The Senate passes comprehensive legislation. What would be the business reforms if the legislation is adopted?

1. LA GRANDE
REFORME DE
L’IMMIGRATION
AMERICAINE: 2013
Eliot Norman
Williams Mullen
Washington, D.C.
enorman@williamsmullen.com
European American Chamber of Commerce
26 juin 2013
1

2. Day after
President cites
immigration
reform among
policy priorities in
his inaugural
address.
immigration
advocacy groups
urge Washington
to act
2

3. Janvier 2013: La Bataille Commence
• President Obama’s Inaugural Speech ,
January 15, 2013
• Waiting for 4 years,
• Et dans le Sénat
• L’opinion publique?
• Du progrès: janvier-avril 2013
• Le President un peu a la cote
3

4. April 2013: Foreign
Terrorists Attack
• Boy, 8, one of 3 killed in bombings at
Boston Marathon; 176 wounded
April 18, 2013
• Bombing Manhunt for Chechen Brothers
Shuts down City, 1 million persons locked
in homes
4

5. Nos héros dans la bataille
5

6. Gang of Eight
April 2013: 8 Senators Say Boston No
Excuse To Nix Immigration Deal | Fox
News ...
6

7. “Gang of Eight”
7

8. Why Bipartisan ?
• republicans as vocal as democrats
• la motivation des republicains…
• Analysis of election returns..
8

10. 10

11. 11

12. 12

13. Path to Citizenship
13

14. 14

15. Who is Responsbile
15

16. The Grand Bargain
• Path to citizenship for 11 million illegal
immigrants
• Seal the Border
• Worksite Enforcement inside the USA
16

17. Solves this Dilemna
n
17

18. 18

19. 19

20. 20

21. 21

22. Employer Compliance :
Worksite Inspections
22

23. Obama: The troubles I have
seen
23

24. 24

25. Et le NSA…..
25

26. Où sommes-nous fin juin 2013?
• Gang of Eight
Working away
From April to June
•
•
•
•
•
•
Absent from Scene: President Obama
Judiciary Committee vote 15-5
Vote against Filibuster 82-17
200 Amendments: nearly all defeated
CBO report: Deficit reduction $300 billion
Final Vote : before June 30 . Comprehensive
Legislation
is becoming a reality?
26

27. II
L’Impact potentiel sur
les compagnies
francaises?
27

28. Après tout, ce n’est pas notre
affaire?
• not our Gang of Eight or 7 Samurai
• not our 11 million “sans papiers”
• not our concern whether
– Road to citizenship or
– Border security? Not our billions to
spend?
• Interesting but maybe only of academic
interest,
•
Like an American looking at reform of age of retirement in
France or adoption of gay marriage
28

29. 2 Bargains
Le Grand
•Path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants
•Seal the Border:
•Worksite Enforcement inside the USA
Le Petit (qui n’entre pas trop dans le grand débat)
•acceleration and expansion of all sorts of business
visas: goal of helping U.S. businesses recruit &
retain global talent. “visa express” like Federal
Express
Both will have profound impacts on use of human
capital for French companies in North American
29
market.

30. Un cas pratique
30

31. South Carolina
31

32. The New Southeast U.S. Aerospace Cluster
Eliot Norman
enorman@williamsmullen.com
Bill Benos
bbenos@williamsmullen.com
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mobile, AL (Airbus)
Savannah, GA (Gulfstream-General Dynamics)
Charleston, SC (Boeing)
Greensboro, NC (Hondajet)
Durham, NC (GE Aviation)
Richmond/Petersburg, VA (Rolls-Royce)
Melbourne, Fla (Embraer
32

33. The Big 3
• Rolls Royce
• Boeing
• Airbus
33

34. Attention!
Homeland Security remains in charge of
immigration to the USA
34

35. What Does it matter :
Procedural Impacts
• what does it have with French companies chasing
business in the USA?
• Procedural Changes impact moving personnel
generally, slowdown like with 9/11
• Reform means l’incertitude et les delais
• Already seeing it happening with sequestration
and Ports of entry
• CBP attitudes.
35

