User Comments

bc on Feb 28, 2007 at 04:28:15 said:

I am on H1B visa and kind of understand the concern American citizen has because you guys are not paying as much as you were. However my friends, with internet and globalization the competition will be tough too with global market. The world is getting flatten, the labor will get cheaper every day..thats the good thing for we all consumer...America should not worry about h1b, but needs to worry more for companey like samsung, sony, toshiba, against whome American companey has to compete. Its very hard to compete with Samsung with the American expected salary. And if we do not compete then we loose market share. Now tell me what is better for country. Think about H1B with master degree, education spending, paying taxes since 7 years, brought house, broght car, lots of thing, America benefited and now no green card because you came from India..just because I came from India. people from other country can come illegally with no tax pay is fine..irony of life,,,

DrGeneNelson on Feb 22, 2007 at 09:58:34 said:

The U.S. scientist and engineer glut was documented in the NYT 15 years ago.

An award-winning science writer for the New York Times highlighted the problems in a front - page article in the science section of the NYT on March 10, 1992. The title of Malcolm W. Browne's article was Amid 'Shortage,' Young Physicists See Few Jobs.

First sentence: Even as leading scientists warn that America's educational system is failing to produce scientists fast enough to fill a glaring projected shortage, many young physicists contend that universities are already turning out far more physicists than there are permanent jobs....813 physicists applied for a single job on the (Amherst) college's physics faculty....Senior physicists contend that an advanced degree in physics (means that the young physicsts could become) plumbers.....Major commercial laboratories that once employed many full-time scientists now prefer postdoctoral students working as temporary employees.....Immigration policy criticized (The immigration act of 1990, which created the H-1B visa - GN)......

Last paragraph..... "The generation born in the 1950s was drawn to physics during the heady post-Sputnik era, when Federal money was pouring into the field," said Dr. Robert L. Park of the American Physical Society, "Now, the population bubble from the 1950s is going through the system, just when the job market is worst. The grim truth is for the next five years the good jobs in physics will be hard to come by. (Make that fifteen plus years - GN) "They could become a lost generation," Dr. Park said, "Even worse will be the loss to the nation of all that scientific talent." Unfortunately, as this author noted in a quote in the December 5, 1994 Newsweek article, "No Ph.D.s Need Apply," all of this talent is being "thrown away like yesterday's newspaper."

Too bad that NYT investigative science journalists like Malcolm W. Browne have retired.

Dr Gene Nelson on Feb 22, 2007 at 03:28:43 said:

Here's some useful history from 14 years ago for NAM readers:

Back in 1993, before The Wall Street Journal began exploiting the special visa programs that arose from the Immigration Act of 1990, they covered the issue of the glut of U.S. scientists and engineers.

See: Black Hole Opens In Scientist Job Rolls, by G. Pascal Zachary, Page B-1, April 14, 1993.

A generation of physical scientists is learning that the most
important rule of nature is the law of supply and demand.

Only a few years ago, the idea of a glut of physical scientists
was considered absurd. Most politicians and educators loudly
called for more scientists, citing presumed industrial benefits.
Now with industry, academia and government labs curtailing
hiring, "no one would say there is a shortage," says Kenneth M.
Brown, resources director at the National Science Foundation.

Indeed, the oversupply of physical scientists -- chemists,
astronomers, physicists and mathematicians -- could go on for
many years. Unemployment among physical scientists is estimated
at less than 3%, but the level has doubled in three years. Math
and physics show the highest levels of joblessness in nearly 20
years. Chemists over the age of 50 and in the petroleum industry
have been especially hard hit, the American Chemical Society
says.

At the moment, biologists and related researchers appear to have
better prospects than physical scientists. That's because of the
maturing of the biotechnology industry and increased government
funding on research such as the Human Genome Project, says Betty
Vetter, executive director of the Commission on Professionals in
Science and Technology.

Among those facing the most dire prospects in the physical
sciences are holders of newly minted doctorates. Nearly 13% of
new Ph.D. recipients in mathematics, for instance, are
unemployed, the highest level since 1975.

And even young scientists in such hot areas as computing are
finding fewer job offers, forcing them to consider less glamorous
posts at industrial labs. "It used to be that the top Ph.D.s
coming out of Stanford, MIT and places like that had faculty jobs
waiting for them," says David Liddle, president of Interval
Research Corp., a private lab in Palo Alto, Calif.

The situation for scientists is so dire because of three
converging factors: cutbacks by corporations that once maintained
lavish basic research but are now concentrating on applied
development; the sharp decline in funding for some Big Science
and military research projects, such as Star Wars and the Space
Station; the availability of first-rate scientists from the
former Soviet Union.

"We are facing a classic industrial problem," says Rustom Roy, a
materials scientist at Pennsylvania State University and a critic
of generous government subsidies to scientists. "In the past, we
overbuilt capacity. . . .We don't need any more science."

Aggravating the situation is the availability of thousands of
Russian scientists who work in their native land for as little as
$100 a month. And the best of the Russians are landing faculty
posts in the U.S., in many cases edging out U.S. citizens. (A far
lesser number from other former Eastern bloc countries are too).
Major U.S. universities defend the practice of hiring Russians,
even at the expense of qualified U.S. candidates. "We want to
hire the best people we can get, period," says Lawrence C. Evans,
a mathematician at the University of California at Berkeley.

Science advocates argue that the influx of foreigners strengthens
the U.S. They say the difficulties facing many U.S. scientists
facing are temporary.

"It's hard to imagine a world where we need fewer" scientists,
says Robert Park, an executive with the American Society of
Physics who believes the U.S. can always benefit from training
more scientists.

But some struggling young physicists might argue with him.
Consider Gene Nelson, a 41-year-old physicist in Middleburg
Heights, Ohio. Mr. Nelson is an instructor at a nearby community
college earning $300 a week with no fringe benefits. He says he
can't find a better job. "I've had people say to me: Rewrite your
resume, leave out your Ph.D., and you might get a job," he adds.

In his last job, Mr. Nelson earned $50,000 a year designing
medical diagnostic devices but was let go when his employer
canceled his project. He then launched a company to supply
handwriting-recognition software for computers but left the
business after spending much of his savings. Next he sought
engineering jobs, but gave up soon after a company that makes
toilets for yachts turned him down for a post as a designer.

Mr. Nelson is qualified for many engineering jobs -- all too
qualified. Employers think he has the wrong skills. "I'm nervous
about bringing on a Ph.D.," says Ed McKiernan, president of
Sealand Technology Inc., the Big Prairie, Ohio, toilet maker that
decided against hiring Mr. Nelson. Since Sealand relies on just a
few designers, the team must hew to a conventional path. "We're
not set up for someone designing a futuristic sanitation device
for the 21st century," Mr. McKiernan says.

Still, a Ph.D. in physics carries great weight with some
companies. Microsoft Corp., a maker of computer software, employs
about 50 physics Ph.D.s. But physicists at Microsoft are writing
software, not doing physics.

Other physicists have moved into even more remote fields. After a
few years of failing to land a permanent job, Kevin Aylesworth
abandoned physics in 1992 to take a job with a law firm as a
technical consultant. Though he earns more than $75,000 by
"applying some of my specialized knowledge," he is still bitter
about his stunted career in physics and blames the science
establishment for creating the false impression that there are
not enough scientists to go around.

Unlike Mr. Aylesworth, many newly minted physics Ph.D.s will do
almost anything to stay in their field. One common practice is to
accept a series of postdoctorate fellowships, originally designed
as a hiatus between permanent jobs. Postdocs can receive salaries
in the $40,000 range plus health insurance, but often these slots
must be renewed yearly. "It makes me feel like a scientific
migrant," says Robert Zacker, a postdoc at the Naval Research
Laboratory in Washington.

