The Garden State Immigration Policy Institute will hold an online event on March 24 to discuss the future of the H-1B visa program. The H-1B program allows businesses to employ highly skilled foreign-born workers, especially in technology, consulting, finance, and STEM fields.
Julie Gelatt, Associate Director of the Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., will deliver opening remarks. Two panel discussions will follow, focusing on recent changes to the H-1B program and recommendations for its future.
Foreign-born professionals with H-1B visas help address labor shortages in industries that lack enough qualified U.S.-born workers. Employers using the H-1B program must demonstrate that hiring foreign workers does not negatively impact wages or working conditions for U.S. employees.
Recent updates to the H-1B process have increased costs for smaller businesses by raising employer petition fees to $100,000 per applicant. Additionally, a new wage-based selection system now favors higher-paid applicants—often from larger corporations—over those selected through a random lottery.
Registration is open for “The Future of H‑1B: Securing NJ’s High‑Skilled Workforce,” scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
Speakers and panelists include Britta Glennon (Wharton School of Business), Neha Mahajan (Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce), Patrick W. McGovern (Genova Burns), Kathleen Naasz (New Jersey Institute of Technology), Patrick Shen (U.S. Chamber of Commerce), Zuzana Čeplá Wootson (Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration), Eric Yun (Archer & Greiner), Althea D. Ford (NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs), and Kyle Sullender (Healthcare Institute of New Jersey). Both Ford and Sullender are members of the Board of Trustees at the New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition.
The Garden State Immigration Policy Institute is a joint initiative between the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and the New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition. The NJBIA is recognized as the largest statewide employer association in the United States and represents private-sector employers across New Jersey according to its official website. The association aims to advance competitive excellence among its members while providing essential information and services as described on its website. Michele Siekerka serves as president and CEO of NJBIA. The organization also works to build partnerships among businesses, government agencies, and academic institutions according to NJBIA, offering advocacy resources and cost-saving benefits for business prosperity as stated by NJBIA.