36. IMPACT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
•
•
•
•
Multiple Government Agencies
ICE
CBP
Dept. of Labor ($$ and wages)
• New Visa Controls at the Embassies
• New Airport and Border Controls
• Montoring Exits and Entries electronically

37. Worksite Enforcement à
l’Américaine
37

38. Worksite Enforcement
•
•
•
•
•
•
example of French company in NJ
photo of boxes
more of this, like in UK.
Audits, particularly H-1Bs
fines, criminal enforcement
Problèmes avec 1099s, sous-traitants,
IRS et ICE
38

39. ICE, CBP and Homeland
Security
• à la douane
• WSJ article: les délais
• attitude de CBP
39

40. USCIS: Service a la clientèle?
• explain split of functions between U.S.
Dept. of State and USCIS
• Lack of resources?
40

41. Embassy of the United States of America
Visa Branch
2, Avenue Gabriel
75008 Paris, France
VIA E-MAIL TRANSMISSION
Date:
12-Jun-13
Mr. Eliot Norman
Attorney at Law
William Mullen (Richmond)
200 South 10th Street, Suite 1600
Richmond VA 23219
Reference number:
2013163 843 1
Treaty Investor/Treaty Trader
Treaty Investor/Treaty Trader
Dear Mr. Norman:
As you are aware, as part of the visa application process, an interview at the
embassy is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79.
As a consequence, Mr. and his spouse have been scheduled to
come for an interview on 15-Jul-2013 at 01:30 PM.
They will meet our Treaty Visa Officer.
n a few days, using the above-noted reference number you may view the status of
this application on our website at http://france.usembassy.gov Pending visas “Treaty
Trader Investor visas.”
Should you have any questions about this application or need to reschedule the
appointment, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail directly to
parisev@state.gov to ensure rapid processing.
Sincerely,
E Visa Unit
Non Immigrant Visa Branch
American Embassy Paris
41

42. III
L’Impact sur les
compagnies
francaises?
Substantive Changes
to Business Visas
(Small Bargain)
42

43. Titles II & IV to Senate Bill 744:
Substantive Changes to Business
Visas
•New Rules for Business Visas
•Liberalization of Quotas for H-1Bs
•New Types of Visas: Business lobby has
intervened successfully for multinationals
•Relief for Backlogs in Green Cards (Title III)
•IMPACT: Will affect Visa Choices
•Will affect short-term and long term
strategies
43

44. This is where is all starts
Quelle situation?
Quel visa?
11/16/13
44

45. LA PYRAMIDE DES VISAS AMÉRICAINS
GREEN CARDS
L-1A/L-1B,
E1/E2 Investors/
Treaty Traders
TN, H-1B/O-1
B-1/ F-1/J-1/H-3, H-2B
90 Day
ESTA Visa
Waivers
B-1 Business
Visitors
(B/2) (tourists)
6693462
EB-1 Multinational Managers/Executives & EB-1
Extraordinary Ability and Outstanding Researchers;
EB2/3 PERM Labor Certifications for professionals, skilled
workers leading to Green Cards;
EB2 Green Cards for National Interest Waivers,
FAMILY SPONSORSHIP (marriage to U.S. Citizen or, Green
Card Holder; Diversity Lottery. EB-5: $500,000 Investors
EXECUTIVES, MANAGERS, Specialists and EssentialSkills Employees for U.S. Offices of International
Companies
PROFESSIONALS; Extraordinary Ability
Scholars & Scientists
TRAINEES & FOREIGN STUDENTS
Research Scholars & Specialists;
Temporary workers , VIE , Interns.
BUSINESS VISITORS:
Negotiate Contracts, Consult;
Trainees, Install Equipment
if Purchased Overseas; Visa Waiver
B-1 au lieu de H-1B: 6 month project
requiring professional services.
45

