

BAL Immigration Report
BAL News
The BAL Immigration Report gives you all of the news you need to know to navigate the world of corporate immigration. Every week, we offer the latest in U.S. and global immigration news and analysis — all in about 10 minutes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 4, 2024 • 10min
Episode 55: The labor market outlook for 2024
The Biden administration pursues a crowded regulatory agenda for 2024. Passport processing times reach pre-pandemic levels. And a look at what current labor market trends mean for immigration programs this year. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report. Guest: Josiah Curtis.

Dec 28, 2023 • 12min
Episode 54: The State Department’s domestic visa renewal pilot is here
Business and immigration coalitions call for changes to the H-1B lottery. Visa Bulletin priority dates jump forward. And the State Department gears up to begin a domestic visa renewal pilot program for some H-1B holders. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report. Guests: Josiah Curtis, Tiffany Derentz.

Dec 14, 2023 • 14min
Episode 53: 2023 — The Year in Review
On today’s BAL Immigration Report, we look back at some of the most important business immigration stories of 2023. Proposed fee hikes. Domestic visa renewal. And forthcoming changes to the H-1B program. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report. Guests: Amy Lighter, Tiffany Derentz, Steven Plastrik, Michelle Funk and Martin Robles-Avila.

Dec 7, 2023 • 11min
Episode 52: Domestic visa renewal, holiday travel, new H-2B strategies
The State Department’s domestic visa renewal pilot program takes shape. Foreign nationals prepare for a busy holiday travel season. And a look at how the Biden administration’s approach to supplemental H-2B visa allocations are changing employer strategies. We cover all of this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report. Guest: Ashley Foret Dees.

Nov 30, 2023 • 10min
Episode 51: State Department visa numbers, NIL guidance, the expansion of TPS
State Department data shows a dramatic increase in the number of visas issued last fiscal year. Colleges say the need clarity on name, image and likeness rules for foreign student athletes. And the benefits of Temporary Protected Status for employers and individuals. Guests: Gabriel Castro, Jeff Joseph. Uneven playing field: F-1 college athletes, NIL and the need for government action: https://www.bal.com/perspectives/uneven-playing-field-f-1-college-athletes-nil-and-the-need-for-government-action/ BAL Community - TPS options and strategies: https://ilcbc.splashthat.com/

Nov 16, 2023 • 10min
Episode 50: The economic cost of the green card backlog
Lawmakers reach a deal to avert a government shutdown. The government publishes a regulation on additional H-2B visas. And a new report estimates the economic cost of the U.S. green card backlog. We cover all this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report. Guest: Jack Malde. Green Light to Growth: Estimating the Economic Benefits of Clearing Green Card Backlogs: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/green-light-to-growth-estimating-the-economic-benefits-of-clearing-green-card-backlogs/.

Nov 9, 2023 • 10min
Episode 49: Business support for DACA, H-2B visas, AI and immigration
The business community shows support for Dreamers. The Biden administration announces additional H-2B visas. And more on the role immigration could play in the development of AI in the United States. We cover all this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report. Guest: Michelle Funk.

Nov 2, 2023 • 9min
Episode 48: AI executive order, EAD extensions, the MLB playoffs
The White House calls for streamlined immigration policies for AI workers. A temporary policy that provided longer automatic extensions of employment authorization documents has expired. And the baseball playoffs highlight a trend involving visitors from Venezuela. We cover all this and more on this week's BAL Immigration Report. Guest: Gabriel Castro. BAL H-1B webinar: www.bal.com/perspectives/bal-events/proposed-h-1b-modernization-rule-hosted-by-bal-community/

Oct 26, 2023 • 11min
Episode 47: Delving into the proposed changes to the H-1B lottery
Israeli nationals are now eligible for visa-free travel to the United States. Europe officially postpones its travel authorization program. And U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services proposes big changes to the H-1B lottery. Guest: Steve Plastrik. BAL Community webinar on H-1B modernization proposal: https://www.bal.com/perspectives/bal-events/proposed-h-1b-modernization-rule-hosted-by-bal-community/

Oct 19, 2023 • 13min
Episode 46: An interview with BAL CEO Jeremy Fudge
A proposal to modify the H-1B and F-1 visa programs clears White House review. The U.S. halts visa services in Israel. And an interview with BAL CEO Jeremy Fudge. Guest: Jeremy Fudge.