This article hits quite close to home in several ways. It is about the plight of legal immigrants who are under-employed because their credentials are not recognized here.

<font>As a physician in Peru, Luis Garcia amassed nine years of medical education and five years of practice, including successful appendectomies, Cesarean deliveries and other surgeries. Since he immigrated to Southern California four years ago, he has earned a community college degree specializing in geriatrics.</font>

<font>The only work he's been able to find, however, has been cat-sitting, dog-walking and elder care.</font>

<font>That's because Garcia hasn't yet been able to pass the battery of requirements for a U.S. medical license, including several exams and a residency. He represents what a recent report calls a massive "brain waste" of highly educated and skilled immigrant professionals who potentially could, with a little aid, help ease looming labor shortages in California and nationwide in healthcare, computer sciences and other skilled jobs.</font>

My parents are one example. My mother was a highly-trained and experienced bank accountant whereas my dad worked as a regional bank manager back in their country, both very coveted jobs in an economy that depends largely on sugar exports and tourism. In America, their wealth of experience, knowledge and certificates are not recognized.

The same goes for my family doctor that immigrated to the United States a couple years earlier than us. He had to attend medical school all over again even though he was highly qualified and competent. 

We need to discard the assumption that foreign degrees, experiences and credentials are not as good as equivalent qualifications earned in the United States.There is little reason to believe that given that many colleges and universities around the world are as good as (or better like IIT than) ones in the United States.

With the downfall of the economy and increased under-employment, skilled immigrants and immigrant business investors are more likely to head home or head for greener pastures.

<font>"The U.S. historically enjoyed the advantage in picking the best immigrants in the world," said Jeanne Batalova, a policy analyst with the institute. "But with other countries entering the race for global talent, the U.S. is losing its competitive advantage."</font>

There are plenty of DREAMers waiting to become nurses, doctors, engineers and scientists who can preseve competitive advantage.

Now that is yet another brain and investment waste.

We have the 'cream of the crop' and then some more already present in this country who want to work and contribute to the United States.