February 5, 2009 at 14:58Microsoft does not refuse the program H-1B
Before the crisis, Microsoft was the main lobbyist for the increase in the number of H-1B visas that are issued for programmers who want to come to work in the United States. But the situation quickly changed. Now Microsoft itself is laying off 5,000 employees, and the unemployment rate in the United States has reached a 16-year high. It would seem, where can one think about programmers from Russia and India?
However, just a month ago, Microsoft confirmed its position to expand the quota for issuing H1-B visas and published a corresponding application on the Obama administration website.
Critics of a program for receiving foreign programmers publish open lettersto Microsoft's leadership, demanding an explanation of this paradox. Obviously, they cannot understand that even in conditions of high unemployment, it is almost impossible to find normal programmers in America, and it is impossible to do without importing foreign workers. Microsoft confirms that it still cannot find specialists for key positions of leading programmers, software architects and project managers.
Critics argue that in fact, Microsoft simply wants to save on salaries, because similar foreign specialists are cheaper than American ones (for example, American C ++ programmers get $ 55 per hour, and similar specialists from Russia are ready to work cheaper). This is against the rules of the H1-B program.
via BusinessWeek
However, just a month ago, Microsoft confirmed its position to expand the quota for issuing H1-B visas and published a corresponding application on the Obama administration website.
Critics of a program for receiving foreign programmers publish open lettersto Microsoft's leadership, demanding an explanation of this paradox. Obviously, they cannot understand that even in conditions of high unemployment, it is almost impossible to find normal programmers in America, and it is impossible to do without importing foreign workers. Microsoft confirms that it still cannot find specialists for key positions of leading programmers, software architects and project managers.
Critics argue that in fact, Microsoft simply wants to save on salaries, because similar foreign specialists are cheaper than American ones (for example, American C ++ programmers get $ 55 per hour, and similar specialists from Russia are ready to work cheaper). This is against the rules of the H1-B program.
via BusinessWeek