Getting Immigration Right

F1 Students on OPT.
From my research I found a number of countries where if you are an international student who may have worked part-time while you study for undergraduate degree or post graduate full time; or worked full time after studying such a person have the freedom to apply for a temporary resident visa and temporary work permit based on number of years pursuing a degree in that country. In those countries applying for temporary resident visa and temporary work permit may be done with or without a contract from an employer and they also have the option to extend such permits. Additionally, if the student have a spouse or children they are allowed to apply for a work permit by him or herself. Why is that not the case in the USA where there are so many positions full-time, part-time and contract jobs for which these graduates meet the job requirements particularly in the Information Technology, business field, management, teaching, nursing. If a graduate from a USA university or college have the degree required and meet the requirements for a job in which he or she is interested and the employer is also interested, then such a student should be able to apply for a temporary resident visa and work permit on his or own. If such a worker keeps this job for 8 months minimum full time and contributes to the success of the organization for which he or she works then such a person should be able to file for his or her permanent residency individually. This has established that such a worker have a skill that is needed in this USA and in effect can contribute to the success of the company for which he or she works and similar companies and as a result to the growth of the USA economy. Also, by the fact that the person can successfully hold a job and contribute to the success of an organization and he or she can earn a salary then he or she can establish himself or herself in the USA. Yes the USA is going through a recession and employers are still cutting jobs. But how long can this jobletting (bloodletting) continue and the economy recovers sooner successfully? Some of those workers were released under the guise of re-organization or downsizing but the truth be told is that some of those workers may have needed new skills. International graduates among the rest of graduates have some of those required skills today. Why allow so called protectionism to slow down the recovery of this economy? This economy recovers then the world economy recovers because today we are in a global market place. There are international graduates with skills, education, experience and enthusiasm that are needed today. Why do those students after working on OPT have to extend OPT for 17 months via STEM program waiting on companies to apply for H1B visa because there is not enough H1B visas. Reader what do you think? Let us start a discussion while senate and congress put immigration issues on the back burner.

Getting Immigration Right - F1 students on OPT

From my research I found a number of countries where if you are an international student who may have worked part-time while you study for undergraduate degree or post graduate full time; or worked full time after studying such a person have the freedom to apply for a temporary resident visa and temporary work permit based on number of years pursuing a degree in that country. In those countries applying for temporary resident visa and temporary work permit may be done with or without a contract from an employer and they also have the option to extend such permits. Additionally, if the student have a spouse or children they are allowed to apply for a work permit by him or herself. Why is that not the case in the USA where there are so many positions full-time, part-time and contract jobs for which these graduates meet the job requirements particularly in the Information Technology, business field, management, teaching, nursing. If a graduate from a USA university or college have the degree required and meet the requirements for a job in which he or she is interested and the employer is also interested, then such a student should be able to apply for a temporary resident visa and work permit on his or own. If such a worker keeps this job for 8 months minimum full time and contributes to the success of the organization for which he or she works then such a person should be able to file for his or her permanent residency individually. This has established that such a worker have a skill that is needed in this USA and in effect can contribute to the success of the company for which he or she works and similar companies and as a result to the growth of the USA economy. Also, by the fact that the person can successfully hold a job and contribute to the success of an organization and he or she can earn a salary then he or she can establish himself or herself in the USA. Yes the USA is going through a recession and employers are still cutting jobs. But how long can this jobletting (bloodletting) continue and the economy recovers sooner successfully? Some of those workers were released under the guise of re-organization or downsizing but the truth be told is that some of those workers may have needed new skills. International graduates among the rest of graduates have some of those required skills today. Why allow so called protectionism to slow down the recovery of this economy? This economy recovers then the world economy recovers because today we are in a global market place. There are international graduates with skills, education, experience and enthusiasm that are needed today. Why do those students after working on OPT have to extend OPT for 17 months via STEM program waiting on companies to apply for H1B visa because there is not enough H1B visas. Reader what do you think? Let us start a discussion while senate and congress put immigration issues on the back burner.

Getting Immigration right

It is sad to see what is happening in Arizona with illegal immigrants and we are in the year 2010.
Also, it is amazing that for a country with a rich colorful immigrant history and which is made up of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,5th ... generations from immigrants are so angry about other people immigrating to the USA. You would think that after so many years this country and its leaders would by now get the immigration laws right, not just for illegal immigrants but also for legal non-immigrants who are contributing to the growth of the economy of this country, and paying their taxes. Most of us know about illegal immigrants. But who are these non-immigrants who are living here legally and contributing to the growth of this economy? They are tertiary level educated, experienced H1b and L1 workers from various countries that American companies in most industries in the USA have recruited to work in their organization. They have significantly contributed to the growth of the organization for which he or she works for over three years or six years. The contract usually lasts six years after which the worker has to leave this country and return to his or her country of origin. To remain in the USA after six years the worker may be able to obtain a green card or permanent residency if the company for which he or she works decides to sponsor such an employee. Therein resides the problem of these workers. If for some reason the employer falls out of favor with the employee for whom he or she has started the permanent residency sponsorship process then the employer at his or her whim and fancy can terminate such an employee ending the process. This should not be the case. The immigration law should be one, where if a law abiding non-immigrant, employee has worked in an organization in this country on a H1b visa or a L1 visa at any point in time, for over a year full time, with no criminal history nor no link to any terrorist group, pay his or her taxes; then such an employee should be able if they so choose to remain in the USA, should be able to sponsor himself on herself and immediate family for permanent residency. Who is lobbying for this group of legal non-immigrant residents? That’s my question. If anyone reading my blog has had such an experience tell me about it. Let us start a discussion while the senate and congress contemplates to fix the immigration law hopefully not only for illegal immigrants but also for legal non- immigrants. It’s time that these legal non-immigrants speak out and stop allowing fear to stop them in their tracks.

TMAS