Mr. Zacker received his Ph.D. in 1987 and still has never held a
permanent job in physics, even though he specialized in polymers,
one of the least theoretical branches of the field. "It wasn't
like I decided to be a poet," he says.

Some physicists have extended their scientific lives by shifting
into hot areas of research. John Quackenbush received a Ph.D. in
particle physics in 1990, then was shocked when he found it
impossible to gain a yearlong postdoctorate fellowship, no less
the teaching position he covets. After cobbling together various
grants for a year, Mr. Quackenbush began studying molecular
biology on a lark. Last year, he landed a five-year post funded
by the Human Genome Project, which sought a handful of
researchers from other disciplines.

"I'd love to be doing physics," he adds, "but I'm happy to have
the privilege of doing science."

Abundance of Ph.D.s

Though demand lags for physical scientists, U.S. universities are
producing more Ph.D.s. Chart shows the number of degrees awarded
in each category.

1991 1986
Chemistry 2,194 1,903
Physics & Astronomy 1,408 1,187
Mathematics 1,040 729
Computer Science 797 399

Source: National Research Council

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

(c) 1993 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

___________

That was 1993. Here's today's picture. Please take some time to look at the paltry salaries that Dow Jones is paying their H-1Bs in high cost of living areas.

Use the job search function at beta dot h1b dot info, Use Dow Jones for the employer and choose all years:

Your search for Dow Jones found 5 companies, 176 approved H-1B applications and 177 jobs.

NAM Editor on Feb 21, 2007 at 09:08:44 said:

Dirk, Rob and other commenters,
Thank you for participating in this forum. It is rare that such contentious issues get thoughtful feedback in a sustained discussion. Please continue to visit our site and best of luck.
Peter, Comments Editor

Dirk Krueger on Feb 21, 2007 at 07:46:14 said:

Dear Readers -

first I would like to thank ImmigrationVoice and NAM for the opportunity to have this story out. And to ImmigrationVoice that I support their efforts in general, and wish not to focus just on my own problems.

I myself need not win over all Americans' opinion on this issue, as this is a democracy. There will always, in any country, be people opposed to aliens. It is enough to show how important this issue is to me, and to politicians willing to listen.

Concluding, the US may opt to adopt a closed border for all aliens for the future and see what it leads to. The current restrictive ways to legally immigrate, including to legally immigrate for family reunion, are already shameful enough. What the US can't do is undo the harm already done to their citzens, as well as immigrants, by this mess. The restrictions on legal immigration are probably already a nod to immigration opponents. People who came legally to this country and their lifes are in chaos because of it attest to the unfortunate effects of a mix of capitalist greed and bowing to the angry will of the people. When I came, no American has shown evil will against me, and I always felt welcome as long as I didn't demand anything like now.

Aaron mentioned there are companies who hire H1B to unite one employee's family (which my ex' company would not do, wouldn't even hire any spouses in general). While not quite legal and with loopholes, this again only highlights the messy situation where there just is no way to immigrate to the US anymore any other way.

I hope immigration reform can be balanced and fair for all currently involved.

Dirk

RandallJ on Feb 20, 2007 at 09:44:36 said:

All this whining from the Programmers Guild (which is basically a three person outfit run by Berry, Miano, Lawson) and Sanchez will soon come to naught.

The new Democratic Congress and the President will create a Temporary Guest Worker program and legalize ondocumented immigrants. Then the concomitant increase in H1B visas will seem peanuts. Good luck fellas trying to stop that one.

aaron ledet on Feb 20, 2007 at 00:49:07 said:

Having worked in the "immigration industry" for quite some time, I am aware of all of the ramifications that the H-1B program has caused in the US. This program, above all others, is the single most detrimental thing to occur to the US economy since its inception. I have personally witnessed large US conglomerates turn down more than qualified US applicants so they could hire an H-1B foreign national. The "big four" are some of the worst abusers.
Now I can understand the hiring of a foreign national when there are no qualified US applicants. This is not the case in most H-1B hirings, however. Companies choose to hire less than qualified foreign applicants either because (1) they can exploit the system by paying less than the prevailing wage, or because (2)they want to bring a family member over to the US.
Now there are several steps you have to go through in order to obtain an H-1B, and I am here to say that each is fraught with loopholes. Congress is currently entertaining ideas about increasing H-1B cap. That means even less jobs for Americans. It is my position that kids today shouldnt even go to college. I mean there is no point. Your job will be usurped by an H-1B immigrant.
Let's not forget that each H-1B carries with it dual intent. That means you can convert your H-1B into a greencard and permanently dprive an American of a job While youre at it bring over your entire family to take the other jobs.
I am sympathetic to the plight of those immigrants as detailed in the preface story. However, I do not believe my rights, or the rights of my fellow Americans, should be sacrificed to give an immigrant a job opportunity. Those are our jobs. They tell you when you are young--- go to college--educate yourself. All of that is for naught if an H-1B can come in usurp everything you have worked for
Lets face it the US is not the same place that it was during the immigrant influx of the 19th century. We do not need any more immigrants. Our country is overloaded as it is. Now to address the argument that our economy will slump if H-1B is not expanded, I have a solution. Tax those employers who wish to outsource, or thosee who exploit the H-1B visa to their advantage. I don't mean a small tax. Everytime a company uses an H-1B, they must pay a certain percnetage of the salary to the U.S. treasury. Those companies that outsource pay an import export tax on each and every good they send to the US, or send out to India for example. Not a small tax, a tax large enough to discourage the use of foreign labor, or outsourcing, would rectify the current problem. Let's face it none of the companies that outsource, or hire H-1B's (i.e. Deloitte, Ernst Young, Price Waterhouse), are going to go under. They will be just fine, and you know what alot more Americans will be fine too, because they will be able to earn a salary with the degree that they earned. Thats my two cents.

Rob Sanchez on Feb 18, 2007 at 06:09:22 said:

In reply to Pumpi's comments:

“I guess you have forgotten where you came from? Did you drop from Mars? Don't tell me you are an Indian American, I just won't buy it. So your ancestors in the last 100-150 years (maybe even 50) moved to America.”

Where I came from is irrelevant, but for the record I was born in the USA. That nation-of-immigrants argument you are using is a tautology – that is unless you believe that mankind spontaneously appeared everywhere in the world at once.

“The difference is there were no laws (no visa - just sign in) 100 or even 50 years ago to hinder legal immigration. I guess you forget very quickly don't you? Wake up to the reality “

The reality is that we are a nation of laws – and in case you haven’t heard, they are called immigration laws for a reason. If you break the laws you are a criminal.

Your assertions about immigration laws are faulty and your mathmatics needs improvement. The U.S. passed its first restrictive immigration law in 1885 called the “Alien Contract Act”.

You might be able to argue I'm a hypocrite if I had come to the U.S. before 1885.

“Well, keep thinking this we will talk again in 10-15 years when the US stops being a leader in anything because it does not value skills.”

Actually the US isn’t leading in much of anything precisely because it values cheap wages over skills. The demise of the U.S. high-tech and manufacturing industries can be directly correlated to the increased use of H-1Bs. Employment based visas are the best way of assuring our economic deconstruction.

“The H-1B visa is not working because "consulting" Indian companies are abusing it - just ban them from hiring people on H-1B's.”

Actually the majority of H-1B visas are not used by consulting companies. Most H-1B visa holders are directly hired by US owned employers, which are every bit as exploitive as the bodyshops. Stigmatizing Indian bodyshops is very popular nowadays, but they are just the tip of the H-1B/L-1 problem.

I think the worst problem with Indian owned bodyshops is that they blatantly discriminate based on gender, caste, race, age, and national origin. H-1B/L-1 merely gives them the labor pool to do the discriminating.

“They import the cheap labour, American educated foreigners are not cheap.”

