U.S. employers are demanding skilled foreign workers

On Behalf of | Nov 27, 2015 | Employment Immigration |

At Cuevas, Garcia & Torres, P.A., we are familiar with the concerns of immigrants who come to Miami and other parts of the United States to pursue employment. One of the ways you might be allowed to work in the country is by obtaining an H-1B visa. These employment visas are reserved for those with skills in a certain field, such as mathematics, science, engineering or architecture.

It’s worth noting that the demand for H-1B visas have exceeded availability. According to The Wall Street Journal, last April employers applied for more skilled-worker visas in the first week they were available than were allotted for the entire year, prompting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to utilize a lottery for qualified candidates. This was the third year in a row that petitions for H-1B visas exceeded availability in under a week. Demand for H-1B visas has risen significantly since the recession, when requests had previously been much lower.

Your potential employer might apply for these visas to fill positions when there are no qualified American citizens to take them. Since an employer request for an H1B visa may be costly, a specific job candidate is usually considered beforehand. Many companies have lobbied the government to expand the number of skilled-worker visas allowed each year.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about too many H-1B visas, however. Detractors say that companies are hiring cheaper foreign nationals to replace American workers, or using the program to bring trainees here, then send them back to their home countries for outsourcing.

Despite the mixture of opinions regarding H-1B visas, it may be worth looking into the program if you have a job skill that is currently in demand. For more information on working in the United States, visit our page on immigrant visas.

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