US Lawmaker's Bill To Double H-1B Visas To Benefit Indian Techies

US Lawmaker's Bill To Double H-1B Visas To Benefit Indian Techies

Shiva Boyapati Shiva Boyapati

Shiva Boyapati

Serial IT Entrepreneur | Angel Investor

发布日期: 2023年7月24日
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An association representing more than 2,100 small and mid-size IT companies in the US, predominantly owned and operated by Indian Americans, has appealed to lawmakers to double the H-1B visa quota from 65,000 to 130,000 per year. The move comes in response to a severe shortage of highly skilled workers in the country.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields requiring theoretical or technical expertise, with many technology companies relying on this program to recruit talent from countries like India and China.

Recently, more than 240 members of the association, known as ITServe, gathered in the US Capitol for their inaugural in-person Congressional advocacy day. During the event, they sought to inform Congressmen and Senators about the pressing issue of the scarcity of highly skilled professionals in the US, which is significantly affecting their businesses and undermining America's competitive advantage.

In addition to advocating for an increase in the H-1B visa cap, ITServe is also pushing for higher investment in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) within the US. By bolstering STEM education, they aim to develop a larger pool of highly skilled workers domestically, reducing the need for extensive reliance on foreign talent.

Coinciding with ITServe's advocacy efforts, Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced the High-Skilled Immigration Reform for Employment (HIRE) Act. This proposed legislation seeks to enhance US competitiveness by addressing the skills gap through two primary measures:

Additional Funding: The act would allocate more resources to strengthen STEM education programs in elementary and secondary schools in the US, preparing a more skilled workforce for the future job market.

Increased H-1B Visas: The HIRE Act proposes to double the annual number of available H-1B visas to 130,000, providing American employers, especially those in critical technology sectors, greater access to top talent from across the globe.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi emphasized the importance of both cultivating the domestic workforce and attracting international talent to maintain the US's leadership in technology and innovation.

ITServe, representing over 2,100 US IT companies across 23 states, makes significant contributions to the American economy, generating over 175,000 high-skilled jobs and contributing $12 billion to the country's GDP.

The association highlights the urgent need for high-skilled immigration to bridge the existing skills gap in the US IT industry. They assert that, while nurturing domestic talent remains crucial, recruiting highly skilled individuals from around the world is vital to sustaining the nation's tech leadership and fostering a thriving startup ecosystem.

In conclusion, ITServe's Congressional advocacy aims to draw attention to the ongoing skills gap in the US and propose solutions such as increasing the H-1B visa quota and bolstering STEM education. By promoting these initiatives, they seek to ensure a robust and competitive IT industry and foster continued innovation in the United States.

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