5 ms·

Why would SV clash with Trump on this? This seems like a sensible solution to the problem and one I've seen posted multiple times here on HN.

by ggame 10y ago

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
gtufano 10y ago
The changes on L-1, E-2 and B1 visas could seriously affect SV talent recruiting. It is a very significant change, in any case. edit: I'm mistaken, it seems... sorry.
- smikhanov 10y ago
  No, they won't. B-1 visa holders are not allowed to work, E-2 holders are rare among the SV workforce and don't represent any slice of the job market, L-1 visas are limited to SV companies with foreign presence, of which there are not so many compared to the total amount of startups in SV. If anything, any potential change to O-1 visas (don't know whether any are planned) will have larger impact than what you're describing.
kyrre 10y ago
Good for software developers. Not so much for large companies that want to drive down salaries through indentured servitude (H1B).
- threeseed 10y ago
  No it's not that good for software developers or anyone really. Many of those hired on H1B are doing roles for which they simply can't get enough local talent. And so all that is going to happen is that companies are going to shift entire projects offshore or simply not take on as many projects. There does need to be reform. But frankly given the chaotic manner in which the Trump administration is crafting and implementing policy I don't think their approach to reform will be nuanced enough.
  - Shivetya 10y ago
    I keep hearing this but personally have seen people passed over for H1B candidates when both were equally qualified. Even seen a few senior developer positions filled this way and in every case it was money. It feels good to tell ourselves we didn't hire locally because there wasn't enough talent when in many cases its just far easier to accept a recruiters suggestions where multiple recruiters simply undercut each other.
  - MarkMc 10y ago
    > Many of those hired on H1B are doing roles for which they simply can't get local talent So it's not just a way to get regular software developers at a cheap price? OK let's raise the minimum salary requirement for H1B visas to $120k.
    - thomasahle 10y ago
      Or maybe something around the average software engineer pay scale of $80,000? What about student interns?
      - kilotaras 10y ago
        Student interns are not on H1B. It's J1 I believe.
        Eyas 10y ago
        Exchange interns are J1, student interns in the US use their current F1 Visa with a CPT (Curricular Practical Training) permit for summer internship, or sometimes an OPT (Optional Practical Training) permit.
      - dingdongding 10y ago
        Student interns stay on whatever student visa they were on.
    - angry_octet 10y ago
      In France its quite straight forward to get a skilled worker visa -- just earn more than 3100 Euros per month (~1.5 * average earnings in France). Shouldn't be a problem for tech workers. (They are also introducing a 'tech startup visa' in the near future.)
mrtksn 10y ago
I have been reading for years how broken the current system is, so I would bet that there is a market for that. The issue is the motivation behind the change. What if the changes are designed to please an electorate that is not directly impacted but they just really really want to see some heads rolling? There are some serious credibility issues with the current US govt. Left or right, populists pretend to swing a magic wand and magically fixing problems. Ban immigrants, implement 90% tax for the rich and so on, until these vote generating policies break apart.
- threeseed 10y ago
  Also don't forget that Trump is emotionally immature. He has a long track record of viciously attacking those whom attack him. Could well be payback for many of the SV companies that criticised him both publicly and privately e.g. Lisa Jackson from Apple meeting with Kushner/Ivanka this week.
gregshap 10y ago
It's definitely a program that could use reform. However from what little the article mentions of the 'draft' executive order, I don't see many specific policy changes to the status quo. If this follows the pattern of 'make a big news splash' and 'leave huge ambiguity regarding actual policy' then it is really not helpful for any kind of business decision. The rational response right now might be to avoid new H1B hiring completely, lest you spend months on an application that later gets nullified by shifting policy. That's not a win for SV companies that favor H1B hiring. If they make clear changes that do help create more visas for high skilled workers, I agree that's a win for silicon valley, and a win for US labor. Overall the US does well when other countries send their top brains here.

