The Real High-Tech Immigrant Problem: They’re Leaving?

Found out today that many H1B applicants refer to American jobs as their "American Dream". I would like to say that the "American Dream" for some may be the "American Nightmare" for a number of qualified US Citizens.

In the spirit of this blog, (promoting the idea that a "greed virus" is sapping America's economic vitality) today's discusion is focused on a rather interesting twist on the question regarding ..."is the H1B program good for America?" For today's post, I reference the following New York Times article credited to Steve Lohr:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/the-real-high-tech-immigrant-problem-theyre-leaving/#more-2659

Here's a rather provocative factoid that caught my attention in that article:

" Mr Vivek Wadhwa former technology entrepreneur who is an adjunct professor at Duke University estimates that in the last two decades, 50,000 immigrants left the United States and returned to India and China. In the next five years, he projects that 100,000 more will make the return trip. “A trickle is turning into a flood."

Well... now I would like to submit a few questions for your review:

1. Will the departure of H1B resources be a good thing or a bad thing for America?

2. Will the fact that highly educated and talented H1B people, going back to their OWN countries leave America in a technological chaotic mess ???

3. Would the departure of H1B resources be a wake up call for America?

4. Would new found focus on an upgraded education system be a good start for breaking our addiction to foreign job resources?

5. Would innovative programs that encouraging more young people to embrace math and computer sciences as a path to secure future careers be a meaningful goal for a vital US economy?

As always, your thoughts on these questions are encouraged. Cheers !

H-1B Visas and Unemployment: A Federal Case

Well folks, the drama continues about New Jersey-based Vision Systems Group. Could it be that a can of worms has been opened in the H-1B world? Let's take a closer look at the Federal case being pursued. This is today's URL reference:

http://blogs.eweek.com/careers/content001/h-1b_foreign_workers/h1-b_visas_and_unemployment_a_federal_case.html

Here's the significant question asked in this new bit of news:

"The U.S. government, at least the part that is fighting H-1B visa fraud, is looking to prove a point about the program: that fraud in H-1B visa program and the number of visa holders in U.S. tech jobs are putting current struggling American technology workers out of work."

Given the "hand in the H-1B cookie jar" that I mentioned in my last posting, the spotlight now is captured in this final quote from today's referenced article:


"The problem is that while there appears to be a strong case for fraud and abuse relating to the visa program, it is harder to substantiate the full impact on American workers and all the layoffs and unemployment occurring. The two are not dependent on each other. Layoffs would be happening regardless of whether there was an H-1B visa program or not."

As always, I don't forget the "greed virus" negative effect on business ethics and moral values. As always, I now ask for your comments out there. Cheers !