L-1A and EB-1 Multinational Executives and Managers: Tracking and Mastering a Moving Goalpost
Global companies seeking to transfer key management personnel to the United States could once do so predictably, and without concern for the availabity of visa numbers, using the L-1A and EB-1 visa categories for temporary or permanent assignments. This is no longer the case. Today, USCIS minimizes the credibility of employers' attestations in support letters and demands increasing amounts of evidence to corroborate that U.S. and foreign assignments rise to the regulatory standards for executives and managers. Delays and denials cost time and money and impact business continuity. In addition the EB-1 "priority worker" category is backlogged, and employers must plan US Residency sponsorship for these senior managers and executives in ways they never had to. This panel of U.S. immigration and mobility leaders will help in-house human resources, global mobility and legal professionals optimize the utility of these visa programs for the benefit of their organizations.
Andrew Greenfield
Andrew Greenfield is an immigration attorney with over 25 years of experience advising HR and global mobility professionals on U.S. immigration and nationality law and policy and related corporate compliance programs. He counsels clients across industries on visa and work permit matters and the immigration consequences of mergers and acquisitions and other corporate reorganizations, as well as I-9/E-Verify, H-1B/LCA and PERM compliance, and representation during government audits and investigations. Andrew is the managing partner of Fragomen’s Washington, DC, office and a member of the firm’s executive committee, which directs and manages the firm’s 50+ offices in over 30 countries.
JoAhn Pitts
Carolyn Volovsek, PHR, GPHR, GMS
Carolyn Volovsek has worked in Global Mobility for over 15 years. Carolyn is currently the Director-HR Operations, Global Mobility and Regulatory Compliance with Fiserv, Inc. and based in Brookfield, WI. In her role she is responsible for the management of the Company’s domestic relocation and global mobility programs which includes the management of all activities (assignment based and direct hires). In addition, she is responsible for the oversight of all US regulatory compliance programs and initiatives. Prior to Fiserv, she worked for a third party relocation management company where she held various roles in global mobility and account management. Carolyn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Carroll University and an MBA from Alverno College.