Bill Gates calls for US government to relax American immigration limit

In a move which may boost immigration to America, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has urged the American government to allow more skilled foreign workers to migrate to the USA.

Addressing Congress' Subcommittee on Science and Technology this week, Mr Gates stressed the increasingly worrying shortages of skilled scientific and engineering personnel that American business is experiencing.

"I want to emphasise that the shortage of scientists and engineers is so acute that we must do both: reform our education system and reform our immigration policies," he warned.

"This is not an either-or proposition. If we do not do both, US companies simply will not have the talent they need to innovate and compete."

Mr Gates went on to propose higher annual limits on the numbers of green cards and H-1B visas issued to those considering immigration to America. The world's former richest man gave similar evidence to a Senate subcommittee last year. Mr Gates also argued in favour of more spending on scientific education in American schools.

America needs skilled workers: anyone interested in American immigration should complete the American Visa Bureau's online American visa application to see if they qualify for an American visa.