46. 3 questions importantes
Les Leçons à Tirer
• What will change?
• What will not change?
• What will be new?
46

47. Un Sommaire
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Le Régime Actuel
B-1
ESTA Visa Waiver
E-2/E-1
H-1B
L-1A ou L-1B
TN
Green Cards
– EB1
– EB2 and EB3
– EB 5
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
La Réforme
B-1
ESTA Visa Waiver
E-2/E-1
H-1B
L-1A ou L-1B
TN
Green Cards
– EB1
– EB2 and EB3
– EB5
47

48. 48

49. Le regime actuel: Use of L-1Bs, L-1As, H-1Bs and
E-2 for Intra-Company Transfers
X&Z Aerosupply SA
Toulouse , France
Managers, Executives
Software Developers
Electrical Engineers
Project Managers
and
Specialists
Composites
Engineers
X&Z Aerosupply, Ltd.
Bucharest, Romania
11/16/13
X&Z Aerosupply , Inc.
Mobile, Alabama USA
(AIRBUS VILLAGE)
49

50. La Grande Réforme
• E-2 et Treaty NAFTA (L’ALENA), Free
Trade Agreements
• Supériorité des traités
• Pensez à l’Amérique du Nord
• Leçons a tirer:
50

51. 51

52. Case Illustration: Sous la Grande
Réforme: NAFTA TN ou E-2, B-1?
X&Z Aerosupply SA
Toulouse , France
Managers, Executives
Software Developers
Electrical Engineers
Project Managers
and
Specialists
Manufacturing
Managers &
Engineers
X&Z Composites
Manufacturing
Monterey, Mexico
11/16/13
X&Z Services
d’Ingénierie, SA
Montréal, Québec
Engineers
X&Z Aerosupply , Inc.
Mobile, Alabama USA
(AIRBUS VILLAGE)
52

53. E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader/Trader
Investor Visas
• avantages,
•critères,
• procédures,
• cas pratiques et exemples
53

54. NAFTA (l’ALENA) TN
le Canada, Le Mexique
• avantages,
•critères,
• procédures,
• cas pratiques et exemples
54

55. Canada (Le Québec) Mexico
• TNs for Canadians: Works if Well Documented
– Advantages: Visa Issuance at the Border
– Use of self-employed consultants
– Management consultants
– Scientific/engineering technologists
– Systems analysts with 2-year degrees
• Mexican TNs:
– requires visa and application at U.S. Consulate
– Same or similar criteria

56. Visas: Practical Solutions for Business
Visitors
• Reforms in use of « Shengen » type visas
– Visa Waivers (ESTA);
– Can work under B-1 in support of
interntional supply agreement
– B-1 in lieu of H-1B (ex. design engineers)
• professionnel
• projet de 6 mois ou moins
• compensation: de France
ou d’outre-mer
56

57. Les Avantages d’un
Multinational
• l’emploi des traités
• Chile, Australia and Singapore:
Special H-1Bs or E-3s under FastTrack FTAs (Free Trade Agreements)
• Canada and Mexico (l’ALENA ou
NAFTA)
57

58. IV
L’Impact sur les
compagnies
francaises?
Problematique ou
Amelioration?
Les L-1Bs? L-1As?
Les H-1Bs
58

59. L-1B et L-1As (Intra-Company Transfers)
Le Régime Actuel
(ask: )
Sous La Grande Réforme
•avantages,
??
• critères,
• Work at client sites to be
• procédures,
prohibited?
• cas pratiques et exemples
•Specialized knowledge
• Blanket Procedures
standards will be impractical
• % of Requêtes (RFE ou
?
Requests for Evidence)
•Problèmes de définitions de
« Specialized Knowledge »
•Problèmes de travail au tiers
•FIND materials sent to TAJ
59

