Kelly Brewington, Baltimore Sun reporter:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.visas02may02,0,412835.story
[edit: link died]
Tag Archives: H-1B
Multiple H1-B Visa Petitions
Some accuse me of not having enough faith in my fellow man, but I think they’re wrong. I mean, it just never occurred to me that there would be multiple H-1B applications for the same worker! It figures. So the government’s stepping in.
Check this article, Employers Prohibited From Filing Multiple H-1B Visa Petitions For Same Worker, from Information Week. [You can’t, the link died.]
Sort of related, my business has been receiving an increasing number of calls lately from firms interested in helping me with my “H-1B issues”. The callers invariably have heavy Indian accents. My toll-free number reports ANI, and sometimes I’ll reverse lookup the telephone numbers of the callers. It’s interesting how many come from high-density residential housing, according to Google Earth. Hmmm.
Anyway, as a rule, the offers are politely declined…
Microsoft To Sidestep H-1B Visa Caps
Microsoft, it seems, frustrated with the results of its lobbying efforts, is sidestepping the H-1B visa caps. This fall it plans to open a software development center in nearby Vancouver, British Colombia. Assuming that they can secure employment authorization from Canada, Microsoft will staff the SDC with 200 programmers from China, India and other non-US markets. That’s “highly skilled people affected by immigration issues in the U.S.” according to a Microsoft statement. They may also open to IT workers from Canada even foreign workers whose US visa is expiring. 200 workers doesn’t sound like much, but there’s “room to grow,” according to Microsoft.
How long until others follow Microsoft’s lead?
All this hot on the heels of the Cohen & Grigsby video excerpts assembled by the Programmers’ Guild, as reported by Information Week and other outlets.
Cohen & Grigsby made a response, of course, but the cat was already out of the bag and, frankly, I think that their response was very weak indeed.