Bill Gates slams US visa policies

Slamming American immigration policies, Microsoft Chairperson Bill Gates has said the US was shutting the door on the best and the brightest at a time when the country needed it the most.

Gates, one of the most vocal votaries of an increase in skilled worker visas, told a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labour and Pensions that the US must also come to terms with the issue of permanent residency over and above what it intended to do with the H1B visas.

"It makes no sense to tell well-trained, highly skilled individuals "" many of whom are educated at our top universities "" that they are not welcome." Gates said.