Bush Welcomes Indian H-1Bs

Date: Friday, November 15, 2002 1:18 PM

H-1B and JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

www.ZaZona.com

I can't understand why George Bush is popular considering how he is
conspiring to destroy what jobs we have left. American workers need to stop
shooting themselves in the foot and vote for somebody that cares about "the
economy - STUPID!"

Notice that Bush is doing the HMOs a favor by making it far easier for H-1B
doctors to stay in the US.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=27405516

US eases H-1B visa rules for geeks and medicos
URMI A GOSWAMI

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2002 01:18:01 AM ]

NEW DELHI: On November 2, US President George W Bush signed the Department
of Justice Authorisation Bill which will make extension for H-1B visas
easier. It will also make it possible for more Indian doctors to live and
work in the US once their academic programme is over.

The extension of H-1B visas will particularly benefit the high tech sector.
This is good news for Indian H-1B visa holders, as nearly 50% of them are
working in the high-tech sector. Industry too will benefit, since there will
be fewer instances of project disruption from loss of key employees.

Prior to this law, extensions were possible but applicants had to file a
labour certification during their fifth year of stay, and an immigration
petition — the next step in the long line to permanent residency — in the
sixth year.

Under the new law, those in H-1B can apply for extensions without regard to
the ability to file an immigrant petition by the end of the sixth year. The
law thus recognises that those foreign nationals applying for extensions are
already well valued by their companies, have significant ties to the US and
do not pose a threat to jobs of US workers.

The Conrad State 20 programme, which has been extended, will make it
possible for more Indian medical graduates to stay in the US after
completing their course of study.

All they will have to do is serve out three years in an area designated as
facing a shortage in qualified doctors. Prior to this law, the number of
waivers permitted was 20, it has now gone up to 30. The programme has also
been extended till 2004.

US immigration law requires foreign medical graduates to return to their
country on completion of their course for at least two years before they can
apply for a non-immigrant or permanent residency status.

There are however certain programmes under which this requirement may be
waived.

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