60. CAS SPECIAUX
•
•
•
New Office L-1,
L-1 Blanket Visas.
E-1/E-2 Visas Accelerés,
60

61. H-1B Visas for Specialty
Occupations:
•
•
•
•
•
avantages,
critères et le rðle du « DOL »,
procédures,
cas pratiques et exemples.
Problemes de CAP ou Quota
– 2011
– 2012
– 2013
61

62. H-1B Visas for Specialty
Occupations: La Grande Réforme
• Avantages : Quotas or Caps de 65,000 a
115,000; 20,000 a 25,000. 180,000 en total ?
• Mais le nouveau rðle du « DOL » exigera une
augmentation des salaires (20%-30%)
– Audits et enquêtes
– Délai de 30 jours
– Preuve du recrutement sans succès des candidats
américains
• Les épouses auront le droit à travailler
Leçons à tirer : résultats mixtes à cause des
compromis politiques.
62

63. V
L’Impact sur les
compagnies
françaises?
Temporary Business
Visas: What’s New
under La Grande
Réforme?
63

64. What’s New under
La Grande Réforme?
• Multinational Managers/Executives:
– Can come for up to 180 days to oversee U.S.
operations
– Salary: from France or from U.S. entity
• Z visa to benefit airlines, other transportation
companies, ex. MRO facilities, repair or warranty
work on foreign equipment for up to 180 days.
– Parallels U.S. State Department Initiative: B-1 in lieu
of H-1B: up to 180 days for profesionals working on
short-term projects
64

65. What else is New:
Nonimmigrants
• W Visas: Sponsorship of low and middle-skilled
positions
– example: assemblers, welders for our
aerospace company
– 20,000 to 75,000, up to even 200,000 per
year?
– Eliminates proving seasonal need
65

66. What’s New under
La Grande Réforme?
(temporary visas)
• EB-6 Entrepreneurs and X visas:
– For Start-ups
– Venture Capital $100,000
66

67. VI
L’Impact sur les
compagnies
francaises?
Business Green
Cards
67

68. 68

69. What’s New? Instant or
Accelerated Green Cards
• STEM foreign graduates from U.S. Universities
with M.S. or Ph.D.
– enormous change and benefit
– compare with 4-6 year PERM to GC process.
• Multinational Managers and Executives can selfpetition; so can Ph.Ds.
• EB-1 Multinational Managers/Executives still a
strong option
• Reference: Green Chart
69

70. EB-1 Multinational
Manager/Executive Green
Cards
•
•
•
•
avantages,
critère,
procédures,
cas pratiques et exemples.
70

71. Timing: All 3 steps: 3-6 years + for
EB3 from India
71

72. What’s New: Green Cards
• Elimination of per country quotas
• Elimination of counting family members towards
green card quotas: big problem
• Result: acceleration of Green Card issuance:
– For EB3 , from 4 years to 1year
– For EB2, from 2 years to 1 year
• Leçons à Tirer: Des Nouvelle Strategies
(mettre les cartes vertes en avance)
72

73. Cas pratique sous la Reforme: Use of Green
Cards for Intra-Company Transfers
X&Z Aerosupply SA
Toulouse , France
Managers, Executives
Software Developers
Electrical Engineers
Project Managers
and
Specialists
Composites
Engineers and
Assemblers
X&Z Aerosupply, Ltd.
Bucharest, Romania
11/16/13
X&Z Aerosupply , Inc.
Mobile, Alabama USA
(AIRBUS VILLAGE)
73

74. Green Card Quotas and Priority
System
• Per country quotas abolished
• 40% for Graduate Degrees, EB-2 or
higher
• 40% for EB3 (B.S. or B.A. degree or
skilled workers)
• 10% Enterepreneurs and investors
• 10% special immigrants
• Family members not counted in quotas
74

75. What’s New: Investment Green
Cards
• EB-6 Entrepreneur Green Card 10% of
total: requires venture capital
investment of at least $100,000 etc.
• EB-5 $500,000 Investment Green Card
made permanent
– can be source of financing for U.S.
projects
– Investors sold minority interest, limited
partnership units
75

