NEWS CONTACTS: Eric Thomas or Anne Little (202) 822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2004

Coalition Calls for Change in H-1B Visa Program

Cites Program's Importance to Saving U.S. Jobs and Keeping America Competitive

Washington, D.C., February 18, 2004 - The announcement last evening by the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services that the FY'04 allotment on H-1B visas has already been met was cited by American Business for Legal Immigration (ABLI) as evidence that the system needs to be reformed. A wide array of U.S. companies, as well as medical and educational institutions, utilize H-1B visas to employ highly educated foreign professionals in the United States.

"Our goal is to keep the U.S. economy growing and keep U.S. jobs in America. Sometimes this requires hiring a limited number of highly educated foreign professionals to fill technical or specialized positions. In a workforce of 138 million people, gaining access to highly specialized talent is an important component of U.S. competitiveness," said Sandy Boyd, National Association of Manufacturers Human Resources Policy Vice President and ABLI Chair. "Reaching the 2004 visa limit less than halfway through the fiscal year is clear evidence that the system needs to be fixed."

Boyd indicated that a significant number of H-1B professionals are hired directly from U.S. universities. Citing figures from The National Center for Education Statistics, she noted that approximately one-half of all post graduate U.S. degrees in mathematics, engineering and computer science are awarded to foreign students. "U.S. employers should have access to masters and PhD holders whose education was paid, at least in part, through U.S. tax dollars," she stated.

ABLI advocates a solution that enables U.S. employers to keep these highly skilled professionals in the United States.

"It is counterproductive for the U.S. to train foreign scientists and engineers and then send them home to compete against American businesses," she continued. "There is a long history of H-1B workers coming to this country and contributing to America's economic success. This drives job creation, and helps keep America competitive. Access to top talent is not a zero sum gain. Everybody benefits."

The H-1B classification was designed to help U.S.-based companies and institutions fill critical vacancies in "specialty occupations." While high tech usage of the visa has been significantly down over the last two years, use by medical institutions, higher education, elementary and secondary education has risen. Other occupational fields issued visas include architecture, law, accounting, entertainment and recreation, religion and theology and others.

"There is some misconception that H-1B workers are 'cheap labor' - yet nothing could be further from the truth. U.S. law requires that H-1B workers be paid at prevailing U.S. rates, and employers are paying top dollar for this specialized talent," Boyd stated. "In addition, employer-paid H-1B visa fees have generated $200 million for the training of U.S. workers."

Boyd concluded by saying that legitimate users of the system welcome increased enforcement of the H-1B program to help prevent fraud.

American Business for Legal Immigration is a coalition of over 200 corporations, universities, research institutions and trade associations concerned about legal, employment-based immigration and committed to ensuring that the United States has the capacity to acquire the talent necessary for continued innovation and expansion in a worldwide economy.

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