Worldwide Workforce

Immigration's effect on the United States’ workforce has been a political football for years in Washington, D.C., but what about inside local businesses?

By Ari Kaufman

of where that talent is or how they are pursuing careers for U.S. organizations.”

As the globalization of workforces becomes more common, the H-1B visa program applies to companies wishing to temporarily hire noncitizen workers in occupations that often require highly specialized knowledge and qualifications. The intent of those provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain such skills among U.S. citizens.

But while the benefits are clear, compliance with the law is key. Any time a company or individual considers pursuing a candidate that has a work visa, or is applying for one, it also should consult an immigration attorney. The rules and regulations around work visas can be confusing.

There are various types of visas with different uses.

Central Minnesota employers agree that it’s important to understand what type of work visa the candidate or applicant has, as well as what the expiration date is.

“As an employer, know the commitment you are making to this candidate,” explained Chad Coss, vice president of human resources at Nahan Printing in St. Cloud. “Work visa processes and applications can be very lengthy and costly, which creates a significant expense for an organization. You’ll want to ensure the expense, resources, and time put forth has a return on investment.”

Hiring a candidate on a work visa can be a “tremendous asset to an organization," Coss said, especially if someone has a specialized skill set for which it is difficult to hire. “There are talented individuals who have great skill sets, who can reside anywhere in the world,” he said. “To compete for talent, some organizations need to get outside their traditional talent pool ‘zones’ and find the talent they need to move their businesses forward, regardless

Senior Director of Talent Solutions at CentraCare Brent Bultema advises employers to do their research and have documentation ready when submitting an application, especially if they're involved in a lottery process. "It can be a short window of time and very competitive. Preparation may enhance your chances," Bultema said. "Be sure to know what fees are the responsibility of the employer and those that are the responsibility of the employee or hire. This will help to avoid any surprises that may arise for either party."

Bultema also recommends investing in legal assistance, especially lawyers with immigration experience or specialization. "They can help you in facilitating the process, providing guidance and helping to avoid mistakes," he added.

Rachael Sogge says her struggle with the immigration process has been “far from easy.” But the St. Cloud native and owner of Eyecon graphics — a local marketing agency — doesn’t want this to deter business owners from trying. The H-1B visa employee she hired as a digital marketing specialist has been a valuable employee who has helped build Sogge’s company.

Some of the requirements Sogge had to meet when hiring her employee included spending money to run ads for the job and proving to federal government entities that "there is no one else in our area qualified to do her job. So why didn’t I give up?” Sogge asked. “Not only is the business relationship worth it, but her vision, passion and dedication to her career are important. We were two people fighting for what we firmly believe should be, regardless of how hard and ridiculous the process is.”

A former schoolteacher and historian, Ari Kaufman has worked as a journalist in various roles since 2006. He has published articles in a dozen newspapers and written three books.

Tech News

Threads of opportunity

In early July, social media platform Instagram released a new app called Threads. A Twitter rival, Threads allows users to share text updates of up to 500 characters, and other users can join in on the “threads” of conversation. Users can log in with their Instagram account and automatically follow the accounts they were already following on Instagram. It has quickly become a place for brands to thrive, allowing open conversations between branded accounts and individuals. Adoption has been quick, with over 100 million users in just five days, but the sustainability of active users remains to be seen.

For those who love social media, though, it’s definitely #WorthCheckingOut.