- How 800,000 H-1B Workers Came to the U.S.
- The Picture in Washington
- Current Laws and Policies
- Programmers Guild: The American Worker Needs Protection
- Industry Group: More STEM Grads, But H-1B Reform, Too
- The Corporate Perspective: Intel’s Approach to H-1Bs
- The Opponent: H-1Bs Pressure U.S. Wages
- The Economist: H-1Bs Are Important to the Economy
- A Guest Worker’s Perspective on H-1Bs
H-1Bs: Current Immigration Laws and Policies
Despite all of their arguments, those on both sides of the H-1B debate agree on one thing: Along with the rest of America’s approach to immigration, the program is long overdue for an overhaul. Many analysts are optimistic that House Republicans will bless the kind of comprehensive reform package that they've resisted in the past. The GOP wants to improve its standing with Latinos, the nation’s fastest-growing ethnic group, and one that overwhelmingly votes Democratic. (Of course, this assumes the current proposal makes it out of the Senate.) Will that make much difference to guest-worker programs? It’s not clear. One of the biggest sticking points is how to handle foreign workers. For its part, the White House is treading carefully, trying to steer unions and corporations toward a compromise about how many guest workers will be allowed into the U.S. each year, how much they can be paid, and whether they’ll ultimately be able to seek permanent residency. As you consider all this, remember that non-immigrant work visas cover a range of situations, as do the policies that govern them. For example, some have specific education requirements, while others demand certain skills or abilities, and still others require both. The length of stay allowed by visas also varies. For instance, the H-1B is a six-year visa that’s given in two three-year increments. The H-2A and H-2B programs for unskilled workers are typically good for a year. The L-1A visa, for high-ranking executives of foreign companies who come here to run a subsidiary, has no cap. Neither does the L-1B, for employees who have specialized knowledge about their company’s products or operations. Then there’s the H-3 visa for employees who are sent here for additional training. Let’s not leave out the categories for citizens of certain countries with which the U.S. has treaties governing visa policies. One of the most common is the E-2, which is for foreign nationals who are investing in U.S. businesses. The Special Report: