Are H-1B visas mainly sought by employers in the US technology sector?
Sunday, May 3, 2020
By Remaya Campbell
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YES
"H-1B" visas are granted by the U.S. to permit temporary employment of non-citizens meeting certain education or experience requirements.
In 2019, 66.1% of H-1B applications were for work in computer-related fields, with around 20% more for staffing other technical roles including engineering and medicine.
Data compiled by the Associated Press in 2016 found that median salaries for H1-B visa holders in tech roles were $75,000, below the $84,400 for all workers in those fields. Advocates for the program say other factors such as gender, geography and martial status also contribute to differentials, and that the visa-holders' skills are important for growth and innovation.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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