Angelo Paparelli Quoted in Law360
“H1-B Visa Applications Down Amid Economic Slump”

Angelo Paparelli was quoted on May 21, 2009 in the Law360 article “H1-B Visa Applications Down Amid Economic Slump.” The article discussed how the economic downturn has decreased demand for visas covering highly skilled workers and that government leaders need to address the caps placed on H1-B visas because the need for those workers will return when the economy rebounds.

The article noted that Congress added provisions on H-1B visas for those companies who received money from federal programs such as the Troubled Asset Relief Fund (TARP), which may have discouraged applications and lowered the number of applications filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. According to the article, Congress subjected those who took TARP money to the same rules implemented on so called H-1B-dependent employers.

Among other things, H-1B-dependent businesses need to show good faith steps to recruit U.S. workers and offer employment to them first with at least equal pay to what is offered to the H-1B workers, providing their qualifications are the same or better. Concerning these new provisions, Angelo noted, “The regulations make it problematic for a bank, insurance company, or a variety of other recipients to proceed with their hiring as they were planning to.”