"To the astonishment of many HR professionals in the biotech field, the H-1B visa cap for foreign professionals and scientists was oversubscribed on the first day of availability. What can employers do to bridge the gap until new H-1B visa numbers become available? What other visa categories can biotech companies count on to secure the best talent? This session will examine the H-1B crisis in depth along with several other issues that are critical to employers including: alternatives to the H-1B visa, obtaining labor certifications through PERM, and delays in the permanent residency process after labor certification is approved, including visa retrogression. Important recent changes in the immigration arena, and the status of upcoming legislation will also be reviewed."

Objective1:Provide overview of the current U.S. immigration regime for hiring foreign professionals and scientists.

Objective2:Explain development of basic strategies for identifying and categorizing all visa issues.

Objective3:Provide long-term strategies to retain foreign professionals and scientists.