Presented by
John R. Wilson, Esq.
May 29, 2014
2-3 p.m.

Join us on May 29 for our webinar, “The Land of Opportunity-Beyond the H-1B: Alternative Temporary Work Visas.”

On April 1, 2014, the U.S. Immigration Service began accepting new H-1B visa applications for those with specialized knowledge and advanced degrees for the 2015 fiscal year cap. Due to the high volume of petitions filed, the cap was reached by April 7, 2014. Petitions were selected at random to meet the numerical limit for Fiscal Year 2015.

Presented by our own John R. Wilson, Esq., our 60-minute webinar will focus on alternative options to the H-1B visa for both individuals and their employers and will include 15 minutes of interactive Q & A.

We will discuss the H-1B cap, portability, and review the following alternatives: E-3 Australian visa, B in lieu of H-1 or H-3, B-1, TN, OPT and OPT STEM Extension, L-1A and L-1Bs, E-1 and E-2, and O-1A and O-1B visas.

This program has been submitted for 1 (General) recertification credit hour toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute.

To order tickets, visit the Eventbrite listing.

Join us for our popular I-9 Workshop Training Seminar! The workshop will take place on Thursday, June 5 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Delta Dental Auditorium in Concord, NH. Participants earn three Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) continuing education credit hours for completing the training.

This is a hands-on workshop where participants will complete sample I-9 Forms and have an opportunity to ask questions. All participants receive a copy of the current GoffWilson proprietary workbook and reference manual as well.

The registration fee for the seminar is $115, which includes intensive Form I-9 training, the updated 2014 version of the GoffWilson proprietary I-9 manual, breakfast, and three hours of HRCI credit. Early registration is recommended as space is limited, and the workshop sells out every year.

To order tickets, visit the Eventbrite listing.

Agenda
8:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Seminar Begins – Introduction
8:45 a.m. Intensive Training Part I: Completing the I-9 Form

• Overview
• Lists of Acceptable Documents
• Receipt Rule Samples and Establishing Office Procedures

10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Intensive Training Part II: Retention and Maintenance

• Issue Spotting, Retention Requirements, Social Security
• No-Match Letters, E-Verify requirement
• Federal Contractor, I-9 Compliance Resource Guide

11:45 a.m.  Questions & Answers
Noon: End of Seminar

USCIS announced on April 7, 2014 that is had reached the statutory cap of 65,000 for H-1B petitions for fiscal year (FY) 2015. The H-1B visa program allows for businesses to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized training and/or education in such fields as science, engineering, and computer programing.

USCIS received a record number of about 172,000 H-1B petitions during the week-long filing period which began on April 1. This number included petitions filed under the Master’s Cap exemption for individuals with advanced degrees, which is subject to a 20,000 cap.

As a result of almost 50,000 more applications received for FY 2015, USCIS completed a computer-generated random lottery for the third time ever in its history. After meeting the 65,000 general-category cap and 20,000 cap under the advanced degree exemption, all petitions not selected will be returned.

According to an earlier announcement from USCIS on March 25, premium processing for H-1B cap cases will begin no later than April 28, 2014.

USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions for Cap-Exempt petitions such as extensions, changes in terms of employment for current H-1B workers, change of employers, and working concurrently in a second H-1B position. This processing time is currently being reported by the USCIS website as being 2 to 2 ½ months.

Please visit the following links for the USCIS press releases/alerts:

http://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-reaches-fy-2015-h-1b-cap

http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-begin-premium-processing-h-1b-cap-subject-petitions-april-28-2014

GoffWilson is ready to answer all of your questions and concerns regarding the H-1B petition or other types of employment based applications.  Just give us a call– we are ready to help!

April 1 is the annual roll out for the coveted H-1B Visa. The H-1B visa category is one of the most highly sought-after visa classifications by US employers and foreigners. It is open to professionals that will work in a specialty occupation that generally requires at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.

The visa is issued for three years and is renewable. Last year, there were more H-1B visa petitions filed in the first 5 days than the entire allotment in the calendar year of 65,000. Hundreds of employers across the country were unable to hire all the professional talent that they needed.

Contact us if you have an employee you want to hire who requires an H-1B Visa to work for your company.