In a joint letter to key Senate and House leaders, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA (IEEE-USA) have urged passage of measures to ease the hiring of foreign-born scientists and engineers and other proposals to enhance the global competitiveness of the US high-tech sector.
"Both IEEE-USA and SIA see the retention of highly educated immigrants as part of a broader competitiveness and innovation initiative that includes a doubling of federal investment in research in the physical sciences, improvements in science, technology, engineering and math education at the K-12 and undergraduate levels, and enactment of a permanent and strengthened R&D tax credit," the letter signed by top executives of the two organisations said.
The joint letter, sent to the Chair and the Ranking Member House Judiciary Committee and the Immigration Committee in the House of Representatives, said it was critical that problems created by outdated policies on highly skilled immigration be addressed.
"Given the difficult political issues surrounding changes to immigration policy, it is all the more important for parties with different viewpoints to come together and seek common understanding," the letter said. MORE
"Currently 51 per cent of Master's and 71 per cent of Ph.D. graduates in electrical and electronic engineering from US universities are foreign nationals," the letter pointed out, stressing that these "highly-talented" individuals should be able to get permanent resident status (green cards) in an expedited manner, rather than having to wait from 5-10 years as many do under the current system.
"SIA and IEEE-USA support legislation to attract and retain foreign professionals with advanced degrees in STEM fields as legal permanent residents. The US should be encouraging highly skilled talent to enter and remain in the United States in order to improve America's competitive position in the global economy," the letter said.
Lawmakers have been told the need for raising the employment-based immigrant visa cap, including an exemption for foreign professionals with advanced degrees in STEM fields from US universities; creating a new foreign student visa category to allow US STEM Bachelor's or higher degree holders who have a job offer to transition directly from student visas to green cards.
The organisations are also backing extending post curricular optional practical training for foreign students from 12 months to 24 months to allow them to go more easily from temporary to permanent resident status; and exempting the spouse and children of certain employment-based professionals from the employment-based immigrant visa cap.
