Indian nationals receive half of H-1B visas

A new study shows that more than half of the 85,000 H-1B visas in 2006 were issued to Indian nationals--accounting for 54 percent of these highly desirable one-year visas. Other countries ranked far behind, including China, which received only nine percent. The study, by the National Science Board, also found that Canada, South Korea and the Philippines were issued three percent each. This is bad news for the tech industry which needs to tap the talent from many nations to help keep the sector growing. The NSB warned that U.S. science and engineering work "may decline rapidly over the next decade because of the aging of individuals with science and engineering applications." The number of baby-boomers with these skills who are eligible to retire is expected to triple. In another gloomy finding, the report said that American grade school students continue to lag behind in science and math when compared to students in other developed countries. And it said that Congress has "abandoned its commitment to lead in science and technology."

For more on the H-1B visa study:
- Check out this ComputerWorld article