H-1B Visas Essential to Attracting and Retaining Talent in America - NFAP Policy Brief

Abstract

H-1B temporary visas have been an essential avenue for allowing high-skilled foreign nationals to work in America. The “Gang of 8” Senate immigration bill would dramatically change employment-based immigration policy, attempting through a variety of means to discourage or, in some cases, prohibit the use of H-1B visas, while providing more employer-sponsored green cards (for permanent residence). Research indicates measures to restrict the use of H-1B visas are not based on sound evidence and would represent a serious policy mistake that would shift more work and resources outside the United States and harm the competitiveness of U.S. employers. (A grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation funded the research for this paper. The contents are solely the responsibility of the National Foundation for American Policy.)