CORONA VIRUS / COVID-19 ADVISORY

Due to the health risks posed by the Corona Virus tragedy, our office is following the directives of the governor of California in order to minimize the risks to our staff, our clients and our community. Our office will continue to operate fully, as it has thus far, observing our normal schedule, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We will continue to schedule appointments to meet with clients and will do this via ZOOM or Telephone only.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with any of our lawyers or staff members, please do so by calling our office at 619-291-1112. You can also contact us via e-mail at [email protected]janbejar.com

Thank you for your understanding.

AVISO DE CORONA VIRUS / COVID-19

Debido a los riesgos para la salud planteados por la tragedia del Virus Corona, nuestra oficina está siguiendo las directivas del gobernador de California para minimizar los riesgos para nuestro personal, nuestros clientes y nuestra comunidad. Nuestra oficina seguirá funcionando a pleno, como lo ha hecho hasta ahora, cumpliendo con nuestro horario habitual, de lunes a viernes de 8:30 a.m. a 5:30 p.m. Continuaremos programando citas para reunirnos con los clientes y lo haremos solo a través de ZOOM o por teléfono.

Si desea programar una cita con alguno de nuestros abogados o miembros del personal, hágalo llamando a nuestra oficina al 619-291-1112. También puede contactarnos por correo electrónico a [email protected]

Gracias por su comprensión.

Resolving Immigration ProblemsIn An Honest & Responsible Manner

Passage of work visa bill could benefit San Diego employers

San Diego readers may be interested in a recent immigration law story concerning the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (Fairness Act). Two U.S. senators recently reached an accord to allow the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (Fairness Act) to proceed. The bill allows for the allocation of ’employment-based green cards’ regardless of a person’s origin and without limitations on a per country basis. These visas can include L-1B, H-1B, and O-1A visas, all considered high skills visas. Obtaining a work visa under the new law could potentially aid both immigrants and the employers who need them.

Some 140,000 of these work visas are issued annually, but current law only allots a country 7 percent. Individuals from some countries wait years, potentially decades, to receive this type of visa. Although the Fairness Act now appears on track for consideration by the full Senate, an agreement has been tacked on to the bill that could expand the Department of Labor’s (DOL) authority. With the amendments in place, employment visas could be placed under the microscope and heavily scrutinized by DOL overseers. This could hold up visas and potentially bring more audits for those seeking H-1B or other types of work visas.

Right now, the DOL has the authority to audit employer-submitted visa applications, but only after a visa is issued. In addition, an audit can only occur if a complaint alleges visa fraud. With the new amendments, officials could delay any applications, provided they find evidence of fraud or a material fact that has been misrepresented. The proposed bill is vague about exactly what evidence is required to allow the DOL to delay any applications using personal discretion. Delaying those applications could potentially hurt both highly skilled immigrants and the employers who need them, while also costing money.

San Diego immigrants are likely already aware that receiving a work visa can be a difficult process. If the proposed bill happens to pass with the amendments that expand the Department of Labor’s authority, there could be an even longer delay and one that could harm everyone involved in the process. However, if the bill passes without the amendments, it could potentially help highly skilled workers attempting to seek entrance into this country for work purposes. Such would benefit employers who have need of their skills and the workers attempting to enter the United States, no matter from which country they originated.

Source: Forbes, “High-Skilled Immigration Restrictions Are Economically Senseless,” David Bier, July 22, 2012

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