By
Andy Semotiuk

US Should Open The Door To More H-1B Visas

January 27, 2015

US and Canadian Immigration lawyer Andy Semotiuk: This piece in the Economic Times caught my eye:

President Barack Obama has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will look into India’s concerns on the H-1B visa issue as part of his comprehensive immigration reform, US officials said today.

Obama told Prime Minister Modi that his administration would be in touch with the Indian government on issues related to H-1B visas, popular among Indian techies.

There is a need for the U.S. government to reform the H-1B visa process. It not only needs to be simplified, but the number of people who receive an H-1B needs to be increased.
Currently, H-1B visas are available for 65,000 people holding bachelor’s degree, and 20,000 holding master’s degrees, worldwide. Each year in April, there is a scramble for these limited number of visas as well over 85,000 people apply. The result each year is a visa lottery for this coveted visa, and disappointment for the many people seeking high-level work in the United States.
This doesn’t tie in with the low skilled worker discussions currently in play, as the visa is only open to those with at least a bachelor’s degree who will be working in a specialized, mainly technical area. As well, a person with a bachelor of arts doesn’t qualify, but people with an engineering, computer, or finance degree do.
In the past, there has been talk about raising the quota for the H-1B, but nothing concrete has been done. The Indian initiative is welcome and timely.

Andy Semotiuk is a Canadian and US immigration lawyer with immigration law firm Pace Immigration. You can learn more about Andy at My Work Visa.

Share This Post
Email
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Trending Posts
Read More Insights
Wills And Estates
By
Angela Barrientos
A will is a legal document that clearly states how a person’s property and belongings will be divided after their passing.
Immigration
By
Angela Barrientos
Since its introduction in 2013, the program has been a huge success in assisting Canada in luring and keeping outstanding entrepreneurs who can contribute to the expansion and prosperity of the country’s economy.
Corporate and Personal Law
By
Angela Barrientos
In 2022 the Government of Canada passed new amendments that expanded the Scope of the Competition Act. In this article, we look back on some of the changes that took place.
Corporate and Personal Law
By
Angela Barrientos
The term “mergers and acquisitions,” also known as M&A, refers to the merging of businesses or their essential business assets via business-to-business monetary operations.
Wills And Estates
By
Angela Barrientos
A will is a written statement that represents you after death. It specifies how you intend on allocating your assets and property.
Events
By
Pace Law
Pace Law Firm is always looking to expand our business and elevate it to the next level. On Thursday November 24th, Pace Law Firm attended the Canadian Mortgage Summit (CMS) to hear from the industry’s top mortgage brokers, lenders and solution providers.

Get in Touch

Call us now or fill out the form to discuss your case with an experienced legal professional.

Our Locations

Office Location

191 The West Mall, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON M9C 5K8
Phone: 1-877-236-3060
Fax: 416-236-1809

Office Location

191 The West Mall, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON M9C 5K8
Phone: 1-877-236-3060
Fax: 416-236-1809

Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top