Thousands of Indian techies return home as US rejects visa extensions

[IronLionZion]

https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/thousands-of-indian-techies-return-home-as-us-rejects-visa-extensions-119032200327_1.html



Indian techies living in the US are having a hard time as the US government has refused visa extensions. While some are still struggling over filing a new H-1B visa, many were left with no option but to return to India.

Apart from the increase in outright denials, there has also been a sharp rise in the number of requests for evidence (RFE). These are notices the US authorities issue to visa applicants seeking more information and documents on their applications. This not only delays the visa process but also increase costs for companies.

An engineer, who returned to India nine months ago, tells ET that "shifting with a kid who was born in the US was challenging".

Though the USCIS this week said it would resume premium processing of the H-1B visa, Indian IT firms are still struggling with extension of the visas.

According to industry experts, tightening of the visa process is primarily due to the change in regime that has focused on securing more jobs for Americans.

When American companies can't find enough H-1Bs, they will be forced to hire Americans. This is a tremendous opportunity for American DUers to apply for these jobs today!

Get it DUers!

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Forced to hire Americans? Don't get your hopes up too high. They'll subcontract these jobs over...

seas instead, reversing a trend to bring overseas jobs back into the US (now it'll go reverse, US jobs will go overseas again). IT is pretty bad about this since the product produced and maintained is literally done in an instant despite the distances involved (long distance lines/emails to keep in contact, product can be easily shipped to US or obtained by US entities dialing into hosts/etc.

[IronLionZion]

4. Americans should apply for these jobs

and show their interest and willingness to do the work that H-1Bs have been doing. That might tip the scales towards keeping the jobs in our country.

Like our president says, America First!

[SWBTATTReg]

6. And maybe our so called president would quit using the H-1Bs for hiring his own workers ...

and hire Americans only, Eh?

[Ilsa]

2. If companies can't find qualified people who

want to do the work, they will have to outsource by opening branches overseas.

Some IT work is rather dull, and very detailed. Not everyone wants to do this work if it isn't exciting or sexy.

We've seen families, with children born in the US, sent back while their homes are put on the market, even though they were trying to get their paperwork done.

[IronLionZion]

3. Americans should apply for these jobs

I know what you mean in that it's not exciting or sexy, but boring tedious work can still be a nice paycheck for American workers who need some income. I've done it many times.

My parents bought their house from an H-1B family who got Trumped out of the country. It varies a lot by company, worker, and interest. I know several who were valued so much by their clients that they got help getting green cards and then citizenship because they love America enough to settle here long-term and live the American dream like anyone else. Others just want to go home after a few years or go to another western country like Canada or Australia.

[Ilsa]

20. They should apply. But the companies can't force them to

take jobs they don't want and don't apply for.

The company we know about spends a lot of money getting the visas and helping the employees with their paperwork, whether they are new in the US or transitioning out of college. They could spend that money on salaries or save it for other purposes if more Americans would get themselves prepared for these jobs.

[IronLionZion]

21. Nothing qualified me for a job I had a few years ago

Many contracting firms act like temp agencies. They just want to fill positions at their clients, regardless of experience or training or where their workers even live. These types of firms want to hire a few US citizens because it gives them the appearance of legitimacy. They even recruit from US colleges. I have headhunters contacting me for positions that I don't even know what they are talking about, just because I'm a US citizen.

There's a tremendous opportunity for American workers to get experience and earn some income. And since Trump has cut the number of entry level H-1B visas awarded, it's even easier for entry level American workers to get started in IT careers.

No matter what happens, I just want more Americans in these jobs. It starts with applying.

[Ilsa]

25. BTW, I'm only vaguely familiar with the contracting companies.

The example in my life is a company with career employees, including their H1-B staff.

[riverine]

5. H-1B's cost far more Americans jobs than

NAFTA has.

When I ask an anti free trader why US auto manufacturing skyrocketed in the South post NAFTA they never have an answer other than NAFTA BAD.

[IronLionZion]

9. Jobs exist. American workers exist. Americans should apply for H-1B jobs

The auto manufacturing in the South is from foreign companies opening plants in the US for various reasons, including shipping costs and the ability to say they are made in the same country they are sold.

