'Raise H-1B cap to 195,000 to boost US economy'

Washington, Apr 8: A US think tank asked the Congress to increase the cap on H-1B visas instead of reducing them to raise economic growth and generate much needed tax revenue. It urged the US Congress to hike the cap on H-1B visas back to 195,000 visas (the maximum number allowed in 2001) from the present 65,000.

Heritage Foundation analysts Jena Baker McNeill and Diem Nguyen said, "Raising the cap for H-1B visas will not steal American jobs but will help promote economic growth and generate much needed tax revenue. There is a popular myth that H-1B workers displace Americans because foreigners will work for less than Americans even if they have greater qualifications."

Citing a survey by the National Foundation for American Policy, the researchers said that for every H-1B worker hired, an additional 5 American employees were also hired. If the US government raised the H-1B cap to 195,000 visas, it can earn an additional revenue of $2 billion as tax each year.

OneIndia News