Immigration News

No other go than relaxing the 'arbitary'H-1B visa cap.

Federal quotas on H-1B visas, capped at 65,000 last year, have long been a sore spot for Microsoft and other technology companies. And Microsoft chairman, bill gates struck hard at U.S congress's decision to continue with restrictions in giving away H-1b visas for foreign nationals. Bill Gates addressed the general fear that Americans breed among themselves that hiring skilled workers from abroad will render them jobless. Microsoft chairman made clear that it would rather create more job opportunities for Americans by creating b grade and c grade jobs around these skilled workers which could be handled by American citizens. Gates said, the increased caliber of research institutions in China and India means that curbs on immigration and guest-workers will pose a greater threat to America's competitiveness than ever before.

Gates was on Capitol Hill to promote science education, research and development funding and to participate in a Library of Congress panel discussion with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Ver.), Rep. David Drier (R-Calif.), Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman and Phillip Bond, under secretary of commerce for technology. When asked what he would do if he could make the laws, Gates quickly stated: "I'd certainly get rid of the H1B cap."

The other factor that American congressmen keeps forgetting is if they don't raise the visa cap then American tech companies will ship hundreds and thousands of jobs overseas through offshoring.The companies can simply relocate their headquarters outside of the U.S. and then hire whomever they like. IBM (NYSE: IBM) last year relocated its entire purchasing operation from upstate New York to China-- chief purchasing officer included -- to get closer to its supply base. Also, oil industry services company Halliburton confirmed that it's moving its HQ from Houston to Dubai.

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