U.S. Universities, Research Parks Hit Hard by Government Cap on H-1B Visas; Association of University Research Parks Urges Government to Reform Polici
DATELINE: RESTON, Va. May 2
RESTON, Va., May 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The current U.S. cap on the number of skilled-worker visas (H-1B) severely handicaps the ability of U.S. universities, science and technology-related companies and research facilities in their ongoing missions to develop new technologies, medicines and other innovative products that put the country on the leading edge of the global economy, according to the Association of University Research Parks (AURP).
"The cap on visas for skilled workers has become a real issue for our universities and research parks," said AURP First Vice President Michael Bowman, who is also the chairman and president of Delaware Technology Park, Inc. "By definition, research parks are global entities that rely on non-U.S. citizens who have intellectual property that is absolutely essential to the United States' ability to innovate and compete in the world economy. But if these non-U.S. citizens aren't able to stay in this country, we lose the people and the technology to other countries."
H-1B visas are temporary visas for foreign workers with high-tech skills or who work in specialized occupations. Congress has limited the number of H- 1B visas to 65,000, with additional allowances for current H-1B visa holders. Another 20,000 H-1B visas can be granted to applicants with advanced degrees from U.S. academic institutions.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently said it reached the limit for 2008 skilled-worker visa petitions in a single day, with over 150,000 applications received on the first day.
"The number of available visas is underwhelming," Bowman said. "Research parks and our constituents are losing out on people, corporate interests and international competitiveness."
AURP is urging its members to contact the senators and congressmen who serve their states and districts to give them specific examples of economic impact in their own backyards. "It's a real pocketbook issue," Bowman said. "The only way this visa problem is going to be corrected is for a groundswell of outreach and involvement from university and research parks that depend on talent coming from abroad. We need to illustrate the economic impact of the limited number of visas on local, state and national economies -- not to mention the impact on the U.S. position in the world economy."
The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) is an international trade association representing 350 members and associate members in the university research park industry. AURP's membership is comprised of planned and operating research parks around the world, as well as a variety of university, governmental, not-for-profit and private organizations interested in the development and operation of technology projects and programs. The AURP headquarters is located in Reston, VA, outside of Washington, DC. For more information about AURP, visit http://www.aurp.net/ .
CONTACT: William Drohan of the Association of University Research Parks,
+1-703-234-4088, info@aurp.net
Web site: http://www.aurp.net/
SOURCE Association of University Research Parks