Tech worker visa boost might be coming soon
When it comes to recruiting technology workers, no legal issue is more talked-about than worker visa quotas. But there are a couple of laws moving through Congress that could make it easier to find tech talent.
Since 2003, the number of H1-B visas for foreign workers has been capped at 65,000. Those are visas for “highly skilled” employees, most of which go to technology workers. But, employers and industry experts say, there aren’t enough to go around. For example, last year, all 65,000 spots were filled on the first day applications were accepted.
Therefore, some say, there’s a pool of talent out there that American employers just don’t have access to. But, two different bills have recently been introduced to Congress that would raise the cap significantly.
One would raise the number to 195,000 for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The other would put the cap at 130,000 for the next few years, and then 180,000 from 2010 through 2015, as long the quota is actually met each year.
Both are currently being reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee, and experts say it’s likely one them will be enacted. We’ll keep you posted.
Read more about the issue here.
