Another Side of the Foreign Worker

The Citizen's Almanac

        The promised land, the land of the free, the land of opportunity, the dream: The United States of America. Most United States born citizens may or may not truly identify with this description of the country, they legally through birthright, call home. The Citizen’s Almanac describes the importance that comes with choosing to be a citizen of the United States of America as being “awarded its highest privilege—U.S. citizenship” (The Citizen's Almanac 7). But great responsibilities accompany this privilege to support the kind of United States of America that was established by our founding fathers. “Becoming an active participant in our system of government further strengthens our great democracy” (112). There is one family that would like to call the United States their home permanently and be that active participant: The Lachance family.

The Lachance family has a unique family dynamic as their 8-year-old daughter Oriana has dual citizenship. She was born in the United States to her Canadian parents, Sean and Leslie. She is a bright, vivacious girl who loves dance and her American Girl Doll, Hannah. Sean and Leslie have lived in the United States for 12 years. Leslie is a stay at home mom dedicating herself to her family. They have established themselves in their own home and in their own community. The Parent Teacher Organizations relish the fact that Sean and Leslie dedicate a large portion of their time to help their daughter’s school be successful. They are contributing members of society and for the lack of a better term, model citizens. But Sean is a foreign worker.

In 1998, Sean and Leslie came from Canada to the United States so he could take a position in the field of science and technology under a TN Visa. A TN nonimmigrant visa is a yearly renewable visa based on employment status.  Sean quickly outgrew the temporary status of the TN Visa after he obtained a science and technology Bachelor’s Degree while in the United States. Subsequently, an engineering firm in Arizona contacted him to work under an H-1B visa. An H-1B visa is a three-year visa that can be renewed for an additional three years; the renewal is a one-time event. This visa is issued for designated highly skilled areas, which include scientist, engineer and computer programmer.

Hiring foreign workers is a common practice in the United States. A portion of these foreign workers are from Canada. A Bachelor’s Degree or higher is required for employment under the H-1B visa. This visa allows the educated foreign worker to obtain employment in the U.S. from an employer who has certification from the Labor Condition Application. Each year there is a capped amount of visas that can be obtained by U.S. employers. For the year 2011 it is 65,000; plus an additional 20,00 specifically for Master’s Degree candidates and higher. As of November 19, 2010, 48,977 new petitions have been filed for H-1B visas and 17,836 for the Master’s category (USCIS).

Sean is on his second renewal, which will be his last. He has been trying to get his green card, proof of being a Lawful Permanent Resident, which will then lead to citizenship in the United States. He came to the United States to work and live and would be proud to be a U.S. citizen. In comparing Canada to the United States, economically he is better off living and working in the United States. His salary would be lower in Canada for the same type of employment and he would be responsible for up to 50% tax on his wages. In addition, taxes are as high as 14% on everyday purchases. For Sean, Arizona is his home now and he anxiously awaits the permanence of United States citizenship. In the meantime, he continues to work and go through the process of getting his green card with the assistance of his employer and lawyers. It is a tedious, time-consuming, but necessary process.

US Citizen and Immigration Services-Green Card

If Sean is unable to stay, he will need to sell his house and return to Canada with his Canadian wife and United States-born daughter, because in two years his H-1B visa will expire. If the scenario plays out against Sean and his family, more than likely his employer will again seek out the highly skilled foreign worker to fill his position through the H-1B visa program. NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a professional association dedicated to international education, issued a statement on March 31, 2009 supporting the H-1B visa program reform to remove the caps because, “to turn away individuals with skills that we need, who want to live and work in America, under the illusion that by doing so we are protecting our economy, is to deny ourselves a resource that we need to help pull us out of the recession and put our economy on a sound footing for the future. It will cost jobs, not save them” (NAFSA 1).

     The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) conducted a study by centering around 76 technology companies in the S&P 500, citing companies like Google, Intel, and Lockheed & Martin that hire foreign workers. Smaller companies were also included in the study. This is a program that stimulates the American economy by: [1] Bringing foreign talent to the U.S. so we can remain competitive with other countries. [2] It increases employment for Americans. The increase in employment is slightly higher for smaller companies than larger corporations. “The data show that for every H-1B position requested, U.S. technology companies increase their employment by 5 workers” (H-1B Visas and Job Creation, 2).  [3] It keeps the companies in the U.S. from going abroad. [4] H-1B Visa holders are not cheap labor, they are paid comparable to or slightly more than their US counterparts. The visa holders are actually a cost for the company in legal and government fees. [5] For each hired H-1B visa holder, the employer must pay $1500 into a scholarship and training fund that benefits future American college students, elementary level math and science programs, and Department of Labor training programs for U.S. workers.

     There is a trickle down effect when companies are more successful in the United States. As the companies make more money, they pay more taxes, which benefits our communities. Companies who are successful financially also tend to contribute more to charities. This type of program is economically positive for the U.S. and the foreign workforce. “Skilled immigrants fuel innovation in America. The H-1B visa system is one path for them to get here; that path needs to be open” (NAFSA 1). Foreign workers like Sean are important to America’s economy and technological future. Likewise, model citizens like Sean and Leslie will only further strengthen the community and nation we call home. Hopefully, their dream will be realized and they will receive that highest privilege: U.S. citizenship.

Author Note: *The Lachance family name has been changed to protect their identities during this time of seeking permanent resident status.

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