A better word would be CHEAPER because whether a worker is cheap or expensive is a subjective judgment made by employers. Krueger explained why he was forced to work cheaper so I suggest before saying such dumb things you should actually read his story.

Our economic system is based on supply vs demand, so more educated workers competing for jobs means less wages and benefits for everyone in the United States. Until you change our economic model you better wake up to reality!

If you would like news and analysis on issues that range from outsourcing to employment based visas, get on the free mailing list for the "Job Destruction Newsletter" by sending an email to News*-*@*-*JobDestruction.info (remove the *-*) or to get more information go to this webpage:
www.jobdestruction.info/ShameH1B/JobDestructionNews.htm

Dirk Krueger on Feb 17, 2007 at 07:22:49 said:

Pumpi and John -

I thank you for your recent supportive postings. Indeed I was somewhat shocked by some of the remarks before. Should stop going back and forth about it at this place, but your messages prompted me to post one more.

There is this notion in Mr Sanchez' messages that neither Germany nor the US shall pay for my personal mistakes. I think this calls for some explanation here.

As it stands now, the US is not paying for anything here. My child, a citizen, is lawfully atmitted to the US alongside my ex spouse, no matter how sad this makes me myself. My ex spouse is paying taxes, and I will pay child support, at a level I can afford given German regulations and conditions. Right now, no other American suffers here. My daughter will not know me, will meet me even less than the children of soldiers that volunteered into the position to be sent to Iraq (of course, as long as those parents live). My ex is legally here and professes to want to follow through all the way to citizenship, no matter how dreadful H1B opponents think her own H1B status is. She also pays her taxes here. Her company is no mass importer of H1Bs.

As I have clearly stated, I did not father a child to have an anchor baby. I would perhaps not even want if I am 70 and she might want to sponsor me here - besides, I might long be forgotten or despised then. I want a fair chance to be here nearby and support her now as she can benefit from having such relationship to her dad.

Any father involuntarily divorced and losing everything (yes, incl. losing my ability to stay here I have foressen with the divorce) should understand me. I want more than just being a paying phantom. Such is hard enough even when one lives in the same country.

I admit making mistakes, like anyone in life. Taking a career path where even in good times perhaps 1 in a 100 will end up with a permanent position in that field. Marrying a compatriot from my own country rather than an American, or staying single. BTW, marrying an American could have led to the same ugly end, even without considering sham marriages - parents do get deported when citizen spouses die or divorce them. Then when 6 times there was no more money to keep employed, and my frantic trying to switch into a corporate job failed - instead of desperately trying to stay here with my family I should have given up. I endured not being able to see my country for years, endured accusations. My spouse would not want me to stay home as H4 dependent and end my own career for good, me being a lousy housekeeper, too. All this hassle because of my mistakes, under the regulations of the H1B. And now it was all for nothing. I have given the US the present of another fatherless child. The H1B is being indentured, indeed, even in academia. Everybody knows how difficult funding is. And a foreign postdoc can't apply for funds themselves. Germany for example was happy to see me go, they got enough unemployed scientists. And since I did my PhD in the US, and advanced into middle age, they wouldn't fund me for staying on here either. So when funding runs out, each time there is the loom of having to go back for real. H1B does not allow switching positions. Heck, it doesn't even allow just working if a new visa application is sent in too late to be approved by the time funding runs out for the last job, until the new application gets approved. Do I really want to get back into this, do it all over again now that I spend my last penny moving back, and that I have a temporary job in Germany? Risking to be homeless on the street at 65 because it all may repeat when I try again? I would not, unless there is some reform, or a really good chance at getting tenured. And then I would do so for my daughter only. After all that has happened, in that case I may think I deserve even citizenship then. But as you not easily offer that, I think I need not demand that really.

Again, thank you all for understanding.

Pumpi on Feb 16, 2007 at 05:57:22 said:

Mr. Sanchez,

Your comments have certainly been "delightful" to my ears. I guess you have forgotten where you came from? Did you drop from Mars? Don't tell me you are an Indian American, I just won't buy it. So your ancestors in the last 100-150 years (maybe even 50) moved to America. How the hell do you think they entered the country? If they did it illegally then you are an illegal anchor grand-child. If they came legally, same as the person who wrote the article, he is no different than you. The difference is there were no laws (no visa - just sign in) 100 or even 50 years ago to hinder legal immigration. I guess you forget very quickly don't you? Wake up to the reality - if it has not been for the constant flow of Educated Legal (I would add mostly European and Asian) immigrants - the US would be a North Mexico today. Maybe you forgot Einstein, where the hell did these inventors and scientist fell from - the trees? The brain drain is the force today. To always be on top you need to have the best constantly, no one can wait for you to educate people for 20 years. What the US is going stop working for 20 years? Besides true genius is not taught in school, some people are just born as such. How would you get these people - or maybe you don't need them. Well, keep thinking this we will talk again in 10-15 years when the US stops being a leader in anything because it does not value skills. Should this immigration system be fixed - absolutely? The H-1B visa is not working because "consulting" Indian companies are abusing it - just ban them from hiring people on H-1B's. Easy fix not for too long but at least for 1-2 years until a new immigration policy is drafted and implemented. Most likely no need for a change in the cap would be needed either, because these companies take up like 40K of the 65K every year, it is a business for them. They import the cheap labour, American educated foreigners are not cheap. Highly educated specialists from Europe - are not cheap. I know scientists, engineers, architects, mathematicians, etc. in Europe and Asia that Universities and Companies in the US are begging them to come here. You know what they are not interested on living on a visa; they make a lot of money without being in the US.
This man's problem is that he has a daughter; he can't take her back to Germany that is why he wants to stay here. Are you so ignorant that you would think really smart, educated people want to stay here because of the "Big Bucks" or because they want to steal a job from a Legal Citizen. Wake up - this is not the only place that would pay you well and treat you well. Wake up there are more important things in this world - like your family!
Enough, you don't even deserve a response - go read a book and educate yourself.

John on Feb 16, 2007 at 03:57:56 said:

It is clear that the system needs to be fixed and we need to keep people like Dirk in our great country. We also need to get these racists that pretend to be crusading against H1B's to stop hogging meaningful discussions like this. No wonder people like Sanchez are unemployed! They are destroying their own jobs and those of other American workers. Dirk, I feel sad that you have had to endure the abuse from these people.

Dirk Krueger on Feb 15, 2007 at 20:24:11 said:

Dear Mr Sanchez

responding to your accusation of keeping my daughter in the US to retain her as an anchor:
untrue allegation. I would like nothing more then her being wherever I am. "Anchors" indeed work only for illegal immigrants which stay on in the US near their children and then get benefits through them. As I have clearly stated, I fight for my ability to be near, and against those who threaten to shut down all the doors.

"Your plea for the UN proposal for universal anchor baby rights is very alarming, especially since it’s the globalists who are pushing it."

Response: No, this is a fundamental human right! Not a ploy of some globalists in black helicopters! I am also carefully separating citizenship from work and visit rights for parents. That would preclude lots of benefits of citizenship. I will be fine with getting some responsibilities and don't have some of the benefits if needed.

"It is sad that you are being separated from your daughter but if the UN has their way the U.S. government would be responsible for your mistakes. That’s not fair to us!"

Response: Since your country (government) has allowed this for countless illegal foreigners, it is only fair to demand the same rights for all foreigners. Change the way for the future, but you can't undo the damage done already.

"Nobody seems concerned with children in the U.S. who are being shoved aside so that immigrant anchor babies can have welfare, educations, medical care etc. I have sympathy for your daughter but must question why you feel American citizens should pick up the tab instead of the German government."

Response: Parents (at the very least of legal status) pay taxes! Negotiate with Germany if Germany should pay for children of Germans in the US if in the future you will not give them citizenship anymore. The US would then have to do so for American children in Germany.

