While immigration is a hotly debated issue in the halls of Congress, it doesn't always receive much attention in upstate New York. That needs to change. Skilled worker immigration is an issue that deserves our attention as we seek to generate further economic growth for the Capital Region.
According to the Brookings Institution, our region's businesses and universities requested an average of 1,256 H-1B nonimmigrant visas annually for foreign national international workers during the past three years. Of those requests, the Albany metropolitan area had the sixth-highest demand for employees to work in what are known as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) related fields in the country.
That's why the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber has joined the Business for Skilled Worker Immigration coalition of more than 35 chambers of commerce from across the country. We see it as a means of driving job creation, innovation and economic growth through improved access to international talent and the creation of pathways for more entrepreneurs to launch businesses.
We seek to bring increased focus on the challenge of improving access to top international talent, an integral component of our global, knowledge-based economy. The regional chamber supports education policies and work force development initiatives from early education to career for Americans. We remain an advocate for education models that better prepare children and adults for entry and re-entry into career or college.
There is a significant demand for skilled technical employees in the Capital Region. Documentation Strategies, a small, independently owned information technology firm in Rensselaer, and GlobalFoundries, the world's second-largest independent semiconductor foundry located in Malta, are just two examples of companies facing this challenge.
We urge Congress to address this important issue as part of comprehensive immigration reform legislation in order to create an efficient temporary and permanent worker program for legal immigrants. Reforms must enable employers to recruit skilled and unskilled immigrant workers only when there is a shortage of domestic workers.
Our coalition is focused on three specific proposals designed to improve current skilled worker immigration policy. First, increasing the availability of H-1B temporary worker visas for skilled workers. Second, increasing the availability of lawful permanent residence for STEM graduates and workers. And finally, creating "start-up" temporary and permanent visas for immigrant entrepreneurs who launch businesses in the U.S., and meet certain employment and financing goals.
Despite their considerable contributions to the American economy, highly trained foreign nationals holding valuable STEM degrees are finding it extremely difficult to work in the U.S. That's due to, among other factors, caps on certain temporary visas and country-based immigration quotas for permanent visas. Current law caps H-1B visas at only 85,000 per year. In 2012, the H1-B cap was met in just 68 days, compared to more than 200 days in both previous years. In pre-recession years, the cap was often met on the very first day H-1B petitions were able to be filed.
Now is the time for action by Congress. Let us all come together in advancing skilled worker immigration reform to help Tech Valley's industries — both emerging and established — succeed in our innovation economy.
Mark N. Eagan is president and CEO of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber.