How Restricted is the Job Mobility of Skilled Temporary Work Visa Holders?

Jennifer Hunt

No 23529, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Using the National Survey of College Graduates, I investigate the degree to which holders of temporary work visas in the United States are mobile between employers. Holders of temporary work visas either have legal restrictions on their ability to change employers (particularly holders of intra-company transferee visas, L-1s) or may be reluctant to leave an employer who has sponsored them for permanent residence (particularly holders of specialty worker visas, H-1Bs). I find that the voluntary job changing rate is similar for temporary visa holders and natives with similar characteristics. For the minority of temporary workers who receive permanent residence, there is a considerable spike in voluntary moving upon receipt of permanent residence, suggesting mobility is reduced during the application period by about 20%. My analysis of reasons for moving suggests that applicants are prepared to pay a small but not large professional price for permanent access to the U.S. labor market.

JEL-codes: J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab, nep-ltv and nep-mig
Note: LS
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Published as Jennifer Hunt & Bin Xie, 2019. "How Restricted is the Job Mobility of Skilled Temporary Work Visa Holders?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, vol 38(1), pages 41-64.

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Journal Article: How Restricted is the Job Mobility of Skilled Temporary Work Visa Holders? (2019)
Working Paper: How Restricted is the Job Mobility of Skilled Temporary Work Visa Holders? (2017)
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