Grant Sovern Quoted in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Article About International Students Navigating U.S. Immigration System
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article highlighted the work being done by a retired University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin professor to help international students properly maneuver through the U.S. immigration system as they seek to find work and training in the country. Grant Sovern, a Quarles & Brady partner in the firm’s Madison office who leads its Immigration team, was quoted in the article.
He spoke about the need for international talent to address the STEM needs of U.S. companies. An excerpt:
But caps on H-1B work visas, which allow U.S. employers to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, are considered too low by many. Further, there are huge green card backlogs for people from countries that contribute the most STEM workers, one of which is India.
Every year, 300,000 to 400,000 people apply for a pool of only 85,000 work visas. Meanwhile, there are more STEM jobs than skilled American workers can fill, and international students are eager to stay here and work, said Grant Sovern, a partner at Quarles & Brady who leads its immigration practice.
“I see many, many Wisconsin companies who you would (think), ‘Why are they hiring a foreign student? Can’t they hire somebody here?’ But they can’t,” Sovern said. “They are literally desperate to hire people.”