Virginia Tech Hires 101 H-1Bs

Date: Monday, January 31, 2005 10:10 AM

JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

by Rob Sanchez
January 31, 2005 No. 1186

Since the beginning of the H-1B program universities have been one of
the most voracious users of H-1B visas. Universities and colleges are
exempt from the yearly cap so they can hire unlimited numbers of
foreign workers to staff their research labs and teach classes.

The article below reads more like an infomercial for Virginia Tech.
They talk about how difficult it is to obtain an H-1B visa and then
brag about their 100% success rate at obtaining 101 visas - the
implication being that Virginia Tech has the inside track on expediting
the H-1B process.

H-1B visas should be far more difficult enough to obtain in order to
discourage cheap-labor hungry employers such as Virginia Tech from
exploiting foreign labor while shunning American citizens.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.collegiatetimes.com/index.php?ID=4946

H-1B Visa petitions harder to come by

posted: January 28, 2005
Undergraduate students hoping to stay for graduate study are advised to
apply for H-1B visas.

Jen Loeffler
Staff Writer

Virginia Tech receives hundreds of international applicants each year.
This year, the process of being admitted to Tech as a graduate student
from abroad is more extensive than in the past.

Over the previous two years, Tech has begun the processing of H-1B visa
petitions for international employees.

According to Gerald Berkley-Coats, assistant director for international
support services, an H-1B visa is an employment visa specialized for
graduate students that allows one to work for up to six years in the
United States. Berkley-Coats said the visas are government-issued.

Graduate students and scholars typically apply for H-1B visas from
their home country. Tech, however, cannot offer a position for work
until the government has approved an individuals H-1B.

Typically, an international undergraduate student at Tech wishing to
stay in the United States to pursue higher education would transfer
from a student visa to an H-1B, Berkley-Coats said.

"The security changes required in the wake of the events of September
11, 2001, have been criticized for discouraging students and scholars
from studying or teaching in the United States. However, working with
other government agencies and academic and scientific groups, we have
made real progress in improving the transparency, efficiency and
predictability of the visa process," said Maura Harty, assistant
secretary of state for consular affairs.

Berkley-Coats said the visas were fairly hard to come by.

"Obtaining an H-1B visa is not easy. There is a 17-page handbook
available to guide you through the process," said Berkley-Coats, who
compared the process to doing taxes. "The United States is very
concerned with who enters the country now after 9/11. Homeland Security
is a relatively new department in the government, so the rules are
constantly changing."

While the process of obtaining an H-1B may be strenuous to some,
international undergraduate Jon Hibbert said the university is
supportive in the visa process.

Within the last nine months, the university has processed 101 H-1B
visas with a 100 percent success rate, said Berkley-Coats.

"Virginia Tech makes the process of getting a student visa easier.
Its so complicated and grueling now that its nice to at least
have the university on your side," Hibbert said.

For more information on an international visa, visit
www.uusa.vt.edu/cranwell

According to the universities guidelines, the H-1B regulations include
the restriction of a break or gap in employment, required payment of
all employees even if they are "volunteers" and the provision that the
employee leave the country after their term of employment has been
completed, among others.

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