Sessions

Concurrent Session
Immigration Strategies: Sponsoring H-1B and Other Foreign Professionals in the Trump Era
Room: Congressional A
Tuesday 03/19/2019 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM   Add to calendar
1.00 SHRM PDCs | Competencies: Business Acumen, Consultation, Relationship Management | Intended Audience: Mid-Level
Workplace Application:
Learn how to identify immigration options for existing and prospective employees and how to advise your employer of the advantages and risks of each. 

Since President Trump issued his Buy American Hire American Executive Order (BAHA), the administration has instituted a series of sub-regulatory measures that make it more challenging for U.S. employers to attract and retain foreign professionals, as well as for foreign nationals to seek entry into the United States. The cornerstone of these measures has been policy memoranda directing USCIS adjudicators to scrutinize H-1B petitions more closely, challenge eligibility for H-1B benefits more often, and increase enforcement through audits and investigations. A successful and compliant immigration program requires proactive strategies that account for an often-shifting adjudications and enforcement environment. This panel will help HR professionals understand evolving business immigration policies and trends and will introduce tools and strategies they can use to ensure that their employers optimize access to and retention of foreign professional talent while remaining compliant with the law. After participating in this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Understand and explain to stakeholders the current environment for business immigration sponsorship and the impact of Trump administration policies on workforce planning, including access to international talent.
  • Identify the costs, opportunities and risks associated with job candidates requiring immigration sponsorship.
  • Understand the regulatory requirements for H-1B and related work permits and how to help recruiters determine whether job applicants are suitable for sponsorship, including avoiding discrimination in the recruitment and onboarding process.
  • Respond strategically to government challenges (Requests for Evidence) to sponsorship applications while reducing costs and increasing speed to market.
  • Prepare employees for new levels of scrutiny at airports when entering the United States, including requests for documentation and electronic equipment searches, and inform them of their rights and obligations.
  • Evaluate the soundness of, and recommend action with regard to, corporate compliance programs and obligations, including I-9/E-Verify, LCA and PERM, in order to help your organization be best prepared for government audits and investigations.
Andrew Greenfield Photo
Presenter:
Andrew Greenfield, Partner,
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bersen & Loewy, LLP
Rebecca Peters Photo
Presenter:
Rebecca Peters, director, Policy Engagement,
SHRM