The issue, as I see it, is that startups account for a pitiable number of the overall H1B Visa count. For that matter, engineering powerhouses in general accoun

The issue, as I see it, is that startups account for a pitiable number of the overall H1B Visa count. For that matter, engineering powerhouses in general account for a small number of H1B Visa use. The majority of the visas are snatched up by multinational consulting firms that are trying to import their foreign labor for domestic work. Firms like Wipro, Infosys and Tata. Here are the numbers: http://www.myvisajobs.com/Reports/2014-H1B-Visa-Sponsor.aspx http://www.myvisajobs.com/Reports/2014-H1B-Visa-Sponsor.aspx I would propose two changes to the current regime in order to make it easier to bring top-tier talent abroad into the country. 1) Impose tougher strictures on pay requirements. This program is supposed to be used to bring in top performers. Top performers should be paid commensurately. As such, this imported labor should be paid a significant multiple of the prevailing wage, say 1.5. This has the added benefit of reducing Visa demand by firms that are simply using the program as a method to funnel their foreign workforce into the country. 2) Impose tougher checks on employee responsibilities. That is, ensure that employees aren't being taken advantage of and are in fact doing the work they were hired to do. Many people are being abused in the current H1B system by being paid below market value, as their actual responsibilities far outweigh the advertised responsibilities. Other H1B holders are promised fake jobs and essentially 'rented out' after they arrive in the country (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Silicon-Valleys-Body-Shop-Secret-280567322.html http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Silicon-Valleys-Bod...).