New Year's Resolutions for Human Resource Professionals – To Make Your Immigration Counsel Happy!

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.”

The start of a new year often means folks are seeking a fresh start, percolating ideas and setting challenging resolutions.  I generally make both a personal resolution (something for me personally) and a professional resolution (something for my professional development).

If your resolutions are not yet set in stone, let me try to influence your final list of professional resolutions.  Consider one or more of the following:

1. Develop a new, or review your existing, Immigration Sponsorship Policy.
2. Conduct an internal (you) or external (me) full or partial I-9 Audit.
3. Conduct an internal or external H-1B Audit, including Public Access Files.
4. Review and update position descriptions and minimum hiring criteria.
5. Update your company data with your Immigration Counsel (current number of U.S. based employees, current number of world-wide employees, 2017 Gross Income, 2017 Net Income, office locations, updated company brochures, etc.)
6. Communicate with your Immigration Counsel NOW regarding any employees in F-1 Student Visa Status working under Optional Practical Training – the April 1st H-1B lottery process is right around the corner.
7. Run an analysis on H-1B dependency.
8. Work with your Immigration Counsel to review data on all current international employees, including current status, expiration dates, visa max dates, job titles, job locations, etc.
9. Work with your Immigration Counsel to develop a 2018 budget for identifiable expenses associated with maintaining the immigration status of your current international employees.
10. Work with your Immigration Counsel to update company descriptions, lines of business, departments, divisions, affiliates, etc.

While I understand that tackling all ten of the listed resolutions is a huge undertaking, I encourage you to pick two or three (with particular emphasis on Number 6!).  Perhaps with some effective delegation to trusted colleagues you can check off even more.  And, our Team is always here to assist as well!

“Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress.”