Until 1998, the yearly quota of such H-1B workers was 65,000. That year, as the high technology field exploded, it was raised to 115,000. In 2000, with the Internet revolution roaring ahead, it went up to 195,000 for each of the next three years. However, the US INS data indicates that companies nationwide had applied for 72,000 worker visas between October 2000 and March 2001. That figure is down from more than 80,000 applications during the same period a year ago.
Companies like to employ such foreign workers because they tend to demand less than native citizens.
Many of these workers may try to stay in the US illegally if they do get laid off. INS spokeswoman Eyleen Schmidt said the agency was sensitive to the problem and might be inclined to look favourably on foreign workers who were abruptly terminated. That means even if such workers do find new jobs, they face several weeks or months without income. H-1B visas are good for three years and can be extended for another three. Schmidt said one problem was the abrupt way some of the tech firms were laying off workers without any notice at all.