PIHRA Scope - Summer 2008 - (Page 8)

HR Technology to the Rescue What to Do in the Aftermath of the H-1B Visa Cap By Bob Meltzer, CEO VISANOW The H-1B cap, as it stands today, significantly impacts the ability of U.S. companies to grow and compete. Last year, the H-1B cap was met on the initial filing date, and 2008 was no different. This ﬁ xed visa allotment was designed to last for an entire year and theoretically should match the level of demand by U.S. employers. Clearly, the cap on the number of H-1B visas available is largely mismatched to the needs of U.S. employers. As a result, companies are often challenged to ﬁ ll essential positions. The severe lack of available visas will continue to limit the abilities of U.S. companies to maintain their competitive edge in today’s global economic environment. With the April 1 H-1B ﬁling date come and gone, many companies are at a loss for successfully attracting and bringing on foreign talent, and are not aware of all the available visa alternatives that can help them achieve their hiring goals for this year. © Pete Bax: Image from BigStockPhoto.com ACCURACY IS KEY The increasing demand for highly skilled workers to compete globally has magniﬁed the importance of submitting applications quickly and efﬁciently. Applications also need to be prepared correctly; otherwise errors or delays in the preparation may lead to harsh consequences, such as increased costs or worse, losing a crucial new addition to the workforce. Timely planning is also a necessity among HR departments to account for possible employee additions required later in the year. Employers should carefully evaluate their hiring needs and consider all departments that may expect to hire foreign nationals. BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESSFUL FILING 2. 3. 4. 5. FEATURE Filing for H-1B visas as well as other work visas has become critical. Not to be overlooked is the importance of an accurate application and properly presented support documentation. The following are ﬁve best practices companies can follow for successfully ﬁling for work visas: 1. Start early. 8 PIHRAScope Summer 2008 Have the right documentation. Become familiar with the visa ﬁling process. Understand the visa ﬁling guidelines. Take advantage of immigration or employment lawyer services. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? There are a number of alternatives for companies to consider when exploring work visas for foreign employees. Employers can avoid H-1B cap limitations by understand-

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PIHRA Scope - Summer 2008

PIHRA Scope - Summer 2008 Contents Message from the President HR Technology to the Rescue: What to Do in the Aftermath of the H-1B Visa Cap Bridging the Gap: When ‘IT’ is from Mars and ‘HR’ is from Venus HR Concepts Maximizing Returns from Benefi t Investments with Better Communications Strategic Marketing Alliance: Develop Yours as Easy as ABC… PIHRA Calendar Scope on the Districts PIHRA’s New Members Index to Advertisers

PIHRA Scope - Summer 2008

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