Get It in Writing: How to Start the Process of Documenting Your Immigration Policy
All employers who hire or send employees across international borders - whether to engage in business activities, carry out short-term assignments or relocate for the long term - benefit from having a written immigration policy that covers the legal and practical issues of global travel and international relocation. A written policy helps companies meet duty-of-care obligations, prevents border issues and detainments and ensures that employees have the right to work when they arrive in their destination country. Additionally, a policy sets uniform expectations and guidelines to prevent managers and employees from running afoul of local labor laws or other sponsorship requirements. However, if you’ve never documented your immigration practices before or have a smaller corporate immigration program, you may not know where to start. Join BAL’s legal experts for a quick start guide on documenting your immigration policy.
Learning Outcome: Learn the eligibility factors that determine whether a role or individual qualifies for visa sponsorship.
Learning Outcome: Consider if the policy will have different tiers of support, like for high-level executives or urgent business needs.
Learning Outcome: Determine whether sponsorship will include both nonimmigrant and immigrant categories, as well as spouses and/or dependents.
Josiah Curtis
Josiah is a Partner in the Boston office of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP where he provides strategic guidance to employers on all facets of the complex US business immigration process. He represents employers in the information technology, energy, insurance, management consulting, and legal industries before the US Department of Labor, US Department of Homeland Security, and US Department of State in addition to providing counsel regarding immigration compliance, program management, and corporate reorganizations. Josiah is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association where he serves on the national Department of Labor Liaison Committee and is a frequent speaker at the local and national levels on business immigration matters.
Josiah is also passionate about giving back to his community and provides pro bono counsel to a number of organizations including Doctors Without Borders and Kids in Need of Defense.
Kelli Duehning
As a Partner and head of the San Francisco office and a vital member of BAL’s Government Strategies team, Kelli is at the forefront of immigration government policy, trailblazing with creative tactics to meet even the most urgent contemporary matters. From complex cases requiring strategic government interaction to broad policy initiatives that involve sensitive political dynamics, Kelli successfully leverages her extensive background in government, her technical expertise and her passion for advocacy to help U.S. businesses access global talent and remain in compliance with the complicated web of employer immigration obligations. She keeps clients updated on fast-moving legislative and policy changes, drives immigration program management and advises on complex compliance issues in her role as a leader of the firm’s I-9 and e-verify practice.
Kelli joined BAL after a 17-year career with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service. She managed the Western Law Division of USCIS and was responsible for developing and coordinating all legal strategies in the western United States. She also worked closely with government investigators and federal law enforcement officials and was a close advisor to agency leadership on complex immigration issues. In addition to her legal duties as a USCIS attorney, Kelli worked as an immigration officer in the overseas refugee program in Nairobi, Kenya; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and various locations in Thailand. She was the acting field office director in Beijing, China and New Delhi, India, as well as an adjudications officer in Bangkok, Thailand.
As USCIS special counsel to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, she assisted with comprehensive immigration reform during the 2006 legislative session.
Kelli is a prolific advocate for immigration policy. She is a frequent speaker at WERC, SHRM and other venues and is sought after by the media for her immigration expertise. She currently serves as Chair of the Federal Bar Association's Immigration Law Section.
