While public discourse over federal immigration reform has focused on undocumented aliens seeking legal status in the U.S., lost in that raging debate is the fact that the proposed legislation would also increase the annual allotment of H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers looking to gain entry into this country. Though that topic is almost an aside on the national agenda, it is of major interest and concern to high-tech companies–including a number of visual effects and CG studios–that contend H-1Bs are crucial to their business.
Currently there is an annual allotment of 65,000 H-1B visas for the upcoming fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2007-Sept. 30, ’08). When the application process opened up for these visas this spring, there were some 200,000 petitions filed in the first two days with U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services for those 65,000 available visas
As chronicled in SHOOT over the years. H-1Bs have been used by assorted high-tech firms, including a number of visual effects and computer animation houses, that rely on foreign labor to help make up for what they claim is a shortage of highly qualified American artisans.
The current Senate bill on immigration reform proposes an increase in the annual cap from 65,000 to a base of 115,000–with the potential to rise further to some 180,000 subject to various conditions.
Indeed H-1B visas have ridden a numbers roller coaster over the years. In fiscal year ’97-’98, the cap on such visas was 65,000. That went up to 115,000 in ’98-’99 and then to 195,000 for fiscal years ’00-’01, ’01-’02 and ’02-’03. The Silicon Valley-centered tech boom in the late ’90s fueled a vigorous industry lobbying campaign which led to legislation that upped the yearly H-1B allocation to 115,000 and then to 195,000.
However, that latter legislation expired in ’03, causing the annual cap to revert back to its current 65,000. And while the Bush administration has long supported an increase of the allotment, Congress had not pursued it vigorously in light of concerns over terrorism–and that was even when Congress was Republican controlled. Additionally, bringing in foreign workers for U.S. employment, combined with the outsourcing of jobs to other countries, carries potentially negative political baggage for legislators.
But the window has now opened for overall reform in federal immigration as it applies to undocumented people from other countries–and on those coattails have come provisions that apply to H-1B visas.
Soft figure
Whether an increase in H-1Bs is truly needed remains to be seen. For one, newly available figures show that the 65,000 cap is a soft number. In ’05, the most recent year for which visa data are available, the U.S. approved nearly 117,000 H-1B visas due to a series of exemptions and regulations. On the latter score, for instance, the first 20,000 H-1B applications filed for any masters’ degree candidate or higher do not count against the quota of 65,000. In terms of exemptions, foreigners hired to work at universities, nonprofit research institutions or government laboratories also don’t count against the cap.
Those opposed to raising the cap from its so-called 65,000 limit cite these exemptions and rules, contending that more than enough skilled foreign workers already have access to U.S. employment. Furthermore, those in opposition to increasing the cap contend that there are many U.S. tech workers seeking jobs who are qualified but lose out on opportunities taken up by those with H-1B visas.
On the flip side, major high-tech firms argue that the current law doesn’t let them hire enough foreign-born workers in fields like info technology where unemployment levels are quite low. In the tech sector, companies such as Microsoft are lobbying hard for access to more qualified foreign workers, claiming that there are not enough American workers to meet industry demand.
However, if this is the case, many counter that legislators should be more concerned with education and training. For example, some harbor hope that a ramping up of funding for math and science education will take hold, helping to make the future American workforce more competitive in the global market. The general consensus is that the long-term solution to the alleged high-tech U.S. workforce shortfall is education from the grass-roots elementary school level on up through high school and advanced training curriculum. This encompasses not only math and science but also arts education in that much of the tech sector–including visual effects and animation–needs a talent base that’s savvy both technologically and in the creative arts.
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pรฉrez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
โ2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and todayโs nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,โ said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. โI am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by oneโs peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.โ
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Hereโs a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pรฉrez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More