In recent headlines, the H-1B visa has come become a debatable topic. The number of visas distributed to skilled workers (H-1B) and who receives them, and whether the United States should increase or decrease the amount. Currently, the H-1B visa system is structure to administer 65,000 H-1B visas (Services, H-1B Fiscal Years (FY) 2014 Cap Season). According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration, 124,000 petitions were received during the 2013 fiscal year. (Services, H-1B Fiscal Years (FY) 2014 Cap Season). Some are suggesting that we need more skilled immigrant labor within our country for innovative and entrepreneurial exploration, while others are opposed to such a change and would prefer a decrease in the number of H-1B visas distributed, or are content with the current number of visas distributed. Such a decision requires research, and investigating in order to make a sound decision, on what is the best option. This paper discusses the purpose of H-1B visas, the main participants, the policy issue with the number of H-1B visas distributed, policy options and their costs and benefits, the importance, and the economic implications .
In the United States, an individual who is a citizen of a foreign country, who would like to travel to the United States, can do so through several avenues (Affairs). One way is through obtaining an H-1B visa. H-1B is a visa that allows an individual to be sponsored by a corporation, in which the individual lives and works in the United States, for a maximum of six (6) years. The individual must have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher, and has specialized skills and or knowledge. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring firm to provide all the necessary document...
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as the leading economy in the world. As a result of a continued growth in population, there is a need of an increased workforce or professionals to offer services to the population. The sectors that might be affected because of increase in population include the health sector, education and R&D. By providing legal status for immigrants to work, the country will have enough human capital to use in the aforementioned sectors since the native-born professionals alone cannot serve an ever-increasing population in the United States (Becerra, Androff and Ayon 112). Providing legal status to undocumented immigrants in the United States is important in terms of the economy realizing maximum output.
The evidence shows that in the long run, immigrants do not reduce native employment rates. But some evidence suggests that in the short run, immigration may slightly reduce native employment because the economy takes the time to adjust to new immigration. Importantly, this effect varies according to the broader economic environment. In particular, when the economy is growing and the labor market is adding jobs, new immigration creates enough jobs even in the short run (and even for the less-educated) to cause no harm to the net employment of native-born workers. But during economic downturns, things do not adjust as quickly. When the economy is weak, new immigration has a small negative impact in the short run on the employment of native-born workers. (Costa)
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Increasing the number of H-1B visas will benefit the overall American economy, however, reform of the current system should erase the possibility of suboptimal treatment inflicted by U.S. employers. The need for H-1B visa reform is critical to American comprehensive immigration reform. The H-1B program brings highly specialized talent to the United States and promotes economic growth and technological innovation. The current system in place does not assure foreign workers’ rights, ultimately making the United States an undesirable location for the world’s brightest.
Illegal immigration was an issue in the past and is a pressing problem in the present. The U.S. Government has been trying to find a resolution to this issue for years. The United States approved the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986, which allowed the American Government to punish American companies that consciously employed illegal immigrants (Nadadur 1037-1052). The United States’ Government Immigration Reform and Control Act has been unsuccessful in controlling illegal immigration. It is estimated that illegal immigration into the U.S. has a yearly interval of three hundred fifty thousand people (Rousmaniere 24-25). It is apparent that the 1986 act was not able to keep a handle on illegal immigration. Illegal immigration continues due to the fact that immigrants only take the jobs available to them, which in turn helps support the United States’ economy, so measures should not be taken to halt immigration.
The United States of America is the best place for immigration. The history proved that the United States was the dream land, the place of chances. That started when Europeans escaped form their countries because there were no jobs and no safe places to live. America became the best choice for people who were looking for political asylum, jobs, or freedom, but after a few generations something changed the Americans look to immigrants as strangers and they forgot where they are from because America is multicultural place and immigration movement should be understandable, but this is not the case. Governments should develop good laws for immigrants by giving rights to immigrants to stay in America, to protect them, and to allow people who deserve to come to America.
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Immigrants are important for the American economic, strength and development. For instance, if an immigrant who comes from Asia and he opens a small Asian restaurant, and hire more employees to facilitate his restaurant and his employee start to pay taxes, so the USA is beneficial from it. Another example, according to , the Fiscal Policy Institute small business, immigrants owned businesses create jobs for American workers and their employed an estimated 4.7 million people in 2007 , and these small businesses generate more than $776 billion for the country annually .In addition, many immigrants start a business and build American economy . Immigrants have higher than to non immigrants to start a new business. For example , according to the Small Business Administration , immigrants are 30% more likely to start a business in the USA than non-immigrants , and 18% of all small business owner in the United States are immigrants and generate large amounts of money for the country .(”Jason Furman, Danielle Gray, 2012.” ) In the same way, according to a paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, immigrants were responsible for one third of explosive growth in patenting per capital in the 1990s, and these innovations contributed to increasing U.S growth domestic product 2.4 percent. In general according to the
"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.