As someone who is currently going through the process of trying to get a working visa in the US as an Australian, I find this story appalling. They make it beyond difficult for someone like myself who is a self-taught developer with 8 years experience to get a temporary work visa in the USA to get experience working at a company like Twitter or startup, yet people who lack any kind of skill that would warrant obtaining a skilled-worker visa can easily get one? I don't get it.<p>Why is it so hard for someone like me who might not hold a bachelors degree nor have the experience to substitute, but I have the skills and experience to do my job well, yet it isn't good enough?
How about the H-1B employer petition form includes a check box:<p>"Upon penalty of perjury, and imprisonment of no less than 5 years, I certify that this petition is for a highly skilled worker"
Simple solution: Unlimited visas for people being paid $125,000 or more (adjust for inflation over time), and people on such visas pay 2% extra income tax. That 2% goes to funding whatever department is looking into visa fraud.<p>Companies that are trying to fill low-wage jobs won't have access to these visas. Companies attempting to abuse the system have a well-funded group of people trying to find them and stop them.<p>There's also an incentive for people with such visas to work hard to try to get a green card, and eventually become citizens, to get rid of the 2% tax hike.