76. VII
L’Impact sur les
compagnies
francaises?
Visas Divers
Sous La Grande
Reforme
76

77. J-1 Interns and Practical
Trainees (incluant VIE)
•Les accords de stages, échanges de jeunes
professionnels,
•avantages,
•critères,
•procédures,
•cas pratiques et exemples.
•Le programme (sous Le Département d’Etat)
exigerait la conformité a ses règles
77

78. State Dept. Reforms
• eliminate visa interviews?
• revalidate visas without leaving the
USA?
• time limits on adjudication of visas, and
waiting times for visa interviews?
78

79. FOREIGN STUDENTS AND
SCHOLARS
700,000 F-1s
F-1s and J-1s
•
• 170,000 J-1s graduate
students
• Shared Responsibility
between ICE (SEVIS) and
USCIS (Applications and
Extensions)
• The OPT to H-1B “timing
game”

80. “VISA WAIVER”
•
•
“l’espace SCHENGEN americain”
Distinctions entre le B-1 et le Visa
Waiver (WB):
–
–
–
–
avantages,
critères,
procédures,
cas pratiques et exemples.
80

81. VIII
Les
Prochaines
Etapes et les
Stratégies
81

82. La procedure législative: juinoctobre
•
•
•
•
•
•
what happens next?
House of Representatives
Future of their « Gang of Seven »?
Congressional Budget Office
Conference Committee
If signed, timing of implementation
82

83. Guiding Principles
• L’importance de faire un bon
choix de visa en faisant une
évaluation approfondie des
avantages/inconvenients de
chacun ; et en adoptant une
approche individualisée-salarié, fonction et structure
de l’organisation.
• Evitez la répétition de la
formule de l’année dernière!
83

84. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Dernières Considérations
Flexibility
Big suprise: make early and effective use of Green
Cards to bypass H-1B and L-1 headaches and
complications
E-2 accelerated visa program (if your company meets
criteria) : extra benefit of French ownership
Stay with Treaty or State Dept. Visas over
Congressional Visas: TN, E-2, B-1, J-1
When use H-1B or L-1, carefully review candidate
qualifications
Portability: employment agreements will be of added
importance (confidentiality, non-compete)
More use possible of short term visas for productive
work without establishing U.S. Offices
Collaboration?
84
le problème de l’abus

85. 8 Collaboration.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dans la préparation de la demande, il faut de la
collaboration parmi: l’avocat et son cabinet,
l’entreprise et le salarié
Information sur les opérations en FRANCE et les
ETATS-UNIS,
Problèmes à éviter avant le dépôt du dossier,
Ouverture d’un bureau : cas spécifique,
Le rôle de votre entreprise et votre avocat
Les « DEADLINES ».
Le salarié et son « travel schedule »
85

86. 9. L’abus
UNE BONNE UTILISATION DU VISA
• les visiteurs d’affaires commerciales,
• Quand le “business visa” n’existe pas,
• L’abus de la procédure:
– Les complications et la perte des
privilèges de “Visa Waiver”
– La barrière de 3 ans et 10 ans
86

87. Nos Services Sous le Régime
Actuel
87

88. Il est plus facile à un chameau de passer par le chas
d'une aiguille que pour certaine visiteurs de passer par la douane américaine .
88

89. 89

90. 90

91. Sous La Grande Réforme:
« plutôt du planning
stratégique »
91

92. Questions et Coordonnées
Eliot Norman
enorman@williamsmullen.com
Williams Mullen
1666 K Street NW Suite 1200
Washington DC 20006
Direct Dial: 804.420.6482
En France (juin-juillet 2013)
001.804.564.1619
www.williamsmullen.com
92

93. VOS CAS SP CIAUX OU P
E
ROB E AT
L M IQUE
S?
93