Hiring Needs Put Spotlight on H-1B Visa Reform

Recruiting top talent by hiring foreign-born workers

Zabrina V. Reich participated in a panel hosted by Buffalo Niagara Partnership to discuss the topic of H-1B reform. The Buffalo News wrote an article following up on the panel in which they breakdown the H-1B program and delve into its reform.

Employers can hire foreign-born workers in their quest for recruiting top talent through the federal visa program H-1B. Some say the program allows too few workers each year, hindering employers’ ability to fill high-paying, high-skilled jobs. Eligible applicants must have a job offer from an employer in a specialty occupation that is willing to sponsor them. The visa is valid for three years and can be extended for an additional three years. The cost for this is approximately $5,000 per person.

Zabrina said employers who experience “sticker shock” over the cost should remember that H-1B visas are valid for three years, essentially spreading out the expenses. “Everyone wants to retain good people. Getting three years out of an employee right now in this market is pretty good,” she said.

The full article, “Buffalo Next: Hiring needs put spotlight on H-1B visa reform,” can be read on The Buffalo News website. Subscription may be required.