A $100k wall for talent: Tech leader and author Shirish Nadkarni on the H-1B fee and the impact of immigrants

The U.S. tech and startup community was stunned by an executive order last week imposing a $100,000 fee for employers seeking new H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, a program heavily used by the technology industry.  

This move brings a longstanding debate back to the forefront: are skilled immigrants taking American jobs, or are they a vital engine for innovation and economic growth?

Our guest this week has a strong point of view on this topic. Shirish Nadkarni is a serial entrepreneur and Microsoft veteran who founded companies acquired by BlackBerry and Rosetta Stone. An immigrant himself, he just released a timely new book, The Indian American Tech Success Story, which makes the case that immigrant founders, particularly from India, are one of America's greatest economic assets — creating far more jobs than they could ever be accused of taking.

Related Links and Stories

• Startup leaders warn new $100K H-1B visa fee will hurt U.S. entrepreneurship and innovation
• New TiE Seattle president on how the $100K H-1B fee could snuff out entrepreneurial flame
• Will new U.S. visa fee boost Canada’s tech sector? B.C. sees an opening against Seattle and Silicon Valley

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

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