Up for Grabs: 85.000 H-1B Visas in America

It's open season now on the H-1B visa in America. The season on the 3-year non-immigrant work visa started on April 1st, according to BusinessWeek.

While the number of applicants is expected to be down due to the recession, there is little doubt that all 85,000 available H-1B visas will get used. Many economists see the H-1B visa program as an essential part of encouraging innovation because it allows employers to hire from among the best "specialty workers" in the international talent pool.

The program has its critics – as Rita Hira points out. Top of the list of complaints? H-B1 visa holders (and their dependents) take jobs away from American workers, according to critics.

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