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How Will the “Known Employer” Help Immigrant Workers in the U.S.?

In early 2015, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it had started giving consideration to a new program to help streamline and expedite the processing of certain employment-based visas. As of early March, DHS had still not provided any further information on this announcement, which some immigration law firms are referring to as the “Known Employer” program.

Since 2011, President Barack Obama has been working with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada on a joint declaration called Beyond the Border. At its most basic level, this transnational initiative aims to implement an action plan to increase security at the borders as well as expediting travel and immigration for the purpose of business.

The “Known Employer” pilot program is expected to be tested in late 2015. The goal is to reduce the processing times of employment based visas by cutting down on the paperwork required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Ostensibly, this pilot program would benefit employers who routinely file H-1B visa applications in San Diego to bring skilled foreign workers to work in their companies.

At this time, there is not too much information available on the “Known Employer” initiative undertaken by the DHS. The only aspect of it that is certain now is that a major portion of the program aims to facilitate business travel in the border shared by Canada and the U.S. Travelers who cross this border for either business or pleasure often complain about the delays in crossing over to the U.S., and thus this is something that the “Known Employer” program can address.

Some details that can be gleaned from the action plan of this initiative include:

  • The USCIS and DHS seek to share automated biographic information systems with counterparts agencies in Canada.
  • Some additional details that will be automatically shared between the U.S. and Canada include data on entries and departures as well as on any cases whereupon immigrants have overstayed their visas.
  • Both the U.S. and Canada are interested in implementing a share system that allows them to recognize certain businesses and travelers that can be considered trusted entities.

If you are an employer in San Diego and are looking for more information about San Diego business and employment immigration, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experienced and professional San Diego immigration attorneys at Kazmi and Sakata. Call us today at 858-874-0711 for a free immigration consultation.

March 2024
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