A Response To “New U.S. Visa Fees Would Hit Indian Firms”
We need to analyse some of the emotive issues being that ussed in this forum objectively. The fact is that Americans are not usual employee motivations in IT areana anymore. Most of the lower and medium level technical positions are occupied by Indians or people of Indian origin.
The key thing to understand here is that the American worker is not costlier by just 3000 dollar and this fee would not change anything in terms of employee racial / nationality mix.
During my work in last 10 years in IT industry, I have tried to understand and here is my read:
- Due to offshoring, the onsite IT person needs to be able to communicate with offshore team at late hours. You can expect an H1B person to do that but can not expect Americans to do that. The person coming on H1B is just grateful to be in US and happy for a chance to save a bit of money. H1B employee will not protest or complain if he has to attend 1 hr call late in night.
- Mobility is a big factor. H1B employee will be happy to work at a location for 4 months and then move to another location depending on work requirement. Americans by contrast will have family ties binding them to one location.
- Most H1B are not evern aware of their rights and do not get paid for re-locatin costs or per diem to travel on short duration. American employee will demand it.
- Americans may become unionised but an H1B employee will not do it due to fear of being sent back.
Above has some harsh realities for Indians and Americans but i believe them to be true.
