Bill Gates: Remove Limits on H1-B Visas

Thursday, March 08, 2007

By NANCY ZUCKERBROD, AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told Congress on Wednesday that overhauls of the nation's schools and immigration laws are urgently needed to keep jobs from going overseas. "The U.S. cannot maintain its economic leadership unless our work force consists of people who have the knowledge and skills needed to drive innovation," Gates told the Senate committee that oversees labor and education issues.

Gates said the nation's economy depends on keeping the country's borders open to highly skilled workers, especially those with a science or engineering background. Federal law provides 65,000 H1-B visas for scientists, engineers, computer programmers and other professionals every budget year. High-tech and other employers say that's not enough.

"Even though it may not be realistic, I don't think there should be any limit," Gates said, adding that Microsoft hasn't been able to fill approximately 3,000 technical jobs in the United States because of a shortage of skilled workers.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, said the issue would be addressed when Congress takes up broad immigration reform legislation this session. President Bush has expressed support for raising the visa cap.

Gates _ who is No. 1 on Forbes magazine's list of richest Americans _ also told the committee in response to a question that he opposes repeal of the federal estate tax. Current law will phase out the tax by 2010, but without further action by Congress it will be restored at a 55 percent rate in 2011.

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2007Mar08/0,4675,CongressBillGates,00.html

Bill Gates: We need more H-1B visas REUTERS[ THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008 11:19:22 AM] WASHINGTON: Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates asked Congress on Wednesday for more visas for skilled professionals, echoing arguments often made by many in the tech sector. Gates told the US House of Representatives' Science and Technology Committee that the 65,000 H-1B visas allotted for professional workers annually was inadequate, pointing out the 2007 quota was filled on the first day they became available. Gates argued that the United States had the best schools, especially in engineering and computer science. "The majority of the students in the computer science department are foreign-born," said the Microsoft founder, adding they were often unable to get visas to stay. "The preference for a company like Microsoft is to hire these people." Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, said Microsoft and other companies wanted more H-1B visas because foreign-born workers were cheaper. In order to hire enough Americans, he said, "you'd have to raise wages."

Bill Gates: We need more H-1B visas REUTERS[ THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008 11:19:22 AM] WASHINGTON: Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates asked Congress on Wednesday for more visas for skilled professionals, echoing arguments often made by many in the tech sector. Gates told the US House of Representatives' Science and Technology Committee that the 65,000 H-1B visas allotted for professional workers annually was inadequate, pointing out the 2007 quota was filled on the first day they became available. Gates argued that the United States had the best schools, especially in engineering and computer science. "The majority of the students in the computer science department are foreign-born," said the Microsoft founder, adding they were often unable to get visas to stay. "The preference for a company like Microsoft is to hire these people." Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, said Microsoft and other companies wanted more H-1B visas because foreign-born workers were cheaper. In order to hire enough Americans, he said, "you'd have to raise wages."

i wish they really remove the capping...life would be so easy for us nepalese student..

I wish they would provide direct Green Card once a person graduate from school in this way no one would have to worry about the status ......

If 65000 H1B cap is utilize propery, we would have enough to cover for people who wants to apply H1B.... There are so many agencies are misusing H1B quota .......

Bill Gates as well as most American's do not know how and who are misusing the H1B quota .........

 

Yada yada yada  They had covered this on Lou Dobbs' show (CNN) yesterday and the guy just blasted on the whole presentation by Gates to the congress.  The guy said something to the effect of asking Mr. Gates if he thought that the US Congress was filled with fools.  haahahha   All in all, especially at this time of economic uncertainty, low consumer demand feuled by the housing crisis, growing unemployment and a recession looming, the H1B cap is IMO not going to be removed anytime soon.  You can all keep hoping...hopes sometimes can come true, my friend!!

God i finally can disaggree with bill gates thought.... h1b cap is not a problem...Giving away the H1-B to wrong person is the main problem..i dnt knw if bill gate knw that half the IT workers these dayz are not frm the IT backgorund...

Removing the H1-b Cap would let lotta indians get more h1 than any other national..for sure... eventually jobs would be filled by more indian nationals.. that would certainly lead nepalese ppl without job even though they have H1-B...

so i think it would be better if they have good screen before giving h1 b like there education bg for their work(not all electric and mechanical engineer,biotech, psychology,socialogy majors get h1 frm IT company.i dnt mind if they get visa on their own field.also i heard an ex hawaldar frm india is working as IT consulant here)....And more i would prefer they give priority to those ppl who got degree frm US colleges rather than the person frm indian village who can't even speak in english...

PS: if there is shortage of workers in USA,,why are there too many IT consultant in bench right now??....

yes, non IT person after getting ridiculous 3 months training, interviewed to one and sending others at job, false 5 yrs, false resume,  experience all those non sense going on by these mushroom IT consultancies.

Mr java,

what the hell are you talking about? trust be bro, even for IT graduate, they have to go through the same process like other non IT people do, that is through consultancy, and 3 months ridiculous  training, and so on like you wrote......Seems like you are with IT background, thats why you sound bit proud with what you have achieved... But think, what kind of field is IT, even a NON-IT one can do it with just 3 months training, that means, your 4 yrs of studies in America in IT, just got wasted....

Also, seems like NON IT people are doing good with only 3 months of training... too bad, bro.... by the way, i have nothing to do with IT, i am an accountant, but i didn't like your show-off, pride, and ego.... PEACE Bro,

 P.s. don't worry, things will be alrite, and you will get a job, but take my advice, go through those musroom  IT consultancy.. will work for you....

nobody hires you for nothing buddy!. Non-IT Folks with 3 months of training produce same result as IT folks.

Don't blame those IT companies. there's nothing unethical about that.