Fraudulent H1-B visa applicants hurt United States labor market

With greatest schools, finest research oriented education system and rich talent around the country, many do not agree that United States lacks the “skilled” workers.

The bigger question is: Is US failing to produce the skilled workers that US needs for its efficient economic system? If Yes, then another question arises: who else in the world has more resources to produce the skilled workers that United States needs?

US has 4,599 degree granting institutions. This is far more than most countries in this world.  Inarguably, even the community colleges in  US have better research oriented education system that provides the necessary skill for anyone to be successful in the job market. Yet, the real percentage of unemployed workers is unknown. The list of unemployed workers include Ivy League to community college grads. If these US schools are not competent enough in producing the necessary talent, what can be done to improve them? The larger debate should be on the shortcomings of the education institutions that are failing to produce skilled talent.

One nation takes away most of the work visa quota which is disadvantageous for other nationals

I came across an email where the sender discusses about a bill that’s pending in the Congress.  The bill gives a work authorization to the spouses of the H1B workers. The statistics that he presented was staggering. More than 90% of the H1B workers come from two Indian states of Southern India – Tamilnadu and Andra Pradesh. Notably, these two states do not have any world renowned educational institutions. Then what makes these two states claim most of the H1B visa quota? Many people say, the answer is simple: Forgery, Nepotism, Corruption.

In Indian classified websites, you can find more than 500 training and placement agencies located in India with a virtual or a very small office in United States.  Many of these people register their own consultancy firm and promise to place other candidates while they themselves are working for another company on H1B visa . Their model is same. Go to classified websites. Post that you are looking for a job. You will get calls and emails from hundreds of agencies. These agencies ask you to pay a training fee ranging from $500-$1500. They train you for a few weeks and then market your resume to employers. With few weeks of training, your resume gets an experience of 5+ years. They take phone interviews on your behalf. They train you on very simple tools.  As they work in their networks, they eventually are able to place you somewhere to begin with. Not to forget, because these India consulting firms also sponsor you for H1B visas or green cards, you have no choice but to take whatever they pay you. If you are lucky, you would be paid. There are many people who run their own payroll just to remain in legal status.

The Morningside Plague

Morningside evaluates the photocopy of degree you fax to them and any other relevant certifications. Using a guidebook, they almost always grant any applicant a US equivalent bachelors or a masters degree for a very small fee. The documents faxed by the applicant to get his credentials evaluated is never verified by Morningside. This evaluation document could be used for job or immigration purposes. For example, you can print a transcript from any Indian school and send to Morningside with a fee. You will receive your evaluation that you have US equivalent of Bachelors or Masters degree. Isn’t that easy?

No trust on US education system / International Student Crisis

US has more foreign students than any other country. These students from so many countries come to United States with a hope of getting the best world class education.  Soon after they complete their undergrad, they realize that an applicant from a foreign nation has taken their H1B visa seat. Essentially, international students who embrace United States education and culture at a young age of 16, 17 or 18 –these college freshmen–find themselves at a huge disadvantage.  If the skilled employee was being produced in a foreign nation, why these foreign students come to US, bust their a$$ for four years? This leads to a distrust on US educational institutions and jeopardizes the starting of career of a foreign student.

Foreign students are prime target of Indian consulting firms. They target graduates with Employment Authorization Document so that they don’t have to sponsor for H1B visa immediately. However, they force the graduates to sign agreements. They provide free training and forge their resumes. In one instance, the resume of one of the midwest liberal arts college graduate with a GPA of 3.54 dual major in business and computer science and minor in economics, all completed in 3.5 years, was replaced with University of Mumbai, year graduated in 1999.  She was a class of 2004 from the school in Wisconsin.  When she got her new resume, she was surprised. She refused to proceed with that consulting firm. She tried others but got the same responses. As a result, she was never hired and is still in a Texas community college to maintain her immigration status – in hopes that one day things will work out. The others who forged and the ones who had all fake credentials from abroad and came to US in H1B visa from other countries are much ahead of her in career. This is not only her story; this is the story of most international students who had faith in US education system.

Foreign Students Returning

Foreign students, especially undergrads, become adults in the United States.  Unlike foreign H1B workers or grad students, these undergrads are often too young when they come to US. They develop patriotism towards US, immerse themselves in US culture and make friends. Unfortunately enough, they suffer the most.  Worst, some of the foreign students who were not given a work visa because “their visa spot” was given to someone from abroad, are returning to their country and doing really well. The result, the jobs are being created abroad, the talent that US produced is being used by another country.

Bottom Line

Abuse of H1B visa is a great injustice to American workers and foreign students in US and it deserves to be heavily monitored.  Skills are defined, created and born here. This is the land of Edison, Wright Brothers, Armstrong and thousands of other great people who led this country.