"The UN treaty called “Rights of the Child” should be nipped in the bud before it metastasizes in the U.S. Instead of kowtowing to UN mandates we need to insist that Congress needs to pass the "Citizenship Reform Act of 2007" (H.R. 133) to eliminate the baby anchor loophole."

Response: I knew that this is a common US attitude to the UN. Fine to get rid of citizenship with me for future international guests in the US. But you will still have to negotiate at least bilateral ways to deal with international divorces.

Dirk Krueger on Feb 15, 2007 at 07:28:22 said:

Dear all -

I do not want you to think that I hate the US. I hate certain aspects of its policies. And I am saying that I don't need citizenship for myself because I understand that might go too far. It really is about my daughter being supported and seen by her dad on a regular, affordable basis. It is not just about a job per se, of course I would need to make a living, and have some way to live when old. That is why I would not even necessarily ask for the benefits of citizenship. Not because I see the US only as a place to work because I am an evil globalist. As I have said before, I would gladly share responsibility, as I would have done post-9/11 - because I support this country in many other ways.

To all that want to get rid of all anchor baby laws - what do you mean by that? No more citizenship by birthright? That still means children growing up separated from family, and growing up in foreign countries were theu will have friends and allegiance to.

If I were to have a liberal work permit, I could work as a scientist anywhere without delay, or could work in a job below my education (perhaps for a while). I would be able to support and see my daughter, and save retirement money since I don't get such benefit in Germany anymore (unless the US would make bilateral agreements). I would not have voting rights though, so I can directly influence US policies. I would not necessarily always take away jobs from Americans. There are enough low-paying jobs, where these are plenty filled by "illegal aliens" already. I could go back and forth between two friendly nations, Germany and the US. So what would the US lose if they allow this to parents of citizens, and Germany vice-versa? That seems a fairer way dealing with globalization than having only the jobs move away. If I can't find another job within some specified time I would move back to Germany temporarily, obviously, but I would not have risked becoming illegal and deportable.

My daughter is primarily with her legaly admitted mom, so taking her with me would mean abduction from her mom (indeed, a terrible thing I would never contemplate) as well as doing a crime of international scale. Child abduction is a crime. And you probably would want a US citizen being abducted.

Stephen Arthur on Feb 15, 2007 at 05:48:19 said:

Mr. Yuan,

H1B is a dual intent visa. Temporary also can mean after 6 years you can get a Green card. If it was so temporary as you state, then how come the government allows temporary H1B to file for green card? Also, Germany tried to attract immigrants by having them under true temporary status and the program failed. History has proved that no immigrant travels miles to make the new country richer and not benefiting from the migration. So, please if you make H1B truly “temporary” dream on no one will come here and believe me your fears will still come true since the jobs will travel elsewhere. You are so succumbed with fear of loosing your job to H1B that your logic fails you. America is a land of immigrants. This is a truly moving story you are so self involved that you fail to show decency towards another human beings grief. Thank god America is not full of people like you.

---------------

Colleen Yuan on Feb 13, 2007 at 10:50:44 said:

Temporary Visa means "Temporary".

Go Home.

Rob Sanchez on Feb 15, 2007 at 04:36:59 said:

Krueger says that all he wants to do is to take a job in the U.S. and work unhindered. As far as he is concerned the U.S. is nothing more than a place to work. His attitude is very typical of the modern globalist – they want all the benefits of living and working in a country without the responsibilities of being a citizen. To them the U.S., or any other nation for that matter, is nothing more than a trade zone where jobs are to be had and goods are to be sold.

We, the people of the U.S., need to stand up against the global conspiracy to erase our borders and to destroy our sovereignty. Krueger is not to be blamed for this mess we are in. He is a symptom, not the cause. This is just one sad example how market-based immigration can have tragic consequences.

Frankly I don’t see a good future for Krueger and his daughter. Germany won’t be willing to take responsibility anymore than ours should, so the tragedy will continue.

Perhaps other foreigners should heed Krueger’s story before they allow illusions of U.S. jobs and money to lure them here.

Krueger is not the victim of racism or protectionism. He is a victim of corporate globalism, which is just another form of fascism. Germans should know all about that.

www.JobDestruction.info

Rob Sanchez on Feb 15, 2007 at 04:34:46 said:

Krueger, you complain that you are being forced to leave your daughter in the U.S. but you never explain why you can't take her back to Germany. Is it because she would lose her anchor baby status if she was repatriated to Germany, or is it because Germany actually takes immigration laws seriously?

Your plea for the UN proposal for universal anchor baby rights is very alarming, especially since it’s the globalists who are pushing it. It is sad that you are being separated from your daughter but if the UN has their way the U.S. government would be responsible for your mistakes. That’s not fair to us!

Nobody seems concerned with children in the U.S. who are being shoved aside so that immigrant anchor babies can have welfare, educations, medical care etc. I have sympathy for your daughter but must question why you feel American citizens should pick up the tab instead of the German government.

The UN treaty called “Rights of the Child” should be nipped in the bud before it metastasizes in the U.S. Instead of kowtowing to UN mandates we need to insist that Congress needs to pass the "Citizenship Reform Act of 2007" (H.R. 133) to eliminate the baby anchor loophole.

www.JobDestruction.info

Dirk Krueger on Feb 15, 2007 at 02:59:10 said:

S.Barnes -

are you suggesting to accept fate only? Just because my crusade was prompted by my bad luck or lack of foresight? No, I am not that easily deterred by a seemingly impossible situation. It is people only who make laws. This is not natural law.

Dirk

Dirk Krueger on Feb 15, 2007 at 02:49:45 said:

Dear Mr. Barnes
- oh yes, I am also fighting the US because fighting my ex is no good, almost easier fighting the US. Anyways, I am a custodial parent. I am talking about shared legal custody, which I have gotten by fighting only. I tried for 5 years to also perhaps leave academia if need be. Industry or tenure track is the only way to EB GC anyways. But I was just unlucky and wanted to stay with my ex / daughter. Anyways - I am fighting for my daughter now, not for myself.

Dirk Krueger on Feb 15, 2007 at 02:45:09 said:

Dr. Nelson, and Mr(s) Barnes -

I agree with you that
a) many a country treats foreigners horribly
b) the situation in science was forseeable long ago

I reject the notion though that my ex spouse planned ahead better then me. She simply got lucky at the right time and the right spot to get a "stable" job outside academia, so that she could be (relatively well-paid) getting a Green Card that way. Understandably, a marriage between two scientists under all these circumstances was threatened from the get-go. However, I have the expertise to do as well work-wise in many ways, just wasn't that lucky.

You did not find my H1B details as I moved around from one to the next, and the latest is not listed apparently. I moved around only to stay with my ex who I very much loved.

Whether I respect US laws is another question. I am leaving because I have a job in Germany now and because the alternatives are all worse. But I do not respect the US laws as a stable thing even if I am no citizen. I will fight on, just because I am a custodial parent of a citizen. In that way, I do not respect those laws!

And that goes for my respect for other countries, including Germany, as well. This is a human rights issue just like any other.

Should the US really be proud to also treat foreigners horribly? That is a lame excuse! I thought you are the greatest country in the world?

I do not care for the citizenship. Just an unrestricted permanent work permit with retirement benefits! And just because I have a daughter here now. If you see this as bending of US laws to fit my circumstance, then be it that way. However, I have not planned it that way. The US government is responsible for ripping apart international families due to shortsighted immigration policies or lack thereof. This doesn't even have to do with birth-right citizenship, as without US citizenship my daughter would still be in this country due to her mom, and me separated from her.

If you really believe in globalization crap then open the borders for people as well! Make bilateral agreements at least, between nations on friendly terms with each other.

