Support for immigration reform comes from Corporate America as well as grassroots activists and some lawmakers, if recent comments by one of Google’s top executives are typical.
Speaking at the conservative think tank the American Enterprise Institute, Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt called on Congress to allow more highly skilled foreign nationals to come and work in the United States. He said limiting the access educated people with technical skills have to enter this country to work for American countries is a poor policy.
Comparing the availability of educational visas versus work visas, in particular the H-1B visa, Schmidt painted a picture of U.S. immigration policy that educates non-residents, then makes them leave the country to find a job. Those skilled workers end up starting companies that compete with U.S. corporations. “Brilliant strategy,” Schmidt said sarcastically.
Instead, Schmidt believes that Congress should increase the number of H-1B visas the government gives out each year. This would bring more educated entrepreneurs to the U.S. to create jobs.
A bill in the Senate would raise the annual cap on H-1B visas from 65,000 to between 115,000 to 195,000. However, opposition to the proposal is strong, according to the Seattle Times.
Only certain types of workers qualify for an H-1B visa. Other forms of work-based residency status, such as the L-1A or L-1B, could be more appropriate for an immigrant a Florida employer is trying to bring into the country. An immigration attorney can advise those looking to change their immigration status, or otherwise needs advice.
