[nickthedart]

I think that the web has made the "dark side" of H1B more widely known. H1B holders often feel like indentured servants. There are many stories of people who slaved away for years while trying to get a Green Card but didn't get one in the end. Also , post 9-11, with the associated paranoia and security hassles, living a plane flight away from your extended family, especially in the US, would seem far less attractive. Its a pity because there are some great tech opportunities in the US right now. My solution would be , the US needs a better tech visa program where people have a chance to stay in the US on a more equal footing with Americans (and thereby become employers themselves, which helps Americans too). Also the US needs to stop treating every normal innocent visitor like they're a potential threat of some kind.