Why would SV clash with Trump on this? This seems like a sensible solution to the problem and one I've seen posted multiple times here on HN.

by ggame 10y ago

Why would SV clash with Trump on this? This seems like a sensible solution to the problem and one I've seen posted multiple times here on HN.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

gtufano 10y ago

The changes on L-1, E-2 and B1 visas could seriously affect SV talent recruiting. It is a very significant change, in any case. edit: I'm mistaken, it seems... sorry.

smikhanov 10y ago
No, they won't. B-1 visa holders are not allowed to work, E-2 holders are rare among the SV workforce and don't represent any slice of the job market, L-1 visas are limited to SV companies with foreign presence, of which there are not so many compared to the total amount of startups in SV. If anything, any potential change to O-1 visas (don't know whether any are planned) will have larger impact than what you're describing.

kyrre 10y ago

Good for software developers. Not so much for large companies that want to drive down salaries through indentured servitude (H1B).

threeseed 10y ago
No it's not that good for software developers or anyone really. Many of those hired on H1B are doing roles for which they simply can't get enough local talent. And so all that is going to happen is that companies are going to shift entire projects offshore or simply not take on as many projects. There does need to be reform. But frankly given the chaotic manner in which the Trump administration is crafting and implementing policy I don't think their approach to reform will be nuanced enough.
- Shivetya 10y ago
  I keep hearing this but personally have seen people passed over for H1B candidates when both were equally qualified. Even seen a few senior developer positions filled this way and in every case it was money. It feels good to tell ourselves we didn't hire locally because there wasn't enough talent when in many cases its just far easier to accept a recruiters suggestions where multiple recruiters simply undercut each other.
- MarkMc 10y ago
  > Many of those hired on H1B are doing roles for which they simply can't get local talent So it's not just a way to get regular software developers at a cheap price? OK let's raise the minimum salary requirement for H1B visas to $120k.
  - thomasahle 10y ago
    Or maybe something around the average software engineer pay scale of $80,000? What about student interns?
    - kilotaras 10y ago
      Student interns are not on H1B. It's J1 I believe.
      - Eyas 10y ago
        Exchange interns are J1, student interns in the US use their current F1 Visa with a CPT (Curricular Practical Training) permit for summer internship, or sometimes an OPT (Optional Practical Training) permit.
    - dingdongding 10y ago
      Student interns stay on whatever student visa they were on.
  - angry_octet 10y ago
    In France its quite straight forward to get a skilled worker visa -- just earn more than 3100 Euros per month (~1.5 * average earnings in France). Shouldn't be a problem for tech workers. (They are also introducing a 'tech startup visa' in the near future.)

mrtksn 10y ago

I have been reading for years how broken the current system is, so I would bet that there is a market for that. The issue is the motivation behind the change. What if the changes are designed to please an electorate that is not directly impacted but they just really really want to see some heads rolling? There are some serious credibility issues with the current US govt. Left or right, populists pretend to swing a magic wand and magically fixing problems. Ban immigrants, implement 90% tax for the rich and so on, until these vote generating policies break apart.

threeseed 10y ago
Also don't forget that Trump is emotionally immature. He has a long track record of viciously attacking those whom attack him. Could well be payback for many of the SV companies that criticised him both publicly and privately e.g. Lisa Jackson from Apple meeting with Kushner/Ivanka this week.

gregshap 10y ago

It's definitely a program that could use reform. However from what little the article mentions of the 'draft' executive order, I don't see many specific policy changes to the status quo. If this follows the pattern of 'make a big news splash' and 'leave huge ambiguity regarding actual policy' then it is really not helpful for any kind of business decision. The rational response right now might be to avoid new H1B hiring completely, lest you spend months on an application that later gets nullified by shifting policy. That's not a win for SV companies that favor H1B hiring. If they make clear changes that do help create more visas for high skilled workers, I agree that's a win for silicon valley, and a win for US labor. Overall the US does well when other countries send their top brains here.