Attention H-1B Employers!

“The H-1B blackout is bad for business and only an increased cap will make it better.” 

We want to encourage all H-1B employers and businesses to urge Congress for H-1B relief with a personalized letter. We want to share share this model letter (prepared by AILA) with you and we want to ask you to copy the text onto your company letterhead and add specific examples of limitations imposed by the H-1B cap. This is a great way for American businesses to discreetly educate policy makers about the adverse impacts of the cap and express your support for reform.

Here is the sample letter…

September XX, 2006

The Honorable __________
United States Congress
Washington, DC ______

Dear [Senator/Representative] ________:I am writing to you regarding a crisis that is negatively impacting our company’s ability to stay at the cutting edge. There is a current H-1B visa “blackout” crisis that is detrimentally affecting American businesses. The H-1B visa is a vital tool necessary to keep the
U.S. economy competitive in the world market and to keep jobs in America.

[Add info here about your company; add any specific examples you may have re problems caused by the H-1B cap].

As you may be aware, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service announced that the numerical cap limiting the H-1B program for temporary professional workers was reached on May 26, 2006, over four months before the start of fiscal year (FY) 2007. As the situation now stands, companies seeking access to the best and brightest global talent must now wait until April 1, 2007 to begin the application process for hiring an H-1B, highly-skilled worker for FY 2008, which does not start until October 1, 2007. It is untenable for American businesses to be cut-off from this talent pool until late next year.

Far from harming U.S. workers and the U.S. economy, highly educated foreign professionals benefit our country by allowing U.S. employers to develop new products, undertake groundbreaking research, implement new projects, expand operations, create additional new jobs, and compete in the global marketplace. [Add any examples of how H-1B workers have helped your company]

An important step you can take to address this situation is to cosponsor [H.R. 5744/S. 2691], the “Securing Knowledge Innovation and Leadership Act of 2006,” also known as the SKIL Bill. The SKIL Bill was introduced by [Representative John Shadegg (R-AZ) on June 29, 2006/Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on May 2, 2006], and is a positive sign that Congress is serious about correcting a growing competitiveness crisis for the United States.

Every day that passes without access to these highly-skilled workers is a lost opportunity for growth, productivity, and innovation. If U.S. companies do not have the ability to hire the best and brightest from around the world, our international competitors will continue to hire away these talented workers, causing our nation’s competitive advantage to suffer.

If you need any additional information or would like to meet regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at __________. Thank you for your attention in this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

[You name, title and business]

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