H-2 Visas: What You Need to Know to Start a Temporary Workers Program

If your business is facing seasonal or other short-term staffing needs, or economic uncertainty is impacting your permanent hiring decisions, H-2 visas for temporary workers may be the answer. The need for labor is considered to be temporary if it is: A one-time occurrence: The employer has not employed workers for labor in the past
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BAL Proudly Appoints Frieda Garcia to Serve as Managing Partner

  Frieda makes history as the first woman and Latina to serve in this role at BAL. SAN FRANCISCO and DALLAS, September 13, 2023 — BAL, the global corporate immigration law firm helping businesses and individuals navigate complex immigration issues, announces today the appointment of Frieda Garcia as Managing Partner. Frieda is the first woman
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Best Lawyers® Honors Dozens of BAL Attorneys as “Best Lawyers in America,” “Ones to Watch”

DALLAS (Aug. 17, 2023) — Nearly four dozen BAL attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers®, shattering the firm’s previous record. A notable 20 attorneys were named “The Best Lawyers in America” for immigration and 27 were named “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.” “To be featured in this prestigious publication means our attorneys’ expertise in
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Passport Processing Delays Disrupt Business Operations, but Options Exist

Beyond ruining tourists’ travel plans, U.S. passport delays are snarling companies’ ability to conduct their affairs abroad, and the disruptions to operations are impacting everyone from C-suite executives to field technicians who are required to travel. Getting a passport or renewing one used to be a reliable, straightforward process taking about two to four weeks.
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BAL Maintains Top Diversity Ranking by Law360’s Diversity Snapshot

DALLAS (Aug. 4, 2023) — Leading immigration firm BAL once again took the top spot in Law360’s latest Diversity Snapshot for its size category. The recognition marked the fourth consecutive year the firm scored #1 in overall diversity in the elite publication’s annual survey. “Diversity is a foundational principle at BAL,” said Nicole Dawson, Chief People
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H-1B Visa Overview

What is the H-1B classification? H-1B is a nonimmigrant classification for temporary employment in the United States. There are three types of foreign nationals (also known as “beneficiaries”) who may have petitions filed on their behalf under the H-1B classification: Specialty Occupations — This includes beneficiaries who are coming to the U.S. to perform services in
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Business Visitors Overview

There are several types of Business Visitor classifications in the U.S. This article focuses on the B-1 visa, as well as visa waiver programs. There are also visas for entrepreneurs and investors, and you can find more information on those visas here. What is the B-1 classification? The B-1 is a nonimmigrant classification for temporary
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Green Card Overview

PERM: Labor Certification Basics   What is a PERM Labor Certification and when is it required? A Labor Certification is a document issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that is required for many immigrant visa preference categories. The filing of a Labor Certification application with DOL by the sponsoring employer is an early
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Form I-9 Compliance Overview

What is the Form I-9? The Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the form employers are required by law to use to verify that new hires are authorized to work in the United States. Employers must also “re-verify” the employment authorization of employees who have temporary forms of work authorization (i.e., with an expiration date).
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