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US Visa Logjam Triggers Reverse Brain Drain

Thousands of skilled workers wait for documents

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 23, 2007 7:31 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Just as the US tightens immigration controls, a huge backlog in processing visas for legal migrants is causing a "reverse brain drain," forcing sought-after scientists, engineers, doctors and entrepreneurs to return to their home countries, according to a report released yesterday. One million would-be immigrants are competing for only 120,000 permanent visas issued each year, reports AFP.

"The US benefits from having foreign-born innovators create their ideas in this country. Their departures would be detrimental to US economic well-being," said the co-author of  the report. Nearly a third of US tech start ups are launched by immigrants, and more than half of the companies in Silicon Valley were founded by foreigners.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director for the Washington District Gregory Christian, far left, administers the oath of U.S. Citizenship, to, first row, from right, Marine Jose Ventura, a native of Dominican Republic; Marine Efrain Barrientos, a native of Guatemala; and Navy Seaman Anne Lekeux, a native of...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director for the Washington District Gregory Christian, far left, administers the oath of U.S. Citizenship, to, first row, from right, Marine Jose Ventura, a...   (Associated Press)
Immigrants wait to take the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday, May 22, 2007, in San Francisco. Approximately 1,420 people from 100 countries took the oath and became U.S. citizens. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Immigrants wait to take the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday, May 22, 2007, in San Francisco. Approximately 1,420 people from 100 countries took the oath and became U.S. citizens....   (Associated Press)
Immigrants take the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony to become United States citizens at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Wednesday, July 4, 2007. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Immigrants take the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony to become United States citizens at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Wednesday, July 4, 2007. (AP Photo/John Raoux)   (Associated Press)
Mercedes Castillo, 89, right, renounces her citizenship of her native Nicaragua as she pledges her loyalty to the USA, Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Federal Judge Sim Lake administered the oath of citizenship to 2,817 people from 121 different countries on Wednesday at the Berry Center in far west Houston....
Mercedes Castillo, 89, right, renounces her citizenship of her native Nicaragua as she pledges her loyalty to the USA, Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Federal Judge Sim Lake administered the oath of citizenship...   (Associated Press)
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Brain Drain

Read full report on the 'reverse brain drain'
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immigration • Silicon Valley • visa • immigrant • reverse brain drain • brain drain

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