Thread: Economic downturn~yet record immigrant approvals

Am I missing something here

WE are in an economic downturn and yet our immigration Service is approving new applicants as fast as they can , even forgoing backround
checks to speed up the process

With Americans in jeopardy of losing jobs and homes , is not our
immigration service suppose to cut back on immigration in these times

What am I missing ?

Your missing the fact that Big Business, the Chamber of Commerce, and all those who benefit from cheap labor in the name of exhorbant profits run this country! Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with making a profit, but Greed is a whole different animal!

The last time we were heading into a recession, and the layoffs had already started, Congress in a last-minute session raised the yearly cap for H-1B guestworkers from 65K to nearly 200k, and left it there till it sunsetted in 2003. Many of the people who are howling for their green cards came in during that surge back then. Lobbyists are trying to lift the cap again, now that mass layoffs have surged. Deja vue all over again. H-1Bs come for the skilled, higher paying white collar jobs that were supposed to console us for the loss of American manufacturing. Many of the openings are reserved for them, never even advertised where we might see the opening and apply.

And... add to Betsy's comments...

...Even *if* you were fortunately enough to be aware of said opening, and assuming you had bothered to formally apply, would you be given serious consideration, or would the entire process be merely a token foregone conclusion (hint: read my signature line below)...

Actually, and more on topic, usanevada raises a valid point: shouldn't the number of visas granted be somehow tied to economic factors (eg. 'indexed') in the US in any given year?

We tie cost of living increases for many retired SS recipients to yearly inflation, etc. Why shouldn't we do the same for immigration-related visas?

Immigrants (in the context of this thread and recent announcement from the USCIS regarding name check process) refers to all those who are applying for adjustment of status. Family based (more than 800,000) per year, and ALL employment based programs (limited to 140,000) per year.

ALIPAC is meant to be for legal immigration yet it would appear that there is great dissent among its members for the H visas in particular. Never any dissent against the L program which precludes the need for advertising at any point in the immigration process.

Since the original intent of the H-1B was to temporarily fill spot shortages, wouldn't mass layoffs of American tech people free up more than enough talent to fill new openings? But when this was pointed out, visa holders started visiting our discussion boards and claiming that it was because we were no good. Of course, the shoe is on the other foot now, between the downturn and the rising rupee they are having mass layoffs in Asia now, with all the bitter accusations and insinuations we had to endure. Karma I suppose.

The L-1 program is less known, but even more subject to abuse than the H-1B. It was the mass of H-1Bs that hit our beaches first, before we even knew what was happening. There is no cap on the L-1, but more restrictions on duration and placement, and no portability.

Originally Posted by BetsyRoss

Since the original intent of the H-1B was to temporarily fill spot shortages, wouldn't mass layoffs of American tech people free up more than enough talent to fill new openings? But when this was pointed out, visa holders started visiting our discussion boards and claiming that it was because we were no good. Of course, the shoe is on the other foot now, between the downturn and the rising rupee they are having mass layoffs in Asia now, with all the bitter accusations and insinuations we had to endure. Karma I suppose.

The L-1 program is less known, but even more subject to abuse than the H-1B. It was the mass of H-1Bs that hit our beaches first, before we even knew what was happening. There is no cap on the L-1, but more restrictions on duration and placement, and no portability.

Of course you are correct a downturn will affect everyone as it should. Not all H1B's are in the tech industry though.

While there is more restriction on the duration of the L visas these candidates can apply for green card without any labor adverts at all so can transfer to permanent resident in a relatively short space of time and within their time limits.

No argument from me on the issue of L (transfer) visas. I know first-hand of abuses done by large multinationals operating in the US (per close family member).

Just to be sure everyone is aware: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/co ... _computers

Lots of beans spilled in the comments section too.

BTW the employee who sparked the lawsuit against Tata was an L-1 - the company was making their Indian employees working in America sign over their tax refunds back to the company, was the allegation.