Dirk

S. barnes on Feb 15, 2007 at 01:50:34 said:

Dirk,
I just read your comment to Colleen. First of all you can't be a custodial parent because you don't have the child. Your ex-wife is the custodial parent because she has the child. By the way, did a court of law give you custody of the child? It does not seem like it, otherwise you could take the baby with you (that is another reason why we should do away with the anchor baby law; it breaks up families).
I was with you until you suggested that you should break the law. Hey, if you feel that way why don't you come back like all those other illegal aliens who do it daily? In fact, do it like all those other Mexicans do - pay a coyote and race across the border. Then join up with Latino activists and demand rights because you have now broken the laws. Go to the street corner and get your fake identity so you can commit identity fraud, but who cares you were just coming here to get a job. Who cares that it destroys another American's life - you got your job and that is all that counts.
To me it sounds like you have the bitterness of a divorced father whose ex-wife has the child and you can't do nothing about it. So instead you call our immigration laws barbaric and want to break them. You want to force your will on our country because of your divorce situation. Like I said in my last post, you should have thought of your immigration situation long before it became a problem - your ex-wife did and she has a better situation now. Translation, you should have been looking for employment at the same time as your wife and then had your company sponsor your green card / extra higher education.

S, Barnes on Feb 15, 2007 at 00:50:37 said:

Mr. Krueger has only to thank all the low skilled illegal aliens for his predicament. But remember, temporary means just that temporary. If he wanted to stay he should have been thinking about what to do long before just like his wife. He has learned a hard lesson that many post-doctorate people know there are very few jobs for their expertise and they need to start thinking way ahead if they are to stay here. Many of the Indian H-1B programmers who took American jobs will hit that awful reality real soon.
There is very little American support for the anchor baby legislation/ reunification whether it be in the USA or elsewhere. Mr. Krueger should have been looking ahead instead of trying to bend our laws to fit his circumstances.
I was in France and they treated non-citizens just horribly. The hoops you have to do to just be employed is tremendous; so, please no sob stories plan ahead if you want to stay, not change our laws.
Finally, thank you for obeying our laws - at least you have some respect not like 20 million illegal aliens who are demanding rights that never should be theirs in the first place as they are law breakers. By the way my husband worked for years like an indentured servant until he became a legal resident alien.

Gene Nelson on Feb 14, 2007 at 20:30:06 said:

The American expression "Been there, done that" is very apt to describe Dirk's present trauma, which I have sympathy for.
This author is quoted extensively in these articles from over a decade ago.
He is still involved in a protracted 1993 contested child custody court case caused by the lack of Ph.D.-level employment opportunties as a consequence of employer-designed special visa programs.

Interested readers may use google to locate the items below.

"Black Hole Opens in Scientist Job Rolls" in The Wall Street Journal, April 14, 1993, page B-1.

"No Ph.D.s Need Apply," by Sharon Begley, pp 62-63, Newsweek, Dec. 5, 1994

"Scientist's Heated Debate on Immigration Mirrors Issues Argued Throughout U.S." by Robert Finn, The Scientist, Page 1, November 27, 1995

"We're All in this lifeboat together" Gene Nelson's speech at the National Academy of Sciences headquarters, Washington, DC - April 13, 1996

Gene Nelson on Feb 14, 2007 at 20:06:40 said:

More documentation that the employer - designed H-1B visa program is harmful to black Americans is available at the website you are currently viewing.

Use H-1B as a search term.

Choose the June 19, 2006 article
High Tech Immigrants Threaten Black Jobs
- The posted comments are also very informative.

There is another relevant article at the NNPA website NNPA dot org dated June 4, 2001:

Blacks Question U.S. Immigration Policy
By Lee Hubbard

Gene Nelson on Feb 14, 2007 at 19:59:46 said:

Here is some information regarding the low pay scales for "Postdoc" positions at the University of Wisconsin Department of Soil Science. It is important to recognize that U.S. universities PLANNED for this exploitation starting in 1976. Perhaps Dirk can help us by sharing which position he held. The lowest paid position was $27,000 per year.

The beta version of H1b dot info was used for this geographically - based query.

Search through "all years", Use Madison for the city name, and WI for the state

Your search for Madison, WI found 1,057 companies, 3,990 approved H-1B applications and 9,952 jobs

There is no requirement that the University of Wisconsin use a single entity name for their H-1B LCAs, so here are some of the listings available.

Job title Jobs Wage Begin Date Location(s)

H-1B applications filed by UW MADISON SOIL SCIENCE in Madison, WI
Approved H-1B applications: 1 Total jobs: 1
ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SPECIALIST 1 $27,000/year 02/01/2003 MADISON, WI

H-1B applications filed by UW MADISON SOIL SCIENCE DEPT in Madison, WI
Approved H-1B applications: 1 Total jobs: 1
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 1 $35,000/year 02/01/2002 MADISON, WI

H-1B applications filed by UW MADISON Department of Soil Science in Madison, WI
Approved H-1B applications: 2 Total jobs: 2
Research Associate 1 $40,920/year 03/15/2004 MADISON, WI
Research Associate 1 $37,456/year 01/01/2005 MADISON, WI

H-1B applications filed by UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON in Madison, WI
Approved H-1B applications: 2 Total jobs: 2
Associate Lecturer 1 $19.55/hour 01/07/2005 Madison, WI
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE 1 $31,000/year 02/04/2002 MADISON, WI

H1B dot info is dedicated to restoring the opportunity for all Americans to apply for any job opening.

Gene Nelson on Feb 14, 2007 at 19:55:08 said:

Please see the author's Spring, 2005 article regarding the exploitation that is an inherent part of the H-1B visa program. Both native born American citizens and immigrants are exploited as they are pitted against each other by employer interests in search of scarce jobs.

Please use the following google query to locate this article

"Career Destruction Sites" "Colleges"

Career Destruction Sites: What American Colleges have Become.

Please use the following google query to find
the missing Page 3 table.

"NIH awardees" "H-1b"

Rob Sanchez on Feb 14, 2007 at 11:26:15 said:

This commentary is another typical sob story by Immigration Voice. It's almost carbon copy of a tear-jerker about another German by Vivek Wadhwa in Business Week.

Considering that IV is almost all Indian I find it interesting that they were able to scrounge up some Germans for their propaganda blitz. Don't be fooled by these stories -- the intent is to force Americans into global labor arbitrage by the use of unlimited immigration.

If you would like news and analysis on issues that range from outsourcing to employment based visas, get on the free mailing list for the "Job Destruction Newsletter" by sending an email to News*-*@*-*JobDestruction.info (remove the *-*) or to get more information go to this webpage:
www.jobdestruction.info/ShameH1B/JobDestructionNews.htm

Dirk Krueger on Feb 14, 2007 at 10:23:27 said:

Dear Readers -

I thank you for reading, and for thoughtful comments.

Too bad, deciding on a different country to go to is not an option anymore for me.

Now before I move to packing up, and after I have had for a last time my daughter with me, please allow me to respond to various thoughts expressed by readers.

I certainly can understand both the hatred against illegal immigrants, and the hatred against corporations abusing the strongly reglemented legal pathways.

Neither can be solved by the simplistic "kick them all out" solution. I guarantee you if you were to do that to all the illegals, it will end up in a civil war.
Round all up in concentration camps! Fly them to Mexico - and what if Mexico refuses to take them back? Kids with parents deported roaming the land stealing and killing?

I am already kicked out in a way. So I won't take an American Ph.D.'s position. Well, doesn't matter, not too many Americans go that path anyways. Smart, with science so badly funded.
I am not a Soil Scientist, btw. I am dealing with evil Evolutionary Biology! And I am an atheist. Quite many anti-immigration people rather see such science shut down anyways.

There is an unholy alliance between the western societal forces that rip apart families (causing high divorce rates) and the people disrespecting basic human rights in this age of "globalization". Yet,
this globalization is only for the enrichment of certain people; seems like a country ripe for a revolution. Yes, both the American worker and immigrant / temporary guest fall victim. And in the end, the US itself will go down the tube.

