H1B visa system labeled as a sham by a Redditor, who claims it's a joke with an underlying rigged structure, not merely flawed.
In a recent post on Reddit, an American user has expressed concern over the H-1B visa program, describing it as a "scam", "joke", and "rigged". The user claims that the program is not benefiting American workers, but rather enabling employers to hire cheaper foreign labor and avoid paying competitive wages.
The post targets outsourcing giants Tata, Infosys, and Cognizant for gaming the H-1B system. The user alleges that these companies flood the lottery with shell applications for basic IT roles, calling them "specialized talent". According to the user, most of the roles are not elite, but rather basic help desk, QA, admin work, which local graduates can do.
The user also accuses companies of using the H-1B visa to bring in cheap labor and tie these workers to an employer, preventing them from quitting. The user states that most immigrants on the H-1B visa are locked into contracts that aren't beneficial, and these immigrants are often afraid to speak up, move jobs, or push back due to their contractual obligations.
The user describes the H-1B visa holders as being in a state of modern indentured labor. The user further contends that wealthy tech entrepreneurs like Elon Musk benefit from the H-1B program by accessing a large pool of highly skilled but comparatively low-cost international workers, which can reduce labor costs and increase corporate profits.
The debate surrounding the H-1B visa program centers on concerns that it enables employers to hire cheaper foreign labor at the expense of American workers, leading to layoffs or sidelining of domestic talent. Critics argue that companies, including major tech giants, sometimes use H-1B visas to replace American employees rather than genuinely seeking highly skilled foreign workers.
Supporters contend that the program is essential for attracting global talent to maintain U.S. innovation and competitiveness. However, the current system uses a lottery to allocate 85,000 annual visas (plus 20,000 for advanced degree holders), but there is a move toward a wage-based weighted lottery that would prioritize higher-paying jobs, potentially benefiting large firms with high salary offers.
The program's role in the U.S. tech sector is controversial amid layoffs of American workers coinciding with expanded hiring of H-1B holders, raising suspicions of a deliberate replacement strategy. Political figures differ in opinions: while some like former President Trump support maintaining or reforming the program to ensure "best and brightest" talent, others call for stricter limits or ending employment-based visas to protect American jobs.
The user calls for higher wage minimums for H-1B roles, banning third-party outsourcing firms from applying, letting workers switch jobs freely, and stricter skill screening. The post suggests that the H-1B visa was never designed to empower workers, but to control them. The user concludes by calling for people to speak out against the issue, describing it as labor abuse, not immigration.
It is important to note that the post reflects the views of the Reddit user and does not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. The debate surrounding the H-1B visa program is complex and multifaceted, with strong opinions on both sides. As the program continues to evolve, it is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders to consider the concerns of all parties involved to ensure a fair and equitable system for both foreign and domestic workers.
In the span of social media discussions, the user suggests that a shift towards a wage-based weighted lottery for H-1B visas could potentially benefit large firms with high salary offers in the finance and tech sectors, like Elon Musk's ventures. The user expresses their concerns about the H-1B visa program, arguing that it is not solely an immigration issue, but a matter of social-media worthy labor abuse, particularly in the realm of entertainment and social-media, with the potential for ‘specialized talent’ to be little more than basic help desk, QA, or admin work.
