Posted on April 25, 2009 by Hector Chichoni

Important Immigration Legislative Announcement Made By Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Charles Grassley (R-IA)

 

As stated on April 23, 2009 by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Charles Grassley (R-IA), they will soon introduce a new immigration bill that, if signed into law, will have far reaching consequences for employers of H-1B and L-1 workers.

 

The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act is expected not only to create new obligations and requirements for U.S. employers, but also to give the government additional authority to audit and investigate them. The bill will require employers to make a good faith effort to recruit and prohibit the displacement of U.S. workers before hiring H-1B and L-1 workers. Moreover, the bill will require USDOL to conduct annual audits of companies who employ large numbers of H-1B workers. The bill will also institute a number of reforms to the L-1 visa program, including establishing for the first time a process to investigate, audit and penalize L-1 visa abuses.

 

The content of the bill has not yet been released. It is possible that the bill may also include some of the relief promised by the Obama administration, as Senator Grassley has been cooperating with President Obama in this area.  However, if this bill is signed into law with the stated requirements and obligations without providing any relief, it could have serious negative consequences not only for employers but also for our economy.  H-1B and L-1 visa holders provide a great deal of the technical knowledge and skills our country requires to compete in the global arena.

 

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