Immigration reform could help IT professionals

laptopKey authors of the new bill to reform US immigration have reached out to the business community, declaring that their legislation deals with concerns about skill shortages and would result in a boost to the economic growth of the United States.

The senators listed the most important provisions of the immigration bill for business, telling the corporate sector that this would not only result in an increase in the number of H-1B US visas but would also retain and attract talent from all over the world, something that the United States is badly in need of at the moment.

Senator John McCain told members of the very powerful US Chamber of Commerce that the business community should lobby and support the immigration bill that he and his fellow members of the Gang of Eight have introduced to Congress.  “High tech companies will be able to bring in and keep more highly skilled workers through the H-1B visa program,” McCain declared.  “The bill would raise the cap on H-1Bs to 110,000 a year with an absolute ceiling of 180,000.  American workers will always be given the first opportunity for a job.”

McCain also says that under the new immigration bill a student who graduates from a college in this country with a degree in science, technology, engineering or math and has received an employment offer will be eligible to get a green card and stay living in the United States on an indefinite basis.