A new study from the National Foundation for American Policy, shows that U.S. tech companies are relying more on skilled foreign workers using H-1B visas, while Indian outsourcing firms are losing their previous stronghold in the area.
According to the study, four U.S. tech companies – Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, and Google – were among the top 10 employers for approved H-1B applications in FY 2017 (which ended September 30), and they all saw increases of more than 10 percent from the previous year.
Amazon saw a nearly 80 percent increase in approved H-1B visa applications from the year before, reflecting its growth in the U.S. Facebook saw an increase of 53 percent and Apple saw a 7 percent increase.
But the overall number of applications is going down, thanks in part to a decrease in applications from Indian outsourcing firms. Immigration attorneys who work with tech companies to file H-1B visa petitions on their behalf say there’s also been increased regulation and scrutiny since the Trump administration took over, making the application process more arduous, costing more time and money.
Overall, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received 190,098 applications for the fiscal year that begins in October 2018 (FY 2019), versus to 199,000 last year and 236,000 in FY 2017. (USCIS gives 85,000 new H-1B visas each year, with 20,000 of those set aside for those with advanced degrees.)
The top 7 Indian technology companies were given a total of 8,468 H-1B visas in FY 2017, versus 9,356 in FY 2016, a 9.5 percent drop. This follows a massive drop from FY 2015 when these companies got 14,792 H-1B visas.
One of the largest Indian-outsourcing firms, Infosys, saw a 49 percent drop between FY 2016 and FY 2017.
NASSCOM, a trade association which represents India-based IT companies, said that in recent years these companies have increased hiring in the U.S. and reduced the number of H-1B visa applications they submit.
NASSCOM adds the increased uncertainty from regulators makes it more difficult to hire foreign workers and “companies will face a choice between shifting more IT work to offshore locations, where larger talent pools are available on better terms; or delaying innovation because of the lack of local talent in the US. Cutting off access to talent will not generate more American growth, innovation, or jobs.”
Unpredictability
Brian Bumgardner, an immigration attorney at Ogletree Deakins, who works with large tech companies, says the number of applications he submitted on behalf of his clients this year and last year was pretty steady.
However, he added that the increased scrutiny has made employees more nervous.
Hiba Anver, a senior managing attorney at Erickson Immigration Group echoed that sentiment and says the slight decrease could be due to immigration related rhetoric following Trump’s election. “Since that time, there have been significant policies changes that are discouraging US companies from proceeding with H-1B cases,” she added.
This includes increased questioning from USCIS about if certain types of jobs, such as a computer systems analyst, qualify as “specialty occupations” eligible to apply for an H-1B visa. USCIS also questioned the wages of these occupations.
The executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Benjamin Johnson, said the decrease is not surprising given the “unpredictable” new policies and regulations.”
“These factors, which contribute to the administration’s ‘invisible wall’ on immigration have forced some employers out of the process, including many new and emerging companies that need specific talent to develop innovations and grow, but who can’t afford to gamble time and money on the ‘maybe’ of an H-1B visa,” Johnson said.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/20/big-american-tech-companies-are-snapping-up-h1-b-visas.html
That’s disgusting. Multi-billionaires searching the globe to save a few nickels on labor.
These dirt bags have no loyalty to this country whatsoever. It’s just a matter of “who’ll do it for less”, while Americans are turned out into the streets.
But of course, we’ve all been telling this to people for many years, and they’re not going to listen as long as they can eat, and watch TV.