4 ms·

I am a naturalized US citizen and I know how painful this whole thing is for immigrants. However, H1B visa has outlived its purpose and was designed in early 19

I am a naturalized US citizen and I know how painful this whole thing is for immigrants. However, H1B visa has outlived its purpose and was designed in early 1990s which doesn't apply today. THe fraud happens because of how the system is designed which encourages fraudsters. We should abolish H1B visa and add a merit based system (like other countries) where you need to be highly skilled, educated etc to gain entry to the US to work legally and are free to work for any employer and get Green Card in say 3 years after working successfully, paying taxes and becoming a good citizen overall without being convicted of a crime. They should get a min. salary that is over market for the area and adjusted for inflation every year so that they cannot be low balled just to come to the country. For example, if you find an employer in Bay Area, you should get Bay Area salary and not Idaho. This would not interfere with American citizens who think they are being replaced with cheaper workers because it will encourage competition and no issue with cheaper salaries. Win Win.

manuelabeledo 3y ago
> We should abolish H1B visa and add a merit based system (like other countries) where you need to be highly skilled, educated etc to gain entry to the US to work legally and are free to work for any employer [...] They should get a min. salary that is over market for the area and adjusted for inflation every year so that they cannot be low balled just to come to the country. I had to file paperwork for a H-1B application not that long ago, and this is exactly what it looks like, right now. I don't know if people are under the impression that the H-1B program allows unskilled immigrants to enter the US, where then are practically enslaved by companies paying them poverty wages. That is absolutely not true. H-1B applications tied to employment have to abide to prevailing wage rates, applicants need to provide proof of education and working experience, and they can switch jobs as anyone else would.
- codegeek 3y ago
  The point is that H1B process is too restrictive and not reasonable for both sides. The paperwork is the problem. The idea that you have to first show that there is no American is ridiculous. Instead, let them compete with Americans directly for the job. That's the point I am trying to make.
lukeschlather 3y ago
We don't need to abolish H1B. Just bump the minimum salary to $120k, index it to inflation, and make it so anyone in good standing can easily get a green card at the end of their first 3-year term. That's basically what you're asking for with minimal changes to the program.
- packetlost 3y ago
  $120k is a very high salary in most parts of the country. You really need to adjust for CoL
  - lukeschlather 3y ago
    Why? There's an artificial limit placed on the number of H1Bs. My goal here isn't to evenly distribute H1Bs throughout the US, it's to make sure that H1Bs aren't exploited and also that they don't depress wages for Americans. Adjusting for CoL just helps depress wages. It also helps exploit H1Bs since it's actually pretty hard if you decide you want to leave the country to afford a plane ticket to go back home on short notice.
- shagie 3y ago
  The H-1B is for all specialized jobs that require a college degree. Nurses, accountants, and teachers to name a few. Putting the minimum to $120k would increase the shortages that are experienced in other career fields that also fall under the H-1B.
  - lukeschlather 3y ago
    The shortages are very simply a result of depressed wages. Leaving the H1B wage so low helps depress wages. Also, adjusted for inflation the original H1B salary cap should be about $110k now anyway.
    - shagie 3y ago
      Rural Areas Brace for a Shortage of Doctors Due to Visa Policy - https://www.fosterglobal.com/blog/rural-areas-brace-for-a-shortage-of-doctors-due-to-visa-policy/ https://www.fosterglobal.com/blog/rural-areas-brace-for-a-sh... > H-1B recipients also include foreign physicians who practice in places shunned by American doctors for personal and professional reasons. > About 25 percent of all physicians practicing or training in the United States are foreign, but in some inner cities and most rural areas, that share is significantly higher. The medical shortage isn't entirely about depressed wages but rather people not wanting to live and work in inner city Chicago or rural North Dakota. Being a GP isn't a job that one can telecommute easily for. The shortages of people working as teachers and medical field - careers where location maters - are sometimes difficult to staff because people don't want to live in Fargo.

manuelabeledo 3y ago

> We should abolish H1B visa and add a merit based system (like other countries) where you need to be highly skilled, educated etc to gain entry to the US to work legally and are free to work for any employer [...] They should get a min. salary that is over market for the area and adjusted for inflation every year so that they cannot be low balled just to come to the country. I had to file paperwork for a H-1B application not that long ago, and this is exactly what it looks like, right now. I don't know if people are under the impression that the H-1B program allows unskilled immigrants to enter the US, where then are practically enslaved by companies paying them poverty wages. That is absolutely not true. H-1B applications tied to employment have to abide to prevailing wage rates, applicants need to provide proof of education and working experience, and they can switch jobs as anyone else would.

codegeek 3y ago
The point is that H1B process is too restrictive and not reasonable for both sides. The paperwork is the problem. The idea that you have to first show that there is no American is ridiculous. Instead, let them compete with Americans directly for the job. That's the point I am trying to make.

lukeschlather 3y ago

We don't need to abolish H1B. Just bump the minimum salary to $120k, index it to inflation, and make it so anyone in good standing can easily get a green card at the end of their first 3-year term. That's basically what you're asking for with minimal changes to the program.

packetlost 3y ago
$120k is a very high salary in most parts of the country. You really need to adjust for CoL
- lukeschlather 3y ago
  Why? There's an artificial limit placed on the number of H1Bs. My goal here isn't to evenly distribute H1Bs throughout the US, it's to make sure that H1Bs aren't exploited and also that they don't depress wages for Americans. Adjusting for CoL just helps depress wages. It also helps exploit H1Bs since it's actually pretty hard if you decide you want to leave the country to afford a plane ticket to go back home on short notice.
shagie 3y ago
The H-1B is for all specialized jobs that require a college degree. Nurses, accountants, and teachers to name a few. Putting the minimum to $120k would increase the shortages that are experienced in other career fields that also fall under the H-1B.
- lukeschlather 3y ago
  The shortages are very simply a result of depressed wages. Leaving the H1B wage so low helps depress wages. Also, adjusted for inflation the original H1B salary cap should be about $110k now anyway.
  - shagie 3y ago
    Rural Areas Brace for a Shortage of Doctors Due to Visa Policy - https://www.fosterglobal.com/blog/rural-areas-brace-for-a-shortage-of-doctors-due-to-visa-policy/ https://www.fosterglobal.com/blog/rural-areas-brace-for-a-sh... > H-1B recipients also include foreign physicians who practice in places shunned by American doctors for personal and professional reasons. > About 25 percent of all physicians practicing or training in the United States are foreign, but in some inner cities and most rural areas, that share is significantly higher. The medical shortage isn't entirely about depressed wages but rather people not wanting to live and work in inner city Chicago or rural North Dakota. Being a GP isn't a job that one can telecommute easily for. The shortages of people working as teachers and medical field - careers where location maters - are sometimes difficult to staff because people don't want to live in Fargo.