[ng12]

True, but I think this deserves reconsideration considering the recent debate about H1-B visas -- especially since the fact that there are (relatively) few US-born PhD's is one of the major justifications for increasing the number of visas awarded.

[lifeisstillgood]

On that note can anyone explain to me why immigration reform is a hot button in us politics - surely if you want to employ someone from outside the US you tell them to use Skype.

A plane ticket every six weeks will increase your selection far more than anything congress can pass - especially for a hot coder with you know family and commitments

Or is that it - let the cheap young single coders in ?

[dumitrue]

H1Bs can't vote you out of office so it's easy to be against them, the risk is lower to lose political capital (especially if you frame the discussion in terms of "protecting the jobs for Americans").

[lifeisstillgood]

But immigration laws one way or another do not stop a company in SV hiring a fantastic JS coder in Helsinki

American jobs is the wrong term - google jobs, apple jobs, Facebook jobs - all up for grabs by the best in the world

[shadowfox]

> A plane ticket every six weeks

May not be that easy given what you are allowed to use a Business visa for.

[dumitrue]

I see. Nothing gets to rattle the flame wars around here more than the combo of "is higher education really necessary or can I drop out and build the next tumblr?" and "highly-skilled aliens with PhDs are taking our jobs by accepting lower wages". Good job.