Bill Would Add Visas for the College-Educated
WASHINGTON — The number of visas available for college-educated foreigners would increase substantially under a bill introduced Wednesday to address what the high-tech industry considers an acute worker shortage.
The measure, sponsored by two dozen senators, aims to increase the number of six-year visas from 115,000 to 195,000 for each of the next three years. The National Academy of Sciences is studying how many should be issued permanently.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the number of high-tech jobs nationwide grew from about 4 million in 1990 to more than 4.8 million in 1998 and estimates jobs in some categories will double in the next six years. Although the legislation targets science and engineering graduates, it applies to all disciplines.
Two years ago, the U.S. increased the number of visas to 115,000. Without legislation, the figure returns to 65,000 next year.
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