March 2008

This week’s question concerns the H-1B visa program for foreign workers. The U.S. government begins accepting employer’s petitions for H-1B visa workers April 1. While the current limit for H-1B visas is 65,000, technology leaders such as Microsoft chairman Bill Gates have called for Congress to increase the number of visas by 20,000 to fulfill job shortages in science and engineering. However, industry groups such as the American Engineering Association argue the visas instead give companies a reason to replace experienced U.S. engineers with lower-paid foreign engineers. The debate is likely to intensify in a declining economy. What do you think? Should the U.S. government increase the number of H-1B visas granted?
Vote here.