D CEO Magazine features article about the current state of business immigration in its September 2024 issue.
The article interviews North Texas immigration experts like Karen Lee Pollak about the adverse impact that antiquated regulations are having on growth of local businesses by preventing them from bringing in the talent they need. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Working Within The System
Pollak was born and raised in South Africa and came to the U.S. after attending law school there. She has personal experience navigating the H-1B visa system and was fortunate to secure one to be able to obtain a job as a lawyer in America and eventually open her own practice in the United States. The experience helps her empathize with her clients and the employees they are bringing in. “I have been through the gamut and can understand what they are going through from a mental and psychological perspective,” Pollak says.
She remembers questions about whether she would have to return to her home country while in the U.S. Even though she had a job lined up in America, she lived in fear that she would have to uproot everything she had worked so hard for. However, she was able to get an H-1B visa on her first try and has since gone on to become a U.S. citizen. She is one of the lucky ones. “My whole life was at stake,” Pollak says. “It caused a lot of sleepless nights.”
Others aren’t so fortunate. Many people will continue to stay in school and obtain more degrees to stay in the U.S. on a student visa, which is easier to obtain than an H-1B. Many foreigners spend years being educated in American schools only to have to return to their home country because they can’t get a H-1B visa, despite having American job offers. The increasingly important science, technology, engineering, and math professions are suffering the most. Between 1988 and 2017, STEM degrees obtained by foreign students grew by 315 percent. There are more foreign students who graduate with master’s and doctoral degrees from American schools each year than there are available visas. Immigrants earned nearly half of all doctoral degrees issued in the U.S. in 2022, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.
Those who cannot continue to study and don’t get a visa must return to a country they may not have been back to for years. Other workers try other approaches to stay in the country and keep their jobs. A green card can get a worker out of limbo, but those are also tough to get and are limited by country quotas. Sometimes, the wait for a green card can be as long as eight or nine years.
In recent years, conservative administrations, traditionally the party of free markets, have been more restrictive toward foreign immigration, and the political fluctuations create an added layer of uncertainty.
This past summer, President Joe Biden announced that individuals who were illegally brought to this country as children, so-called Dreamers, would not be separated from their families if one of the family members was married to a U.S. citizen and they had been in the country for at least 10 years.
When time is of the essence, it’s essential to ensure that all documentation and forms are completed properly to avoid delays. Pollak PLLC can guide you through the citizenship application process, offering clarity and support every step of the way. Contact us by calling (214) 305-2266 to schedule a consultation and start your journey towards securing your US citizenship today.
