Fifth Annual IEEE-USA Career Fly-In
23 - 24 March 2009

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For the past ten years, IEEE-USA has been fighting Congress over high-skill immigration. For a decade, IEEE-USA has been arguing that permanent residents are better than temporary workers. For all of this time, we have been fighting to convince Congress and the American public that the United States needs more skiled workers - but only if those new workers are alowed to be Americans.

In 2009, we have a chance to win this fight.

The debate over high-skilled immigration has changed greatly in the past two years - almost entirely in our favor. The H-1B visa has gone from being favored by virtually everyone in Congress to being opposed by many, including several of the most powerful legislators in Washington. H-1B visas are off the table in 2009.

In their place Congress is ready to seriously discuss giving highly educated foreigners, especially those who receive STEM degrees in the United States, preferential access to green cards. With a little luck and hard work, Congress could make this historic policy change before the end of 2009.

The only problem is Congress thinks nobody cares.

High-Skill immigration reform is not a high priority for Congress this year. Democrats and the new Obama administration have decided that it is too hard and too risky to act on. It is IEEE-USA's job to convince them high-skill immigration is supported by their constituents and that reforming the system ought to be a priority in 2009.

Our first step towards accomplishing this will be our Fifth-Annual Career Fly-In. On 23 and 24 March, 2009 IEEE-USA invites all IEEE members in the United States to join us in Washington, D.C. to meet your legislators, explain your profession, and discuss high-skill immigration and its impact on your career.

IEEE-USA will arrange private meetings with between you and your elected officials. These meetings will give you the opportunity to express your views on high-skill immigration directly to people who will be making immigration law.        

Political experts agree that face-to-face meetings with voters are the best and most effective way to educate and influence Congress.  No other form of political activity comes close.

Starting on the afternoon (so you can fly in that morning) of 23 March, IEEE-USA staff will brief all participants on current legislation, political trends immigration law and how to discuss all of this with legislators. Then on 24 March, participants will travel to Capitol Hill for private meetings in their legislators’ offices.

All IEEE members are welcome and encouraged to attend. No political experience is necessary. Some of our best advocates in years past had never met a politician before and most participants will have had limited exposure to the political system.

International students and business leaders (owners, company presidents, department heads) are especially needed to share their unique perspectives on the high-skill immigration process.

Funding

Most fly-in participants pay their own travel expenses. IEEE-USA will be providing some meals to all participants and has structured the event to minimize travel expenses.

IEEE-USA will be able to provide funding for a limited number of engineers to attend this event. Sponsored participants will be chosen based on the political importance of their legislators. In the past, some sections and regions have also been willing to sponsor a limited number of participants. Contact your section and region leaders directly for more details.

Current Situation

There has been a shift in Congress over the past four years. Rather than broad support for the H-1B program, Congress has taken a much more skeptical view of these temporary visas. For four years now, Congress has resisted attempts to expand the program, despite aggressive lobbying by high-tech executives. By the end of last year, the business community gave up hope and stopped making serious attempts to expand the H-1B program.

There is a growing awareness that the H-1B program is not good for our country. Examples of abuse and misuse of the visas have finally gotten Congress' attention, leading many legislators to start looking for an alternative.

IEEE-USA believes the alternative is an expansion of the EB visa program. Unlike H-1B visas, EB visas are green cards. Holders are permanent legal residents who can work wherever and for whomever they want. EB workers can even start their own businesses. IEEE-USA will be building on legislation introduced last to expand the EB program in a couple of ways, most importantly by exempting international students who receive a Masters of PhD from an American school from the EB cap.

Unlike previous years, IEEE-USA will not be fighting alone in 2009. We have built a coalition of interests, including the semiconductor industry and the higher-education community, to work with us. Instead of us fighting the business community, this year we will be working with them.

Still, it will not be an easy victory. Congress feels little pressure to act on high-skill immigration as they don't think most Americans care about the issue. That is why it is so important for IEEE-USA members to speak up. Engineers are often left out of political decisions because they didn't bother to engage the political system. If we want to make a difference, if we want to win, we have to make our elected leaders listen to us - and there is no better way to do that than traveling to Washington for personal meetings with your elected officials.

Fly-In Schedule (tentative)

IEEE-USA will not know your exact itinerary on Tuesday until your meetings are scheduled. Historically most of these meetings occur in the morning and virtually all before 3:00 p.m. If travel requirements demand that you leave D.C. before 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, please let IEEE-USA know so that we can arrange your Hill visit schedule to accommodate your travel schedule.

Contacts:

Questions regarding fly-in logistics or Congressional meetings:
Russ Harrison
IEEE-USA
(202) 530-8326
r.t.harrison@ieee.org

Questions regarding Congress, legislation and the Career & Workforce Policy Committee:
Vin O’Neill
IEEE-USA
(202) 530-8327
v.oneill@ieee.org

Updated:  19 December 2008
Contact: Russ Harrison, r.t.harrison@ieee.org