[MH1]

22. Some companies want the indentured servant rather than the American

they will resist hiring an American if they think the tide will turn and they will have a chance to fill the position with an indentured servant, even if that chance is months or years away. (I have seen this happen)

Meanwhile everyone else in the department will be expected to work more for the same salary.

[borgesian]

16. Because the south has the anti union, "right to work" states.

[riverine]

17. Yes, that is a primary reason auto jobs left the upper Midwest

But NAFTA was not.

[roamer65]

7. No. They let them work from India or move the jobs over there.

That’s exactly what my company has done in response to it.

Either way the money gets spent in the Indian economy, not ours.

[IronLionZion]

10. Americans should apply for these jobs

show enough interest and willingness to do the jobs that H-1Bs have been doing. That could help convince these companies. They've been promoting a narrative that Americans won't do this work. American workers should prove them wrong.

[roamer65]

12. They aren't posted here.

They are posted and hired in India.

[IronLionZion]

13. There are jobs posted on company websites, and LinkedIn, Monster, Dice, etc.

with very few Americans applying

[roamer65]

14. True.

Separate point, but true.

However, many of those companies do review the posting to be see if they can be moved overseas before posting it in the US.

[IronLionZion]

15. I've been on the hiring side

with my boss requesting any American resumes get to the top of the stack. Many companies want and even prefer US citizens for these jobs but only H-1Bs apply for it.

[MH1]

23. They ask for years of experience in specific skills

that they have only been hiring H-1Bs for.

They are not interested in bringing in a college grad and letting them learn, even though these programming languages are very accessible to a smart young grad (anyone from a decent school with a comp sci degree with decent grades will pick it up just fine)

The recruiters filter the applications and exclude the Americans because they say the skills match isn't there.

But it is because the job posting was written to target a specific H-1B they want to get.

I have been on the hiring side too.

It is a stack of steaming bullshit.

[roamer65]

24. Yes. Why do you think there are very few Americans applying?

Be interesting to hear your theory.

I have mine.

[IronLionZion]

26. Many Americans don't know about, or buy into the contracting model

they would only think of the big name client firms they know, but not the firms that have the contracts to do the work.

There are ways to get into these jobs, like finding out which companies have contracts for which types of work and then target your job applications. It's also regional where some cities have a few major companies as the client, so one could target applications by location. Any call with a headhunter should always include the questions: who is the client? where is the work location? what is the period of performance (PoP)? etc. or even more contracting jargon like when it was awarded and when it's up for recompete. It can suck to join a company just a few months before their contract ends, and then get laid off.

[IronLionZion]

27. What's your theory on why Americans won't apply?

As a STEM person, I see problems and think of possible solutions, workarounds, alternatives, etc. Our politicians are not going to solve this issue for us, most of them are in the pocket of their wealthy corporate donors.

So at my level, as an American worker, my first and most important course of action for improving my situation is to apply for jobs. I've been laid off and unemployed a few times since workers are disposable. Sure, I'd like to see reforms to the H1B program and have written to my congressional leaders with my suggestions. But when I want a new job I apply and read books and take training and apply some more until I get it. It baffles me why more American workers won't apply for these jobs.

[TexasBlueDog]

8. Hire Americans!

I remember my anger when silicon valley started importing cheap foreign labor to replace American workers. There were stories in the media about fired Americans being forced to train their cheap foreign replacements! There are plenty of Americans capable of doing this work (they were doing it before the H1b scheme).

High paying jobs with a future? We can do those!

[IronLionZion]

11. Americans should apply for these contracting jobs!

There are plenty of jobs out there in IT services. Lots of openings and even some nice starting bonuses.

Get it DUers!

[area51]

18. Programmers Guild

website

[IronLionZion]

19. STEM workers should unionize

fun fact, many STEM workers in other countries are unionized. Indian companies have had to deal with strikes of IT workers. And government workers there have gone on strike to protest privatization and outsourcing in their country.

[IronLionZion]

28. Shameless kick for America

Get it DUers!

H-1B is only a symptom. Contracting is the root cause. It's not for everyone but more Americans should apply for these jobs and find out for themselves.