Indian Group Seeks Hike In High-Tech Visa Caps


http://www.crn.com/Sections/BreakingNews/dailyarchives.asp?ArticleID=19431


By Darryl K. Taft <mailto:dtaft@cmp.com>
CRN
Washington, D.C.
6:47 PM EST Mon., Aug. 21, 2000


An organization of Indian software professionals Monday called on the United
States to raise the number of foreign nationals allowed to gain work permits
in the U.S.

The group, called the National Association of Software and Service Companies
(NASSCOM), asked India's prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to pursue
increases in the H-1B visa program and other issues when he visits the U.S.
next month.

In addition to pushing for an increase in the H-1B limitations, NASSCOM is
pushing for the elimination of social security fees for Indian workers in
the U.S. The group argues that Indian high-tech workers in the U.S. should
not be charged social security fees for both countries.

Dewang Mehta, president of NASSCOM, issued a statement saying the main
issues that need to be addressed include the "avoidance of double payment of
social security; increase in global H-1B visa cap and removal of locational
constraints in H-1B visas."

The H-1B program enables foreign high-tech workers to come to the U.S. to
work for a period of three years. The cap on these visas has grown over the
last few years,from 65,000 in 1997 to 115,000 for this year. This year's
quota was used up in March, with many American high-tech firms still
claiming to be in need of bodies to fill slots. The lion's share of H-1B
visa recipients are from India, which itself has begun to feel the
repercussions of its widespread loss of software talent.

The Wall Street Journal last week reported that salaries for software
professionals in India have risen as a result of the competition with the
U.S. for home-grown talent. However, 50,000 to 60,000 of the 100,000
engineers India's schools graduate each year head to the U.S., according to
the Indian Ministry of Information Technology.

Congress is considering raising the H-1B limit to 200,000 a year, starting
next year.


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