Even as I leave, I will not shut up to attack US immigration policies.

In 2001 I felt much, much sympathy with this country. It then squandered sympathies the world over, and so it does squander mine. I would have liked to even help defend the US against the Islamic fundamentalist brood (the Reagan-sponsored fundamentalists) that shares much of
its zealotry with quite some fundamentalist group in the US, or with German Neonazis for that matter. In Germany, I will surely not join the one outspoken Antiamerican group, those idiot Neonazis.
But I will keep attacking aspects of US politics! I just take myself that right as someone who has a US daughter, as someone whou has lived a while in the US (9 years), and indeed, I did pay my US taxes.

The UN convention on the Rights of the Child (www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm) partly states that parents and children shall not be separated. At the UNHCR website, I checked that the USA and Somalia
did not ratify it. What a coincidence - a failed nation and ...? There are also countries that declare they feel not bound by this, as they reserve the right to deport and treat foreigners differently. These
countries are: Korea, Germany, and Japan. And there is a few whose divorce laws are held against it. In all, about 10 pariah nations, including my own Germany, who at least has stopped deporting parents 2 years ago as an organization in Germany
confirmed to me (in German: www.fluechtlingsrat-nrw.de/2259/index.html). Many an American divorced parent felt the wrath of Japanese courts, too (www.international-divorce.com/d-japan.htm, www.crnjapan.com/en/).

Of course, the bluntest of this handful of pariah countries is the US! Well in line with their despicable treatment of the UN and international treaties, they rather did not even ratify. Well, noone dare to drag Americans before international courts.
But maybe I agree with you who wish to abolish the UN. That paper tiger. Too bad the German Nazis brought down the first model and I say so as a German. I think that there should be a new world body, and if the US doesn't want to be part of it, so be it.

US legal immigration policy is ripe with human rights abuses! I am not just for father's rights but human rights - so this might interest you as well:
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26586-2004Dec1.html
www.tonkon.com/news/dspArticle.cfm?news_stand_id=AB1165C8-9050-48C1-B6189A59DFE34EB0

PS - It was a provocation suggesting the removal of my ex spouse as well, and a provocation of me thinking I would kidnap my own child. I hoenstly sometimes think though I should swim back to the US because illegals have it better perhaps. That would trigger the end of my scientific work though, and would make me an easy target.

I am gonna blog (and later collect politician's responses). A start is done here:
immigrationparentsreform.blogspot.com/

Dirk

On H1b on Feb 14, 2007 at 10:08:50 said:

If anyone of you find \\\'H1b\\\' only jobs advertised, please complain!!

The genuine immigrants are the loosers here..

Selling approved labor certificates/mass filing H1b visas - legal but unethical

H1b visas should be issue here and not the people working on H1b!

THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERVATIVE VISA FOR A SKILLED WORKER TO MIGRATE TO USA & THIS VISA IS EMPLOYER DRIVEN!

If the bashing of H1b visa holders goes unabated there wouldn\\\'t be much differentiate your organizations and KKK!!

R. Lawson on Feb 14, 2007 at 06:33:55 said:

HGuy: "I think there is real shortage of REAL IT Guys in USA"

That is quite an arrogant statement. And I detect a tinge of racism/nationalism - ie "Americans aren't smart".

Just as we shouldn't be telling immigrants to "go home" comments like yours aren't productive. It feeds a lie based on a superiority complex.

I would argue that corporations are responsible for dumbing down IT departments - encouraging workers to "focus on the business" and more abstract concepts instead of software engineering and technology concepts. The reason is because they outsource all the thinking.

This approach is harmful to our profession AND our nation. Your knowledge of the business is tightly coupled to your company - once you lose that job you are really at a disadvantage because you no longer understand technology beyond a superficial level.

I would also argue that many of the consulting firms discriminate against American workers - in fact advertising for "H-1b only" positions. We have found hundreds of cases of this.

Just to conclude, because I can't keep going on in this thread, both parties - American workers and immigrant workers - are victims here. We need to start thinking of how we can help each other. Corporations would love for our focus to be on each other instead of them. They are the true culprits here.

Guna Sekhar on Feb 14, 2007 at 02:11:18 said:

Colleen:

You are forgetting that almost every US citizen of today has ancestors who came to this country as aliens- all that varies is the number of generations one has to look back to find a foreign-born antecedent. If they were all asked to "Go Home" by their contemporaries, this country would not be the world's leading nation today.

Please do not insult those who are struggling to earn their place legally in this great nation. They are humans too.

Thanks.

---------------------------------------
Colleen Yuan on Feb 13, 2007 at 10:50:44 said:
Temporary Visa means "Temporary".
Go Home.

Philip Small on Feb 14, 2007 at 00:56:56 said:

The USA needs all the soil scientists it can get. I am sorry to see you have to go.

HGuy on Feb 13, 2007 at 23:31:58 said:

I think there is real shortage of REAL IT Guys in USA, Yes. IT is always changing and People should change themselves. If you are not updating yourself according to the Market,then you are out of Job. I think people who can change never complain about the competition. They change themselves and move on. Guys who can't change just Crib about the H1B System.

Not all the companies would go for a Low Cost Labour, Especially in IT they can't go to Offshore/Contractor Just because of COST. If COST was only the Criteria and if not all of them of not SKILLED workers then most of them would be out of job/market now.

Realize the fact that USA needs lots of SKILLED workers who can change theirself according to the market and Increase the Visa Numbers for Employment based Green Cards.

jgo on Feb 13, 2007 at 11:19:37 said:

Give American science and tech workers back their lives and their livelihoods.

I agree that we should balance unskilled entries with skilled entries, in such a way that unskilled entries are very near zero, student visas are cut way back to stop the bleeding of US intellectual property, and only the most outstanding thousand the world has to offer are welcomed each year with open arms on permanent visas.

Dirk Krueger on Feb 13, 2007 at 09:25:43 said:

Dear Colleen -

you say \\\"Temporary Visa means \\\"Temporary\\\". Go Home.\\\".

I knew it was temporary. I knew I was stupid enough to become a scientist and H1B slave. I should have known I have no right becoming a parent because of those choices. I knew I will be paying taxes, and even higher taxes in Wisconsin (because I am not a Wisconsin resident according to state law). Will have no benefits at all ever.

But now?

How about I kidnap my little girl? And then be arrested for kidnapping a US citizen?

I think there is a better way. I am doing it now. And I will stop at nothing to influence US politicians. I am the custodial parent of a US citizen. And the US is a barbaric nation if it denies human rights.

Or will you lobby on my behalf to also kick out my ex? She is a luckier H1B only.

Dirk

R. Lawson on Feb 13, 2007 at 09:05:45 said:

I think it is important to point out why the Programmers Guild doesn't like the H-1b: the visa is used in the software engineering occupation more than any other - much more. The vast majority of H-1b applications are filed by Indian offshoring companies, not universities on behalf of academics such as the author.

If the visa is used as intended, which is for skills that will advance our nation (ie the person who can help us make major medical advances) then it wouldn't be so opposed.

That said, even the people using it as it was intended find themselves in unfair situations.

The bottom line is that skilled immigration should not be used as a labor subsidy. If you approach it from the standpoint of national interest instead of business interests, that is a much better baseline.

What skills do we really lack in this country? What is clear is that it isn't software engineers.

And for Pete's sake, we can't treat immigrants poorly. As long as the numbers are balanced and not used to flood an occupation (like they have done in software occupations) it just makes sense to issue green cards instead.

As an American IT worker, I don't think it smart to compete with an "indentured" worker so give them the ability to truly compete on the free market. Employer sponsorship amounts to indentured servitude - intended or not. Green cards give workers the freedom to negotiate for higher wages - and I am all about that.

