Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has outlined her plans to bolster the high-tech industry in America by upping the number of H1B visas available for highly-educated foreigners.

Expounding her “innovation agenda” at a conference in Silicon Valley yesterday, the former first lady explained that a $50 billion energy research agency responsible for reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels was at the heart of her nine-point plan.

Bringing in skilled engineers and scientists from abroad to work in the USA is also integral to her ambitious agenda, which was largely welcomed by the 200 executives present at the annual business climate summit in Santa Clara Valley.

Before making her address, the New York senator met with a dozen members of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group to discuss the practicalities of increasing the H1B quota.

In her speech, she explained that countries like China were producing thousands of excellent candidates every year and that the USA should tap into this pool of international talent in order to remain competitive.

“If you think you have a skills shortages now, project it out a decade and we’re going to be in real trouble,” she said. “We need to guide immigration reform to attract and retain foreign-born students who want to work in the USA.”

Those looking for an H1B visa to work in the USA must remember to protect themselves with visitors insurance before moving to the States.

Contributed by J.Bevan