Immigration is a hot political topic in many countries around the world and the USA is no exception. The country’s politicians have to balance a number of priorities when legislating over USA visa issues and so on, just like politicians in Britain do concerning UK visa matters.
Recently, a news provider noted that a number of experts have called for changes to American visa rules that would allow more skilled scientists and engineers into the nation.
USA Today pointed out that India and China produce nearly one million engineering graduates each year, compared with 120,000 in the USA.
It went on to quote Microsoft executive vice president for legal and corporate affairs Brad Smith, who said: “Attracting the talents of the best and brightest from other countries can help prospects for American workers, because in an innovation economy, jobs often beget jobs.”
And he is not the only individual who has spoken of a need to alter USA visa rules in order to boost the economy and enhance the country’s prospects. Arun Majumdar, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for the Department of Energy, remarked: “The US is the only country that has consistently attracted people with intellectual horsepower from around the world, and incorporated them.”
He added: “If we don’t pursue that, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Another individual stepping into the debate was SRI International’s Curt Carlson, who asked: “Why are we keeping the smartest people in the world out of the US?”
The news provider also made reference to comments made by technology forecaster and part-time professor at Stanford University Paul Saffo, who claimed that there is currently a “global brain race”, adding that the US has been “unilaterally disarming for years”.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the coalition government has been trying to balance Tory manifesto pledges concerning UK visa restrictions with calls from industry to avoid deterring talent from entering the country.