Bill to Restrict Use of H-1B Visas Introduced in US Senate

Washington: Two US Senators have introduced a bipartisan legislation in the Senate seeking reform of H-1B visa programme and modification of wage requirements. They also called for a sense of urgency against the "abuse of the system" over a scheme they claimed has got away from its original intent.

The bill has been introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley, Chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee, and Dick Durbin, Assistant Democratic Leader. It is cosponsored by Senators Bill Nelson, Richard Blumenthal, and Sherrod Brown.

The bill would prohibit companies from hiring H-1B employees if they employ more than 50 people and more than 50 per cent of their employees are H-1B and L-1 visa holders.

This provision would crack down on outsourcing companies that import large numbers of H-1B and L-1 workers for short training periods and then send these workers back to their home country to do the work of Americans, the Senators said.

"For years, foreign outsourcing companies have used loopholes in the laws to displace qualified American workers and facilitate the outsourcing of American jobs. The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act would end these abuses and protect American and foreign workers from exploitation," Durbin said.

The bill would also give the Department of Labour enhanced authority to review, investigate and audit employer compliance as well as to penalise fraudulent or abusive conduct.

The bill says that working conditions of similarly employed American workers may not be adversely affected by the hiring of the H-1B worker, including who have been placed by another employer at the American worker's worksite.

It explicitly prohibits replacement of American workers by H-1B or L-1 visa holders.

The Grassley-Durbin reform bill will for the first time prioritise the annual allocation of H-1B visas.

In addition, the bill includes establishment of a wage floor for L-1 workers; authority for the Department of Homeland Security to investigate, audit and enforce compliance with L-1 program requirements; and a change to the definition of "specialized knowledge" to ensure that L-1 visas are reserved only for truly key personnel.

133,000 Indian students contribute $3.6 bn to US economy

Washington: With a whopping 29.4 percent increase, a record high of 132,888 Indian students studying in the US in 2014/15 academic year contributed $3.6 billion to the US economy, according to a new report.

India was the second leading place of origin for students coming to the US, making up 13.6 percent of the total international students in the country, according to the 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released Monday.

The report is published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

International students' spending in all 50 states contributed more than $30 billion to the US economy in 2014 with students from India contributing $3.6 billion, the report said citing the US Department of Commerce.

China remains the top sending country, with almost twice the number of students in the US as India, but India's rate of growth and absolute increases outpaced China's 11 percent.

It was also the second year of rising numbers for India, following three years of declines.

India's 29.4 percent growth is the highest rate of growth for Indian students in the history of the Open Doors project, which spans back to 1954/55.

The last time India grew at a comparable rate (29.1) was in 2000/01 when the number of students from India exceeded 50,000 for the first time.