Dirk Krueger on Feb 13, 2007 at 06:25:00 said:

boohoo said:

"You should have checked our immigration laws before you started catting around. Anchor babies only work for illegal aliens. You are right though -- the U.S. doesn\'t need more PhDs, so your departure will be good news for the American PhDs that couldn\'t find a job because of you. So why isn\'t the German government allowing you to bring your daughter there?"

Have you ever considered that this is a human rights issue. Are you accusing me of trying to steal work from Americans, and having tried to get an anchor baby?

I am sorry, indeed I could care less about the US if I did not have a daughter here. And besides, I am a divorced father, and my ex stays with our daughter. So therefore there is no need to talk of Germany letting her in. She may apply for German citizenship, but getting her there would require me kidnapping her. I am angry enough about the hardships destroying my own dreams, but my daughter deserves both parents. Any nation that does not value this most fundamental of human rights to me is a sham.

Colleen Yuan on Feb 13, 2007 at 02:50:44 said:

Temporary Visa means "Temporary".

Go Home.

Sreedhar on Feb 13, 2007 at 02:06:26 said:

I sympathasize with the Author,as this is the same kind of story for over thousands of Employment based immigration seekers, they are sepeerated from families, they cannot get promotion as they will loose their place in the GC Queue,their spouses cannot work even if they are Engineers,MBA's,etc.Due to the delays in immigration process EB guys have to face lots of hardship, they are facing all these because of their dream of America,a free world ,a land of opportunities.It looks like the earlier generation of immigrants donwt want any more new immigrants in this free world they are acting as gatekeepers and they dont want anyone to comein, but they are forgetting their own past,how they have migrated to tthis free world.Corporate america has lots of immigrants who have come to this land of opportunites and helped in growing americna economy,helped in creating innovations and life saving measures in health sciences,helped in Engineering,aerospace,etc.So my humble request to the authorities is look at the process of immigration for Qualified professionals like the author to FIX LEGAL IMMIGRATION PROCESS.

Guna Sekhar on Feb 12, 2007 at 23:18:46 said:

As the author mentions, its a tragedy that talented people are forced to depart the US due to obsolete immigration laws. On one hand there's a huge hue and cry over whether or not to give a second chance to those who broke the law by entering this country illegally. On the other hand, people like Dr. Krueger who "did everything by the book" are made to pass through hoops of fire and finally shown the exit gate.
Clearly, America is sending the wrong signals out to those who are evaluating different ways of coming to this country and working here.

Paul Chen on Feb 12, 2007 at 23:00:18 said:

This is another sad story about skilled immigrant.

I want to talk about this issue from my perspective.

I got my M.B.A in a prestigious US university and worked as a Financial Analyst in US for two years. I was thinking of applying for GC at that time because I had planned to stay in US. But, that winter, when I took a vacation in China, I decided to look for a job in China because I was very impressed by the economic development in China and wanted to capitalize on the opportunity. The Chinese market was/is in urgent demand for US-trained financial analyst. After some interviews, I got a very generous offer from a multinational company and quitted my job in US without any hesitation.

Now five years has passed. Because of my excellent performance, I get two promotions in the past five years and am a director in my company. My boss, who is an american, lost his job and has to go back to US because my company cannot see any fiancial advantage to hire him anymore. I have never been happier. I believe that I made a very good choice five years ago. Most of my chinese classmates during MBA study are still struggling for their GCs and get stuck in their career development because of GCs. They are quite regret that they did not come back to China back 5 years.

So what I want say is that, US is not a very good place to stay anymore. There are many golden opportunities in your own country! Many countries are becoming stronger and stronger. It\\\'s not 10 or 20 years ago. 10 or 20 years ago, US is the best place in the world to stay. But now, it\\\'s different. My friends in US make about $150k a year and cannot afford a luxury lifestyle. I make $100k a year and enjoy a very comfortable life in China. I built my own house in China, which is even better than my house in New Jersey before. I hired my own chauffer, housekeeper, two nannies for my baby... I cannot afford these thing if I were still in US. How many americans can afford the same lifestyle as mine? I don\\\'t think there are many.

My point is, be open to opportunities in your own countries or other countries in the world other than US. You will be happy to leave US several years later when you look back. Besides, if more and more US-trained scientists and professionals come back to their own countries and help their countries to develop, maybe in another 10 or 20 years, no one would want GC anymore.

Kim Hammelman on Feb 12, 2007 at 22:01:27 said:

My heart goes to this guy.I wish that our country should learn to value the skilled people coming here.We worry about Anna Nicole ,the whole media is busy with her these days.She was a joke when alive,she is a joke when dead.
Media doesn't want to talk about these stories of skilled people leaving child behind.
You know what I think .I think we should value skilled people,they should be allowed to work for any employer.Our current system is benefitting employers only.Green card system should not tie the employees with the employers.
U.S Government has to do something,otherwise,after 10 years,my country will be the country of farmers,cabbage-pickers,druggers and all other kind of illegal workers who will be legal citizens by the time because of massive amnesty.I hate amnesty.There will be no technical growth,all MNC companies will outsource or may be move from here.Skilled people will prefer to go to India or China rather than standing here in the green card que.
Hope that will never happen.We need skilled people here otherwise everything will be outsourced .

Sam Schneider on Feb 12, 2007 at 21:53:12 said:

The author seems to raise valid points that I see almost everyday in my interaction with folks who are here on visas.

I completely disagree with the comments made by some of the folks earlier. While the author seems to be talking about the over restrictive nature of the visas and its associated problems, the comments instead seem to be aimed suggesting that all H1B visas are bad. The programmers guild seems to be in a blind sponsored crusade of some sort against the H1B program making stereotypical aruguments. I think the programmers guild needs a reality check and realise that the market is not what it was a couple of years ago. Period. There is a need for more folks than what companies are able to find. Yes, abuse seems to be happening. However the need is towards stricter laws aimed at employers, not towards restricting the hired employees.

Suresh Babu on Feb 12, 2007 at 14:32:55 said:

I think H1B should stopped.
I was hired by a US tech company from India early 1999. My offer included H1B and green card sponsorship after I complete 1 year with company. Everything was cool, I flew to USA. In 2001 the company laid me off. I was half way through my green card. But I learnt that I have to start all over.

In one week another big company hired me. They started my green card again. It took an agonizing 3 years to complete the first stage of green card. And then my papers were stuck with Immigration department. When they were ready to pick my papers suddenly no VISA available. Now its estimated that it would take another 4 years to get my green card. I cannot change job or take promotion due to green card laws. My total expenses out of pocket I spent for VISAs and all other fees is US $ 25,000. Believe it or not.

All in all, US is a great country to live and work. But immigrating to US is a bullshit process.
Its an absolute nitemare.

Solution: If there is a real shortage of skilled/unskilled workers bring them on Green Card. No more H1Bs or temporary work visas.

Mitchell on Feb 12, 2007 at 14:32:00 said:

Please, give me a break - to suggest that this heartbreaking story doesn't mirror hundreds of thousands of LEGAL immigrants in some way is the most short sighted comment I've heard in some time.

Without the skilled foreign born workers in this country you'd be without (and heck, I'm only delving into the last 50 years or so from the top of my head)
• Pierre Omidyar, EBay founder from France.
• Sergey Brin, Google founder from Russia.
• Jerry Yang, Yahoo foudner from Taiwan.
• Andy Grove, Intel, former CEO from Hungary
• Jawed Karim, YouTube founder, Germany

Deepa on Feb 12, 2007 at 14:25:12 said:

I agree with R Lawson that H1-B program should be stricter to make sure that only highly skilled personnel can come and there is truly no shortage of US worker with similar skills.
In fact, in employment based green card, there is an effort to make sure that no US worker is misplaced.Such strict checking should be done on H1-B program.

