> Perhaps the government could permit highly skilled individuals to qualify personally for the visa so long as they sustain employment in their field.

That is kind of how it works: when I was on a H1B I did look at switching jobs and had an offer from a company who would sponsor me. They need to file a Labor Condition Application to show that the position qualified for a H1B worker, but you can start working as soon as the LCA is approved if you already have the visa, while the I129 is processed.

That is mechanically different. All the leverage is in the hands of the companies seeking out cheap labor in that case.

I actually don’t think it should be like the poster you replied to suggested where the immigrant employee in question needs to maintain employment.

I would advocate that we structure employment visas like we do marriage visas which would mean we calculate whatever the total cost of the drain on our system would be if the new immigrant wasn’t working, charge the company that much to have them enter, and then the employee is free to quit immediately if they feel it’s in their interests