 7y ago

I'm trying to be very specific in not arguing about the merits of the program but in how the change was implemented and what that means. You made promises to these people and now you're breaking them (assuming you're an American, as the government acts on your behalf). You can choose not to make the promises again in the future, but that's totally different. I'm not opining on the merits of the decision but in how it was made, and that's equally important if not more so. Just to address some misinformation -- again without opining -- I don't think the H-1B program has a $60K minimum wage as you assert. The program requires your employer pay you at least the prevailing wage for your job in the geographical area. This information is maintained by the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration National Prevailing Wage Center (DOLETA NPWC), I kid you not. A prospective employer of an H-1B worker is required to file an LCA (labor conditions application) with the Department of Labor showing that they are paying at least the prevailing wage. The form is here [1]. Frankly if you search [2] you'll see a software developer would need to be paid between $95K and $175K in San Francisco depending on seniority. Sounds about right, tbh. [1] https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/ETA_Form_9035CP.pdf https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/ETA_Form_9035CP.... [2] https://flcdatacenter.com/OesQuickResults.aspx?code=15-1132&area=41884&year=19&source=1 https://flcdatacenter.com/OesQuickResults.aspx?code=15-1132&...

nl 7y ago

Everyone is pretty aware that most H1-b visa holders aren’t exactly highly-skilled labor. "Everyone is pretty aware" seems like a way of avoiding examining the facts. H1-B visas are explicitly designed for skilled labor, and most non-US citizens working in the US at places like Google and Facebook come under a H1-B visa. So.. maybe "most" aren't high skilled labor, but 90% of applicants are jobs requiring high STEM knowledge[1], so it seems like a bit of evidence to support your view here might be useful. It’s been heavily abused at this point. This is possible, but it seems like the solution would be to attack the abuse problem rather than banning the spouses of people who are doing the right thing. [1] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/27/key-facts-about-the-u-s-h-1b-visa-program/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/27/key-facts-a...