Skilled-worker visa requests flood U.S.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. immigration officials have been inundated with visa requests this summer from foreigners claiming to be highly skilled.

The Citizenship and Immigration Services estimates it had received about 300,000 applications since July 1 under a special period set aside for highly skilled immigrants seeking green cards.

The New York Times said Saturday the usual number of applications for an entire year is 140,000.

The rush began after the U.S. State Department announced this summer it would make visas available for additional doctors, nurses and other professionals with advanced degrees. Many U.S. companies insist the pool of Americans who meet their lofty qualification standards is too small.