The Self-Imposed Intellectual Cap: H-1B Shortage Research Paper by Nicky

This paper explores and analyzes whether the current immigration policies - specifically the H-1B visa and permanent-resident visa quotas for highly skilled workers - are capable of solving the problems facing America, such as the shortage of skilled workers. The effects of these policies on foreign skilled workers, foreign students graduating from U.S. universities, businesses such as Microsoft, and the U.S. economy are also analyzed. The paper seeks to understand how Congress can balance the U.S. need to retain the best and brightest to compete in the global market with the policies underlying immigration quotas. The current restrictions on the employment of highly skilled foreign workers are hurting the U.S. economy, the paper states. The paper explains that many U.S. companies have been forced to expand their operations overseas and outsource work instead of keeping it in the United States. The paper asserts that Congress should, therefore, raise the H-1B cap to allow businesses to expand their operations in the United States and create jobs for Americans. The paper concludes that it is imperative that Congress take action now to start the long-awaited process of immigration reform; by starting with highly skilled immigrants, Congress can pave the way toward other immigration policy reform.

Outline:
Background of H-1B Visa Program
History of Guest Workers in the United States
Leading up to the H-1 Visa Program
Establishment and Implementation of the H-1B Visa Program
Modern Problems Arising from the H-1B Visa Quota
Impact of the H-1B Visa Program
Shortage of Engineers
Job Creation
Outsourcing
Foreign Student
H-1B Visa Debate
Proposals and Solutions
Proposal To Do Away with H-1B Visa Program
Proposal To Maintain the H-1B Program
Bill Gates Proposal
My Proposal
Conclusion
Works Cited