[mikeryan]

This is idiotic. We’re already pushing China and India into a partnership with Russia. The sheer volume of people in those countries mean “on average” more brilliant people than we do.

The US competitive advantage is built on us being a destination for the best and brightest. Between this and the crackdown foreign students at US Universities why would the anyone want to come here?

The misuse of H1Bs is a small problem compared to the value it provides.

[rxyz]

The best and brightest are worth the extra $100k tax, no?

[hdjrudni]

Doubtful. Not sure I'd be hired. I was hired at like $160k/yr. Would my employer have paid over half my wages to import me? I'm not so sure. Am I not bright enough? Do ya'all not want me here? It's possible. I'm no genius but I think I'm pretty good at my job and I dare say above average, and I don't think my employer could fill all the positions they have with equal or greater talent with only American citizens.

[nwienert]

The question is more are you irreplaceable - is there no way an American could do your job even if they may need more training?

We pay taxes, we compete for limited schools and jobs, yet far more people want to come here than leave. Americans have become a lot less wealthy the last 40 years relatively thanks to stagnant wages and skyrocketing prices.

The last thing we need is an unlimited supply of competition that only moves in one direction. Average H1B salary is like 60k, rich companies like MS are employing thousands of IT workers. These are jobs that anyone here could do with a 1-2 year online technical degree.

[famerica]

> I don't think my employer could fill all the positions they have with equal or greater talent with only American citizens.

I assume that's because the wages are too low, since you have already described your skill level as merely above average. Unless I'm significantly misunderstanding something, Americans would be better off if your company had to pay higher wages, even if the company ended up shutting down as a result.

[atonse]

Speaking as an employer, I’d be a lot more picky if I was going to sponsor a candidate to make sure I could make my investment back. (We’ve never sponsored someone though)

The potentially sad thing/abuse that might come out of this is that employers will keep even higher margins from the H1 person and make them pay back that money faster. Even through some shady deal back in their home country.

[breadwinner]

$15K extra per year? Absolutely. $100k pre-payment? No. That's impractical since the visa holder may get hit by a truck or return home due to an emergency, etc.

[mikeryan]

Sure - to those that can afford it. But this basically wipes out the ability for smaller companies to use H1Bs as an incentive to draw talent when they’re already behind the gun compared to the FAANG’s of the world from a hiring perspective.

The rich get richer.

[vasilipupkin]

why not just hire them in Canada or literally in any offshore office and not pay the 100k tax?

[PeterHolzwarth]

$100,000 per year.

[calvinmorrison]

maybe they're occidentalists at heart?