WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. businesses’ continuing labor needs in specialized fields caused H-1B visa applications to hit their cap less than one week after the filing period for fiscal year 2018 opened.
It is the fifth straight year U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the visa cap within a week.
The agency announced today that it has reached the congressionally mandated cap of 65,000 H-1B visas, for foreign workers in fields such as such as science, technology and engineering. Each year, the H-1B visa cap is set arbitrarily, rather than according to market need.
For every 100 foreign workers with H-1B visas, 183 jobs are added for native-born workers in the U.S.
“Year after year American businesses are hindered from bringing talent to grow their businesses and create more jobs for American workers,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “An out-of-date visa system does not meet businesses’ labor needs, which in turn holds all of us back.
“It’s time for real solutions. Our global competitiveness depends on welcoming specialized foreign workers who add value to our economy and our communities.”