Last year (2008) Bill Gates requested US Senators to increase the limit for H1B Visa. More than 160,000 applications were submitted for 65,000 General Cap and 20,000 for Advanced Degree. USCIS haven’t made any announcement regarding H1B Visa application for this year (2009). But, there are some proposals and bills that could be introduced to boost US Economy.
Green Cards to H1B Workers
There is an thread in Immigration Voice about granting Green Cards to current H1B Visa workers, but under following conditions
- They should buy home by paying 20% down payment
- Should have lived in US in H1B for 3 years or more
So, that will help many non-immigrants in H1B Visa to buy a home who are hesitating to invest in home.Maybe some 50,000 or more homes can be sold.
More Tax Revenue to US
Another argument is to increase the number of H1B Visa to get more tax revenue. In IT industry an entry level software engineer gets paid around $40,000 to $60,000 per year and they pay Income taxes. So, increasing number of H1B Visa will increase tax revenue.
But this can be looked in two different ways. People who have lost jobs in this market are not going to like the idea of increasing the number of H1B Visas. When you have a family and lost your job, only then you will realize how difficult is to survive. So, that claim is also valid. For someone living paycheck to paycheck life is going to be very hard.
At the same time, people who are applying to H1B, the argument is in other direction.I’m not going to discuss more than the thoughts of 2 different people. Readers can decide and pen down the thoughts.
We’d like to hear your Comments and thoughts.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The country needs all the revenue it can get. But at what cost? Increasing the limit of H1B quotas could make it more difficult for unemployed Americans. If so, then the economy still takes a hit.
better to give GC for all those who r already here its not a good idea to increase H1B quota now since already so many people without jobs.to be frank we r waiting for for GC since 3 yrs we want to buy a home tooo …..
you are being selfish here…
think if you would have said these words if you were in my position….
1. Have a masters degree from a reputed US university (3 yrs of stress)
2. Found a job in this economy
3. Keeping crossed fingers for H1….
and you say otherwise…..never seen such a selfish person in my life…