Are you prepared for the stringent H-1B Visa approval process in 2019-2020

The H-1B program lets US employers temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations that require highly specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent, in fields such as science, engineering, IT, teaching and accounting.

This 90-minute webinar explains how USCIS selects petitions and the DHS final rule that reversed the selection order for the regular cap and advanced degree exemption and introduced electronic registration for cap-subject petitions.

You'll also look at the "Buy American, Hire American" initiative, changes to the lottery, higher rejection rates, the impact on H-4 visas for spouses, and how employers have challenged and worked within the rules.

• Explain the role H-1B workers play in the economy
• Identify which roles qualify as specialty occupations
• Describe how USCIS selects H-1B petitions under the final rule
• Explain the "Buy American, Hire American" requirements
• Assess how rejections and H-4 changes affect your hiring
• Understand the legal challenges to the regulations

• The role of H-1B workers in the economy
• What counts as a specialty occupation
• How USCIS selects H-1B applications
• The DHS final rule: reversed selection order and electronic registration
• How the lottery system changed
• Requirements of the "Buy American, Hire American" initiative
• Increased rejections of new and continuing H-1B requests
• The decline in H-1B applications and its impact on employers
• The impact of H-4 visa rejections for spouses
• Challenges to the regulations for specialty occupations

Stricter H-1B policies under the "Buy American, Hire American" initiative led to more rejections, affecting companies that rely on H-1B workers. Employers need to understand the rules to keep hiring for specialty roles.

This session suits employers using or considering H-1B workers, HR staff who process petitions, recruiters, technology firms and defense contractors.

• Employers who currently use H-1B employees
• Employers considering H-1B employees
• HR and other professionals responsible for process H-1B applications
• Recruiters seeking to fill specialty position
• Technologies firms
• Department of defense contractors

Margie Faulk is a senior level human resources professional with over 15 years of HR management and compliance experience. A current Compliance Advisor for HR Compliance Solutions, LLC, Margie, has worked as an HR Compliance advisor for major corporations and small businesses in the small, large, private, public and Non-profit sectors.  Margie has provided small to large businesses with risk management strategies that protect companies and reduces potential workplace fines and penalties from violation of employment regulations. Margie is bilingual (Spanish) fluent and Bi-cultural.

Margie’s area of expertise includes Criminal Background Screening Policies and auditing, I-9 document correction and storage compliance, Immigration compliance, employee handbook development, policy development, sexual harassment investigations/certified training, SOX regulations, payroll compliance, compliance consulting, monitoring US-based federal, state and local regulations, employee relations issues, internal investigations, HR management, compliance consulting, internal/external audits, and performance management.
Margie is a speaker and accomplished trainer and has created and presented compliance seminars/webinars for over 16 US and International compliance institutes. Margie has testified as a compliance subject matter expert (SME) for several regulatory agencies and against regulatory agencies, thank goodness not on the same day. Margie offers compliance training to HR professionals, business owners, and leadership to ensure compliance with workplace and regulations. 
Margie’s unique training philosophy includes providing free customized tools for all attendees. These tools are customized and have been proven to be part an effective risk management strategy. Some of the customized tools include the I-9 Self Audit. Correction and Storage program, Ban the Box Decision Matrix Policy that Employers can provide in a dispute for allegations, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Compliance Guide, Drug-Free Workplace Volatile Termination E-Book and other compliance program tools when attendees register and attend Margie’s trainings.
Margie holds professional human resources certification (PHR) from the HR Certification Institution (HRCI) and SHRM-CP certification from the Society for Human Resources Management. Margie is a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE).