Upcoming Webinar: Preparing for Trump 2.0: Potential Impacts on Employment-Based Immigration

Reddy Neumann Brown PC INVITES YOU TO JOIN OUR FREE WEBINAR:

Topic: Preparing for Trump 2.0: Potential Impacts on Employment-Based Immigration

Date: Thursday December 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM CST

With a second Trump presidency on the horizon, employers and foreign workers must prepare for significant changes in employment-based immigration policy. This webinar will discuss how the incoming Trump administration could impact nonimmigrant and immigrant visa pathways, including H-1B visas, green cards, and other employment-based options. We will examine policies enacted and proposed during the first Trump administration, changes introduced under the Biden administration that could be reversed, their potential impact on businesses and employees, and strategies to adapt effectively while addressing both immediate workforce needs and long-term talent goals.

Topics to be Covered Include:

H-4 EAD Processing Delays – Anticipated increases in processing times for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for H-4 dependent spouses, potentially disrupting work continuity.
Possible Elimination of H-4 EAD and OPT – Risk of terminating work authorization for H-4 dependent spouses and Optional Practical Training (OPT) for international students, impacting employment opportunities.
Increased Requests for Evidence (RFEs) – A stricter approach to adjudications with RFEs focusing on wage levels, specialty occupations, employer-employee relationships, and third-party placements, along with removal of deference to prior approvals.
Suspensions or Rollbacks of Premium Processing – Temporary or permanent reductions in expedited processing services, leading to longer processing times for key petitions.
Higher Prevailing Wage Requirements – An increase in wage thresholds for employment-based petitions, potentially raising the cost of hiring foreign workers.
Shorter Approval Durations – Reduction in the validity period of visa approvals, requiring more frequent renewals for H-1B and other categories.
Increased FDNS Visits – Heightened worksite enforcement through more frequent Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) site visits.
Decreased Flexibility for Laid-Off Workers – Possible end to use of B-2 status to job search for laid-off workers.
Heightened Requirements for Adjustment of Status Applicants – Anticipated changes could include mandatory in-person interviews, shorter validity periods for EAD/AP approvals, and the return of extreme public charge vetting measures, adding significant delays and complexities for applicants seeking green cards.
Reinstatement of Travel and Visa Bans – A return to restrictive policies banning travel and visa issuance for certain countries or visa categories, creating challenges for mobility.
Abolishment of Birthright Citizenship – Efforts to redefine citizenship laws, potentially eliminating automatic citizenship for individuals born in the United States.