Elizabeth

In previous years, Utah employers and their foreign professional employees have enjoyed an easier review process for H-1B petitions. Recent trends, however, suggest employers should begin working with counsel earlier than usual and should prepare for enhanced scrutiny from USCIS. Per federal regulations, each fiscal year USCIS makes available only 85,000 H-1B visas. Considering that H-1B applications always exceed the number available, the greatest challenge previously facing an employer was prevailing in the lottery style selection process. This year, however, in addition to the lottery process, there is an unprecedented shift in H-1B adjudication. Specifically, USCIS is challenging and scrutinizing [...]

We’ve all gone to those conferences where, by the end of the first morning, we are questioning why we haven’t already made our way to the hotel pool to avoid one more droning conversation, one more irrelevant presentation or less than dynamic speaker. The lighting is mediocre, the chairs are uncomfortable, and you’ve been staring at the back of a stranger’s head so long you are convinced you have every hair memorized. Silicon Slopes Tech Summit is NOT that conference. Utahns are genuinely excited about the rapid growth of the state’s tech scene. Investors have not only taken notice, but [...]