Nonimmigrant visa issuance continues to rise.

Diversity Visa results are now available.

And how updates to the Department of Labor’s Schedule A occupation list could help the green card process for workers in critical industries.

Get this news and more in the new episode of BAL’s podcast, the BAL Immigration Report, available on Apple, Spotify and the BAL news site.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

Getting it right from the start.

Over the past 43 years BAL has helped thousands of clients create an immigration program or enhance their existing one. Based on our experience and expertise, here are some considerations as you get started.

  • What business needs are driving your U.S. immigration policy? Will hiring foreign talent fill those needs? Your company’s immigration program should be aligned with your company’s business goals, recruiting norms, and internal culture to accomplish the objectives specific to your organization.
  • What factors will determine if a role or person will meet sponsorship eligibility? Consider eligibility factors such as whether the role qualifies for visa sponsorship when you want to initiate the sponsorship process for a new hire.
  • Will sponsorship include both nonimmigrant and immigrant categories? Registering for the H-1B lottery requires little from the employer, while sponsoring an employee for a green card requires a greater commitment. Consider the scope of your green card sponsorship.
  • Will your company sponsor international students in the F-1 OPT/STEM OPT or J-1 Intern/Trainee programs? Offering jobs to students gives you the chance to evaluate their skills and fit within your company before you enter a long-term sponsorship commitment. However, these programs do have specific limitations and obligations.
  • Will your company support dependents/family members? In competitive recruitment environments, many employers are offering incentives, such as supporting the immigration process for dependents and family members.
  • Will the policy have a different approach for high-level executives or certain emergency business needs? Companies often want or need to provide expedited immigration service for high-level executives or emergency staffing needs.

We’re sure you’ll have more questions as your program takes shape, and BAL would be happy to help you with proven, real-world answers.

Contact us today

Alliance supports global businesses in staying ahead in a rapidly-changing global immigration environment

DALLAS, June 6, 2018 – Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) LLP, one of the world’s largest immigration law firms, today announced a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance with Deloitte UK. The alliance represents an industry first offering, combining the best of Deloitte’s scale, expertise and breadth outside of the US with BAL’s legal expertise and high quality immigration services in the US.

In an increasingly complex environment, today’s multinational businesses are struggling to gain the right level of market insights, make the most of big data and integrate their mobility services to advance their immigration programs. It can be particularly tough to find service providers with large enough footprints to effectively address global challenges and to stay ahead of ever-increasing requirements for secure, innovative technologies. This alliance addresses those needs, bringing BAL’s technology and innovation leadership together with the global acumen and scale of Deloitte Global. It gives multinational organizations the global perspectives and footprint and continuous innovation they need to stay ahead in today’s rapidly-changing immigration market.

“Immigration is now a C-Suite priority and the landscape is more complex than ever before. Today’s global businesses need innovative thinking, global scale and deep expertise,” said Jeremy Fudge, BAL Managing Partner. “We’re offering clients the very best of two leading organizations, delivering a level of expertise, scale, control and accountability they can’t get anywhere else.”

BAL’s global clients can continue to expect the high-level of technology innovation reflected in products like BAL’s Cobalt® digital immigration services platform, top-notch information security and unmatched immigration expertise they’ve come to know. When served through this alliance, BAL clients will now experience the added benefit of:

  • A centralized view to stay ahead: Addressing the need for increased business integration, multinational companies can now get a combined, broader view of their global immigration programs – from tax to mobility to immigration services and beyond. This alliance gives companies what they need to ensure global alignment across their business.
  • Quality and scale: The alliance gives global businesses access to the worldwide scale of Deloitte Global combined with BAL’s deep immigration expertise – all with a globally consistent quality and database.
  • Technology and security leadership: This alliance leverages the deep technology capabilities of two leading innovators to set a new benchmark for top-notch security solutions, and open the door to new possibilities in artificial intelligence, data analytics and other promising digital technologies.

“With the increased need for cross-border business travel, global organizations are recognizing the value of a firm that can bring a global footprint to help support the challenges of delivery and corporate compliance,” said Kalvinder Dhillon, Deloitte Global Immigration Lead. “Our ability to provide a fully global, end-to-end service will help employers move talent where it’s needed and enhance their compliance.”

Under this alliance, BAL will remain an independent entity in the US. Deloitte Global will acquire BAL’s non-US operations and assets in the UK, Singapore, Australia, Dubai, China, South Africa, Mozambique and Brazil. Deloitte US does not provide immigration or legal services and is not a party to the alliance with Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP, nor is it a party to the acquisition of BAL’s non-US assets. References to Deloitte Global are references to the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”). Deloitte UK is the sponsor of the alliance. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients.

About BAL
Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 185 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture — a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization.

At BAL, we pursue the exceptional. To learn more visit bal.com.

Media Contact:
Emily Albrecht
Senior Director — Marketing & Communications
ealbrecht@bal.com
469-559-0174