USCIS has also received more than 20,000 Masters degree petitions for the 20,000 H-1B numbers for foreign nationals who have masters degrees. Employers desperate for highly skilled foreign workers have joined forces to urge passage of legislation introduced by Senator John Cornyn of Texas, which would increase the H-1B cap to 145,000 per year until 2011. The Senate bill number is S.1083. There are also three bills introduced in the House of Representatives which, if enacted would increase the availability of H-1B visas.

Rep. Smith (R-TX) introduced H.R. 5642 which would increase the numerical limitation with respect to HÐ1B non-immigrants for fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

Rep. Kennedy (D-RI) introduced H.R. 5634 which would exempt from numerical limitations any alien who has received a Ph.D. from an institution of higher education within the 3-year period preceding such alienÕs petition for special immigrant status.

Rep. Giffords (D-AZ) introduced H.R. 5630 which would modify certain requirements with respect to HÐ1B non-immigrants.

Please contact your Congressperson and Senators and urge them to aggressively work to enact legislation to increase the speed and ease with which educated high tech workers and other professionals can obtain working visas to keep America globally competitive. The name and contact information of your congressional representatives can be located at: www.congress.org.