Foreign Engineers & Scientists Newsletter: September 2009

Dear Colleague,

The Merage Foundation for the American Dream and the University of California, Irvine are pleased to send you this summary update of policy discussions concerning the ability of foreign graduate students in science and engineering and foreign scientists and engineers to study or work in the U.S. Despite numerous studies indicating that in-migration of engineering and science students and their professional colleagues positively impacts the U.S. economy and helps America sustain its technological leadership, securing a welcoming set of policies has been difficult.

At the present time, several Congressional leaders have expressed a desire to make it easier for science and engineering students and professionals to study, and work in the U.S. To date the legislative results have been marginal. Many astute observers have indicated their belief that significant change will only come with the success of comprehensive immigration reform.

We know you are interested in the outcome of current policy discussions in Washington concerning initiatives to support an increased number of visas and green cards for foreign scientists and engineers as well as graduate students in science and engineering. We will continue to send you timely e mails about discussions in Washington concerning relevant policies and regulations. We want to thank Stuart Anderson of the National Foundation for American Policy for serving as the Merage Foundation and University’s “person in Washington.” Stuart’s former experience as a senior official in INS and his valuable expertise as a policy analyst serves our readers well.

Please enjoy the following brief articles in this issue of the Foreign Engineers & Scientists Newsletter:

• Timing for Immigration Reform Remains Up in Air as H-1B Visas and Employer-Sponsored Green Cards Are Down
• Impact of New H-1B Restrictions Concerns Educators, Others
  Survey Finds Foreign Nationals Leaving America
• The Economist Points to Key Role of Immigrants in Entrepreneurship
• Research on Patents and H-1B Visas
• Study Finds Skilled Immigrants a Fiscal Boon

We look forward to your response.

—Paul Merage, Founder and President, Merage Foundation for the American Dream
—Michael Gottfredson, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, UC Irvine
—Marshall Kaplan, Executive Director, Merage Foundation for the American Dream