H-1B visas to US already reach 2007 limit

The government has already reached the limit on high-tech worker visas for 2007 even though the fiscal year doesn't start until Oct 1, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said.

Associated Press reported that high-tech companies said that underscores the need to increase the 65,000 annual cap on the popular H-1B visas used to bring in engineers, computer programmers and others. Immigration legislation passed by the Senate would increase the number to 115,000, but a House version of the bill doesn't address the issue, and it's unclear whether lawmakers will be able to write a compromise bill.

“Our message is whether it's comprehensive immigration reform or some other way we really need relief this year,'” said Sandy Boyd, a vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers. “There's much more demand for highly educated folks in specialty occupations and we hurt our competitiveness when we don't allow American companies access to the talent they need.'' It's the fourth year in a row that the cap has been met before the start of the fiscal year. This year was the earliest that it has happened, tech companies said.

The Citizen and Immigration Services began accepting H-1B petitions on April 1 and exceeded the cap on May 26, the agency said in a press release. Petitions subject to the 2007 cap that USCIS receives after May 26 will be rejected, the release said. High-tech firms won't have another opportunity to apply until April 1, 2007, when petitioning will start for the 2008 fiscal year that begins Oct 1, 2007.

The visas are widely used in the Silicon Valley and elsewhere. Companies pay a $3,185 fee to bring workers in under the six-year visas. In addition to raising the cap, the Senate bill would allow it to increase as much as 20 percent more each year, depending on demand.
Immigrants with certain advanced degrees would not be subject to the cap. There already are exemptions for some immigrants who've received higher-education degrees in the US or are going to work at universities or non-profits. US technology workers and other opponents contend the expansion is unnecessary and will only bring down wages and discourage American youngsters from pursuing tech careers.