The USCIS has announced that it has received enough petitions to meet the regular H-1B visa cap and the masters H-1B visa cap. The Masters cap was met on June 7, 2012, and the regular cap was met yesterday, June 12, 2012.
Future posts will discuss what options are available in lieu of the H-1B. This post will only quickly note that in this economic climate, the H-1B cap has been exhausted over fifteen months before the end of the fiscal year. Such a gap is expected – given that the quota numbers are based on the US economy of 1990.
The gap shows just how lacking the U.S. employment force is when it comes to what U.S. employers need. Although it is tough for its opponents to admit, obtaining an H-1B employee costs a company significantly more than if that company were to hire an American employee. Thousands and thousands of dollars more. Yet, American employers turn to the H-1B to hire workers qualified for positions where it cannot find any qualified U.S. workers.
Perhaps it is time to change the immigration policy to better meet the needs of American employers? In addition, perhaps it is time to make needed changes to the American educational system.