[ w w w. d u a n e m o r r i s. c o m ] Overview of the H-1B and Labor Certification Programs...
-
Upload
buddy-spencer -
Category
Documents
-
view
212 -
download
0
Transcript of [ w w w. d u a n e m o r r i s. c o m ] Overview of the H-1B and Labor Certification Programs...
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Overview of the H-1B and Labor Certification Programs
Presented by
Lisa Spiegel
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Introduction to H-1Bs
● 65,000 per fiscal year (beginning Oct. 1)● 20,000 reservation for holders of master’s degrees or
higher from U.S. institution Additional filing fees: $320 base + $500 fraud fee and training and scholarship fee: Historically, the H-1B training fee was $500, as mandated in
ACWIA of 1998; then increased to $1,000 in 2000 and now $1500/$750
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Benefits to the U.S.: H-1B Fees
● Benefits to the U.S. as a result of increased filing fees: The mandated scholarship & training fees are approaching $2 billion,
since 1999, according to National Foundation for American Policy H-1B fees have funded more than 40,000 scholarships for U.S.
students in math and science through the National Science Foundation
Fees have funded hands-on science programs for middle and high school students and 3,700 teachers + 55,000 U.S. workers
In 2006, DOL announced $195 million investment in 13 regional economies
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Labor Condition Application (LCA) Regulations – Designed to Protect the .S. Workforce● H-1B worker will be paid no less than the greater of either the ACTUAL
WAGE or the PREVAILING WAGE● Wage offer to include benefits and eligibility for benefits provided as
compensation for services, which are to be offered to the H-1B on the same basis as to U.S. workers
● Provide working conditions for H-1Bs that will not adversely affect the working conditions of workers similarly employed
● No strike or lockout in the course of a labor dispute in the occupational classification at the place of employment
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
LCA Wage Requirements
● All employers seeking to employ H-1B nonimmigrants must state on Form ETA 9035/E that the H-1B employee will be paid the required wage rate.
● The wage paid must be the GREATER of the actual wage rate or 100% of the prevailing wage
● Actual wage = rate paid by the employer to all other individuals with similar experience and qualifications for the specific employment
● Prevailing Wage = weighted average rate of wages (add the wages paid to workers similarly employed in the area of intended employment and dividing the total by the number of such workers.)
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Final Attestation: Notice
● Employer must provide notice of the filing of the labor condition application to:
● Bargaining representative of the employer's employees in the occupational classification in the area of intended employment of H-1Bs
● If there is no such bargaining representative, affected workers by providing electronic notice of the filing of the LCA or by posting notice in conspicuous locations at the place(s) of employment
● Copy of the LCA to each H-1B nonimmigrant at the time that such nonimmigrant actually reports to work
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Positive Impact on U.S. Workers
● U.S. IT professionals have a lower rate of unemployment – 2.4% vs. 4.6% overall in 2006
● Since 2003, new net jobs in the U.S. has increased by over 8 million, acc. to BLS
● BLS projects growth of over 100,000 jobs in computer, math & science between 2004-2014, the highest of all white collar professionals
● In 1993, there were 200 internet companies; now there are 2 million – acc. to the founder of Netscape
● Studies show that 1 in 4 high technology companies had an immigrant founder
● From 1995 – 2000, employment in science & engineering occupations grew from less than 200,000 to 4.8 million workers (acc. to NSF – a growth rate of 6.4% compared to 1.6% average for total employment)
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
No Negative Impact on U.S. Professionals
● A study by a research economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found: H-1B workers do not appear to depress earnings growth Entry of H-1B computer programmers do not have adverse
impact on unemployment rates Some results showed a positive relationship between the
number of LCAs and the unemployment rate a year later
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Foreign Students: Impact
● In 2005, 55% of master’s degrees and 67% of PhDs in electrical engineering degree holders from U.S. universities
● 57% of recent H-1B professionals earned a master’s degree or higher, acc. to DHS
● 2004 Intel Science Talent Search: 2/3 of high school finalists were children of immigrants
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Path to Permanent Residence
● PERM: labor certification application● Immigrant Visa Petition● I-485 Application to Adjust Status● Difficulties:
long waiting lists for nationals of India and China feeling of instability for workers and employers
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Permanent residence – new solutions?
● Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers – United States of
America (IEEE-USA), 10/11/2007 letter to Congress: supporting retention of highly educated immigrants
part of broader competitiveness and innovation initiative
[ w w w . d u a n e m o r r i s . c o m ]
Thank You
Lisa SpiegelDuane Morris LLP
One MarketSpear Tower, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94105