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Comment by outside1234 | Hacker News Reader

This raises a pretty interesting idea: Why don't we cap the number of H1-B slots at N and let companies bid for how much they would pay the employees with the top N bids being accepted?

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Why doesnt the us just not limit it at all, and stop spending money and resources on playing a lottery game with people's lives.

Because the US, like most other countries, has decided for various reasons that unlimited immigration is not a goal of visa legislation.

You would be surprised to find many immigration visas that have no limits then.

What country or city do you live in? I am sure we can find an armchair policy we should make to help everyone else that you can foot.

Will an answer to that question completely change your mind?

Also, you imply that immigration restrictions decrease cost, but it's quite the other way around.

An answer to that question will allow me to offer a token suggestion that may make OP reconsider his stance ;)

immigration restrictions raise salary for people like me, citizens. Most countries have some form of immigration restriction for similar reasons.

So do you want unlimited immigration?

Yes.

It's not unheard of. Instead of putting a hard limit and playing the random number generator game with peoples' lives, maybe approve visas on a case-by-case basis...?

How many cases?

100, 10K, 100K, million?

7 billion if it they want to.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

You'll need to add more meat if you want me to take a bite.

Why would I do that, I already know you are trolling

To me that sounds like it would make the situation much worse than it already is. Instead of a lottery there would be a waiting list that is hundreds of thousands of entries long and backlogged for years. They'd have to sort by salary or something so that companies don't have to wait for years to hire highly qualified people

Who picks 'N'?

https://johnhcochrane.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-optimal-numbe...

We don't have to change N to start. That is separate debate.

N is currently 65,000 with another 20,000 for US advanced degrees.

Not all jobs are software engineer, or are from Silicon Valley.

Why does it matter who they're hiring or where? The amount that you are willing to pay someone is a(n imperfect) reflection of how much value they're giving you. People who benefit the most from these immigrants should be able to get them. I agree that it's imperfect, but surely it's better than literally distributing them randomly.

So?

Offshoring, generally.

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