Four US lawmakers have introduced a bill in the Senate proposing an annual increase in the number of H1B visas by 50,000, raising hopes for Indian professionals seeking jobs in America.
Independent Senator from Connecticut, Joseph Lieberman, along with the Republican from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel, introduced the Skilled Worker Immigration and Fairness Act, 2007. The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Maria Cantwell, Democrat from the State of Washington, and Ohio Republican George Voinovich.
The bill would increase the annual allotment of H-1B visas, which provide American employers with access to highly educated foreign professionals in “specialty occupations” – those requiring at least a US bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and work experience. The current H1B cap is 65,000 per year. The Lieberman-Hagel bill would increase the cap to 1.15 lakh in 2007 and would add a flexible adjustment mechanism that would enable to cap to rise as high as 180,000, depending on market conditions – this ceiling would still be less than the 195,000 limit in 2001-2003.
“Despite dramatic changes in the US economy in the past 17 years, the H-1B cap remains at its 1990 limit of 65,000 per year (an additional 20,000 visas are available for foreign nationals holding US graduate degrees). As a result, thousands of US high-tech jobs today remain unfilled,” Senator Hagel said in a statement.
“To remain competitive, American companies need access to highly educated individuals. But today’s system makes it difficult for innovative employers to recruit and retain highly educated talent. The demand in underserved communities throughout Nebraska for these highly qualified individuals, far out-number the supply,” Hagel said.

Exemption
The bill would exempt from the cap foreign nationals who hold a US graduate degree; a non-US graduate degree in science, technology, engineering or math; or a US medical specialty certification.