Blueseed ‘Googleplex of the Sea’ Highlights Need For Visa Reform

[Jazzy]

As the U.S. continues to grapple with high unemployment, there is one place in the country where the jobless rate remains low: Silicon Valley. In fact, big U.S. tech companies like Google, Apple and Facebook are currently waging a war for top talent. Tech executives often talk about a shortage of highly-skilled workers, and the need to make it easier for immigrants with such skills to come to the U.S. But this year, the cap on H-1B visas — which allow educated foreign workers to get a job in the U.S. — has already been reached. The disconnect between our immigration system and the needs of Silicon Valley has become so acute that plans are being developed to anchor a giant ship off the coast of San Francisco, where immigrant entrepreneurs can live and work without needing to obtain a visa. This ambitious project, called Blueseed, highlights the lengths to which some are willing to go in the face of America’s flawed immigration system.

A drawing provided by Blueseed Co. shows their ferry docking next their cruise ship outside of San Francisco. California startup Blueseed Co. wants to dock a vessel off the coast to house foreign entrepreneurs who have dreams of creating the next Google but can't get visas to work in the United States. The ship aims to provide a remedy by giving foreign entrepreneurs a place to build their companies only a short boat ride from high tech's hub.



Read more: http://business.time.../#ixzz208w1SrA6



Question: What do you think of this project?

 

[Evil Eye]

Brilliant.

I bet it saves on taxes too

Government may want to rethink things a little, they stand to lose quite a bit of money if everyone starts operating in international waters...

 

[Jazzy]

I'm quite sure there is no shortage of of highly-skilled US workers who are currently unemployed. I believe they are pushing this because they know these immigrant workers will work for less pay. This is just an excuse to take advantage of them and try to get around the shortage of H-1B visas. How are these people anchored on a giant ship off the coast of San Francisco going to get the essentials they will need to survive? How about medical care? You know who's going to wind up paying for all of this...the taxpayers that's who.

 

[Evil Eye]

I'm quite sure there is no shortage of of highly-skilled US workers who are currently unemployed.

In this field? I wouldn't be so sure.

Math/computer science 3.5% [unemployment]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-57324669/25-college-majors-with-lowest-unemployment-rates/

Computer Science Grad Unemployment Rate: 7.8 percent

http://education.yahoo.net/articles/valuable_college_degrees.htm

Edwin Koc, the association's research director, said computer science majors had the highest job-offer rate this year

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/04/business/la-fi-jobs-20110604