Comment Re:How tech companies pretend to need H1Bs (Score 1) 230
Despite having worked with many H1B coworkers, I have seen NO indication that they are superior in ability, on average, compared to their US coworkers. Like all employees, their skill level tends to follow the normal curve. A few are outstanding, most are average, and a few are sub-par.
As for replacing an existing H1B position, in one notable case I was told by my VP: "We have to open this job because H1B rules require that we do so. But I want you to find something wrong with each candidate so we can make sure that no one else will qualify."
These are the kinds of shenanigans that companies routinely pull. They are highly skilled at complying with the letter of the law, while completely obliterating the spirit of the law.
I agree. Everybody falls in a bell curve but when in the instances an H1b comes out on top, the companies want the top candidate rather than rejecting the top candidate for a lower candidate that is not H1b. Not saying h1b is always better; but when they are better they are not rejected due to their h1b in favor of a local candidate.
On your second point, once you have someone who is already doing the job and doing well in it, there is very little reason to want to take on a new person. The law wants you to replace him/her but everybody would want to keep their co-worker. The law needs a reason to reject and people will find it.
Again, this is not in the spirit of the law though fine with the letter of the law.
I'm against H1b. It was initially created as a way for foreign workers to get into the US where local skill was not available. The green card was followed shortly afterwards and people would be in h1b for only a short time. The current way of students getting into h1b, Indians having decades long h1b etc is all bad and not in the spirit of how it was initially conceived. The path from working to green card and citizenship should be very very short.