WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the sixth straight year, the U.S. government has hit its arbitrary cap on specialized H-1B visas in less than a week.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 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. Congress set the H-1B visa cap arbitrarily — in 1990 — rather than according to market need.
Although the government has investigated “possible misuse” of the visa, its successes are many. Every 100 foreign workers with H-1B visas help create 183 jobs for native-born workers in the U.S. More recent studies have indicated that the program results in job growth in every state and net gains for U.S. workers.
“Here is a legal immigration program that benefits American workers,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Raising or eliminating the cap would help all Americans thrive. Businesses should not have to play the lottery to try to meet their labor needs.”