H1-B visa increase: Obama vote of confidence?

December 04 2008 by Gareth McConnell

The nomination of Arizona’s Governor Janet Napolitano as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by President-elect Barack Obama is being seen as a positive sign for an increase in H-1B visa numbers for USA immigration.

A strong advocate of increasing the current 85,000 quota, the two-term governor has signaled her support in speeches, testimony and letters sent to congressional leaders and is said to be among twelve governors who sent a letter in September 2007 to congressional leaders in both parties urging an increase in visa caps.

“Until we are able to address this workforce shortage, we must recognise that foreign talent has a role to play in our ability to keep companies located in our state and country; and therefore, need to ensure the increase availability of temporary H-1B visas and permanent residency visas (green cards),” the governors wrote.

Amongst the governors pushing the visa cap hike included California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

It is expected Napolitano will appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security in late January.

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