US President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration is expected to include some modest changes to make it easier for technology companies to retain high-skilled workers frustrated by long and unpredictable waits for green cards.
However, the major overhaul that the tech sector is seeking of the visa and green card system would require action by the US Congress. For now at least, the prospects for legislation appear to be slim.
Obama has pledged take executive action on immigration by year-end and could act as early as Friday next week. Lobbyists for tech companies said they have not seen details about the fixes, but based on the options the tech sector pitched to the administration, they are expecting only incremental changes.
“We’d be grateful for anything, really, because the situation is that severe,” said Emily Lam, a vice president with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, which represents more than 375 employers.
“The true fix really has to be legislative; anything within their power is really going to be tweaking on the sides. It doesn’t solve the fundamental issues,” she said.
One big reform that requires legislation: lifting the annual cap for H1B visas for specialized technology workers that last for up to six years.
The US loses about 500,000 jobs per year because of those limits, according to estimates from Compete America, a coalition representing tech giants including Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft.
Most changes within Obama’s powers are aimed at easing the transition for workers moving from H1B visas to green cards.
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