Sun on Feb 12, 2007 at 14:24:45 said:

It’s not good for US economy if skill immigrant has to go back after working here for years. Government should pass a rule to remove the backlog and retrogression for skilled immigrant. I don’t know why government mixes skill immigrant and other kind of immigrant.

dixie on Feb 12, 2007 at 13:51:57 said:

Mr Berry - in fact, this article refutes programmers guild\'s position that the only reason a US employer would hire foreigners is to because they work cheaper. If that were the case, why didn\'t they hire the author who had a Phd ? - going by PG\'s argument, the employer should have welcomed him, because he would presumably work for lower wages than an american with a BS. The reason, my friend, is because your argument does not represent facts. US employers are willing to sponsor an H1-B visa only when they cannot find similarly qualified americans. I believe they can in this case, because the position apparently needs only a B.S and there are plenty of americans with those qualifications. As for post-docs being lowly paid, that is how it is all over the world.Nowhere are Phds paid as much as lawyers or MBAs, for the simple reason that research is long-term and not of immediate commerical value. People do Phd out of interest and passion, not to get rich quickly. Your linking of the low wages to the law of demand and supply betrays your lopsided view of the world in general. Anti-immigrants always talk of the abuse and loopholes in the H1-B system. While there is no denying the abuses and loopholes, these are exceptions not rules. By that logic everyone should stop flying because when planes crash, they kill people.

I agree with Lawson\'s opinion that the way to reform the skilled immigration system is to remove the employers\' control on the foreign workers, so that the only incentive to hire them must be their hard-to-find skills, if any.Allowing self-sponsorship of green cards is the way forward.

Sam on Feb 12, 2007 at 13:41:11 said:

Dear Dirk,

I am sorry to hear what you had to go through. I totally agree with your point that "Immigration Reform is High time". I have a Masters Degree in CS and I intend to go to Business school in the near future. Its a nightmare to maintain visa status and be enrolled in full time program.I don't want to enroll in a part time program. I have invested 3yrs of time into the EB green card but I don't see a ray of hope.

Unfortunately some people can't understand what it is like. The best they can do is get on Lou Dobbs show, pick an abuse or two and sling mud on the whole program. That said, H1B program has been around for so long that a High school kid can exploit it today. Has any one looked at HSMP from UK or similar programs from AU/CA? People who oppose H1B always do not suggest an alternative, because they are just protectionists. I know of a site that propagated news that H1B's do not pay taxes etc. In fact H1B's pay Federal,State and local income taxes along with Social security & Medicare, if the H1B's country of origin doesn't have a totalization agreement with the US. For example India doesn't have any such agreement with US and hence all H1B's from India pay SS & Medicare, which they never get back.

The H1B system is exploited by employers because the Govt simply believes that the employers do pay prevailing wage. Unfortunately, some of the greedy employers underpay the workers and make the program a joke. Its high time to learn from programs like HSMP which clearly value Higher Education, MBA from Top 50 schools in the world, Salary in the past 3 years etc. This will weed out the bad and provide good & best candidates.

Enough of my crap!

Suresh Babu on Feb 12, 2007 at 13:36:35 said:

I think H1B should stopped.
I was hired by a US tech company from India early 1999. My offer included H1B and green card sponsorship after I complete 1 year with company. Everything was cool, I flew to USA. In 2001 the company laid me off. I was half way through my green card. But I learnt that I have to start all over.

In one week another big company hired me. They started my green card again. It took an agonizing 3 years to complete the first stage of green card. And then my papers were stuck with Immigration department. When they were ready to pick my papers suddenly no VISA available. Now its estimated that it would take another 4 years to get my green card. I cannot change job or take promotion due to green card laws. My total expenses out of pocket I spent for VISAs and all other fees is US $ 25,000. Believe it or not.

All in all, US is a great country to live and work. But immigrating to US is a bullshit process.
Its an absolute nitemare.

Solution: If there is a real shortage of skilled/unskilled workers bring them on Green Card. No more H1Bs or temporary work visas.

Sriram/Cherukuri on Feb 12, 2007 at 13:21:57 said:

I think Kim is confusing the merits/demerits of H1b visa program with the hardships faced a person who already part the program.

The scientist in the above article describes how his life was damaged because of the never ending waits associated with Employment based Green Cards. This is somethings which needs to be remidied. I do not think any American will be better off in a society with a child growing up an uncertain environment without a father. I hope you understand that people with employement based visas are also human beings with lives.

I hope you understand our hardship and focus H1B visa reform rather blindly opposing any kind of reform to improve the condition law abiding people stuck in the never-ending wait for permanent residence.

My prayer is with Dr. Krueger, and his family so that they have a great life together in this great wonder of a nation.

ms on Feb 12, 2007 at 13:14:52 said:

Most PHD holders in the US are H1B so please do not denigrate them. One only has to go to graduate school in the US to understand that 80% of the graduating class in my year were F1 Students who would ultimately work on H1Bs. 35% of US patents are by foreign born citizens. It is real sad story and I hope the US goverment will do something to retain qualified individuals.

Dirk Krueger on Feb 12, 2007 at 12:26:10 said:

PS - this can be combined. No, I am not in the "programmers guild". I have experience in an array of biological research, and I am co-author on a Science paper.

Dirk Krueger on Feb 12, 2007 at 11:59:40 said:

Dear Kim -
you ask:
"The guy does not say what critical research he was working on. Did he invent a cure for cancer? What did he really contribute to the U.S. during his several years here?"
No, I did not cure cancer. It is also hardly possible given my speciality, and given the funding situation and H1B restrictions. The point is - why does a US citizen (my daughter) have to suffer? Why not even let me work at BurgerKing for a while, to support her and see her? I have a scientist job coming up in Germany now, but will fight on. And Germany has similar, cruel laws ... which also needs change.

boohoo on Feb 12, 2007 at 10:45:19 said:

You should have checked our immigration laws before you started catting around. Anchor babies only work for illegal aliens.

You are right though -- the U.S. doesn\'t need more PhDs, so your departure will be good news for the American PhDs that couldn\'t find a job because of you.

So why isn\'t the German government allowing you to bring your daughter there?

Kim Berry on Feb 12, 2007 at 08:49:50 said:

I have compassion for the guy's personal hardships: Being separated from his children is a tragedy.

The guy does not say what critical research he was working on. Did he invent a cure for cancer? What did he really contribute to the U.S. during his several years here?

- Programmers Guild


The article states "My post-doc salary did not contribute much to the family income" and "I occasionally received interviews with biotech companies, but they deemed me overqualified. Why would they apply for a visa for me when any B.Sc. can hold a pipette?"

These facts suggest that Americans getting PhD would encounter similar low-paid offers and rejection by private sector for being "over-qualified."

In the U.S. the law of supply and demand is supposed to set wages. Under that law there is clearly no "shortage" of PhD holders in the U.S. Until demand pushes wages up into the JD (law) region, the U.S. should not be diluting the job market for U.S. PhD holders by admitting H-1Bs.

R. Lawson on Feb 12, 2007 at 05:46:35 said:

The author has some good points. The H-1b is not intended to be an immigration visa, yet we allow it to which puts the workers in quite a precarious positino. Plus, workers on the visa are tied to an employer and don't have the bargaining power of a true free market worker (citizen or GC holder).

I have a different perspective than the author on this matter - that of an American worker. Instead of using this visa to fill labor shortages, the IT industry uses it as labor arbitrage. In short, they flood the market with more workers - many of which assist in the offshoring of jobs.

That example doesn't apply to the author given that he is in academia, but of course he has clearly faced his own challenges.

The best thing to do is to either abolish the visa, or short of that make it so the worker can sponsor themselves and that the visas are spread across the job market and not concentrated in key occupations (like software engineering) as it then becomes a tool to manipulate the market. I prefer green cards instead, as long as they aren't used to flood occupations with more workers and drive down wages.

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