The largest high-skilled immigration program in the U.S. — the H-1B temporary work visa — has been subject to vigorous debate. Most immigrants receiving employer-sponsored green cards started out as H- 1B visa holders. These visas are only available to foreigners with college degrees in STEM, medical, and other select fields.
According to research on this topic, these immigrants fill essential positions, bring special talent and innovation to the American economy, create opportunities for domestic workers, and enable American industries to flourish and grow. Most studies find that H-1B workers reduce the unemployment rate in specific industries and raise wages for domestic workers.
Recent H-1B reforms are intended to favor higher-paid foreign workers and may limit the number of skilled immigrants and entrepreneurs allowed to work in the U.S. These limitations may push jobs and investments out of the United States.
As a state with over 20,000 H-1B visa recipients per year, New Jersey may suffer dire economic consequences from such changes. For this reason, the Coalition, in partnership with the NJ Business and Industry Association, organized a webinar on this topic, bringing together local and national experts to discuss the future of the H-1B visa program.
Our specialists included Julia Gelatt, Associate Director of the Migration Policy Institute; Britta Glennon, Assistant Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Patrick Shen, Vice- President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Zuzana C Wootson, Deputy Director of Federal Policy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. We were also proud to have the input of Neha Mahajan of the Asian Indian Chamber of commerce and Kathleen Naasz, Director of Entrepreneurship at the NJ Institute of Technology.
You may view the 90-minute video of the webinar below.
Webinar sponsors include the law firms of Archer &Greiner, and Genova Burns.