In this episode we talk to immigration attorney Russell Ford on immigration issues with higher education staff and educators as well as the different challenges for administrators and professors.
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Ever since clerking for a small, business immigration firm in New Orleans during my time at Tulane Law School, I was taken with the idea of being an entrepreneurial lawyer in a practice that focuses on helping people – from the individuals who need proper documentation to work in the United States to the Human Resources professionals recruiting those individuals and managing a company’s immigration systems and procedures to the In-House Counsel responsible for ensuring his company is in compliance with the maze of immigration rules and regulations.
In this episode you will hear:
- Russell’s experience in immigration since 1999 and in the higher education industry since 2001.
- How the various potions in higher education can present different opportunists and challenges
- A typical path for foreign national professors and faculty
- J1 to H1B with a two year home residency requirement.
- The H-1B cap does NOT apply to higher education workers
- Since most professors have about the U.S. equivalent of Bachelors degree, the credential evaluation is easier.
- O-1 path is a good option if petitioner can’t get waiver or wait for the J-1.
- A typical path for foreign national staff and administrators
- Must prove that position REQUIRES an advanced degree for H-1B qualification
- Job title and requirements can play a critical role.
- He shared a personal example in which a woman’s basketball coach studied sports management, but still had challenges for H-1B.
- We also discussed the similarities in representing a higher education professionals and foreign entrepreneurs.
- How the ‘Shark Tank effect’ has highlighted more immigration options for progressive higher education workers.
Russell’s parting thoughts:
- Working with an immigration attorney is more about filling out forms for a visa category, but working with individuals with their end goal in mind. A good immigration attorney will use the programs and procedures to get you there.
Russell specializes in:
- Primary business immigration working with institutions on inbound and outbound support.
- Entrepreneurs and higher education systems.
- SEVIS compliance and training for higher education systems and universities.
- Enjoys working with business and university practices to enable talent and foster new ideas while working in compliance with government systems and regulations.
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