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Speaking as someone who is currently in the process of getting L1 visa status to switch to the US HQ of a startup, I applaud this move. I hear the arguments ab

Speaking as someone who is currently in the process of getting L1 visa status to switch to the US HQ of a startup, I applaud this move. I hear the arguments about well-skilled US workers who could do the same job. (Money is not a factor, I lead a global team, earn normal US wage.) There's actually only a few people who can do my job without extensive ramp up time. It's the global background and experience that is necessary. And still I am moving me and my family to the US. My wife will get a L2, will be not be allowed to work immediately (a work permit can later be applied for). Why? a) The US is the perfect ground to start a software company. Single currency, single language, single legal system. No other country comes close. Your new business can reach a scale here that is unreachable outside of US for the same effort. Start in Germany and France is your first stumbling block. b) Hence the US has the highest density of software jobs. My current job profile exists a handful of times in Europe. c) I am good in my job, my job exists in US, US companies need people like me - why would you step in between? I will pay (high) taxes immediately, won't hop the border fence or form a gang. I won't depress any wages, I am here to make money and live in the Bay Area, which is freaking expensive. What I don't get anyhow - White Americans are in the minority in IT anyhow. My current employer? More than 50% are of Chinese or Indian decent. And famous founders? A lot of Eastern Europe, Asia, etc. The world comes to the Bay to build software. Why not make this easier?

TheCoelacanth 14y ago
I don't have a problem with allowing skilled immigrants into the US. I have a huge problem with the overly favorable terms that employers get with H-1B workers. I think that once a worker has been allowed in they should be allowed to transfer jobs without having to find a new sponsor. If their skills are valuable enough to let them in, the skills should be valuable enough to let them stay.
ktsmith 14y ago
The L1 works the way it's supposed to and part of the reason there are restrictions on spouses/children working has to do with how the L1 is issued. For example I've got a client that brings L1s (blanket L1) in at a rate of 5-10 a month. These workers are here from anywhere between 10 days and several years. The US government doesn't want to issue an EAD card to the spouse of someone that's not going to be here for very long. The biggest problem with the immigration system that I have has to do with students going into the H1-B pool after graduation. We should either hand anyone that graduates with a STEM degree from a US university permanent residence upon graduation or make a new class of H visa that doesn't count against the cap. I see companies cheating but following the letter of the law all the time when they have an F1 student intern that is about to graduate and they want to keep on so they sponsor an H1 for them. This has nothing to do with wages, just the technicalities and paper work. We should be trying desperately to keep these people in the US, not making it luck of the draw if they get an H1. Any wage depression issues could be resolved if H1-B workers had to work for their employers directly and not as consultants for other employers. edit: removed bit about L1 and permanent residence, the L1 is dual intent.

TheCoelacanth 14y ago

I don't have a problem with allowing skilled immigrants into the US. I have a huge problem with the overly favorable terms that employers get with H-1B workers. I think that once a worker has been allowed in they should be allowed to transfer jobs without having to find a new sponsor. If their skills are valuable enough to let them in, the skills should be valuable enough to let them stay.

ktsmith 14y ago

The L1 works the way it's supposed to and part of the reason there are restrictions on spouses/children working has to do with how the L1 is issued. For example I've got a client that brings L1s (blanket L1) in at a rate of 5-10 a month. These workers are here from anywhere between 10 days and several years. The US government doesn't want to issue an EAD card to the spouse of someone that's not going to be here for very long. The biggest problem with the immigration system that I have has to do with students going into the H1-B pool after graduation. We should either hand anyone that graduates with a STEM degree from a US university permanent residence upon graduation or make a new class of H visa that doesn't count against the cap. I see companies cheating but following the letter of the law all the time when they have an F1 student intern that is about to graduate and they want to keep on so they sponsor an H1 for them. This has nothing to do with wages, just the technicalities and paper work. We should be trying desperately to keep these people in the US, not making it luck of the draw if they get an H1. Any wage depression issues could be resolved if H1-B workers had to work for their employers directly and not as consultants for other employers. edit: removed bit about L1 and permanent residence, the L1 is dual intent.