Microsoft is the latest in a long line of companies, individuals, employment-based immigration attorneys and interest groups asking for immigration reform. On Tuesday, July 26th, Microsoft's general counsel, Brad Smith, testified before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security. His message was simple: companies looking for highly-skilled employees continue to have trouble finding top talent to fill jobs, even in this economy.

In a report to the subcommittee, he wrote that it took Microsoft an average of 65 days to fill some of its vital technology positions because the skill simply was not available. "We need to be able to attract - and have adequate access to - skilled workers from abroad," he wrote.

Part of his conversation centered around the fact that the American workforce must be enhanced through better education in "the fields that our economy needs." However, that process can take many years. For now, he stated, technology-based companies need the opportunity to "attract skilled workers to meet unfilled talent needs and remain competitive."

Smith's proposal included, among other things:

  • Increasing the supply of employment-based green cards to reduce the backlog and meet the demand. The number of employment-based green cards (E visas) issued each year is at 140,000.
  • Reforming student visa policies to allow a "dual intent" student visa, allow more time for post-graduate training and "streamline the path to permanent residence" for some students

Opponents of high-skilled immigration reform claim that companies must spend more time trying to find those highly-skilled workers in the United States.

Bipartisan Proposal for Highly-Skilled Immigration Reform

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators is developing legislation that would do many of the things requested by Microsoft. The legislation would allow foreign students with U.S. science, technology and math degrees to apply for green cards. It would also impact the H-1B visa program.

Currently, the cap for H-1B visas is 85,000. The H-1B visa allows companies to bring in individuals that possess "theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge."

For more information about employment-based immigrant visas or H-1B visas, contact an experienced Florida immigration attorney or an immigration lawyer near you.

Source: Brad Smith, Congressional Statement, "The Economic Imperative for Immigration Reform - High-Skilled Immigration as a Driver of Economic Growth"