Lynn O’Brien Shares Thoughts on Immigration Policies to Watch for Remainder of Year in Law360 Story
Lynn O’Brien, a Washington-based partner in the Quarles & Brady Immigration & Mobility Practice Group, was quoted in a Law360 story about key immigration issues to watch during the back half of 2024.
O’Brien discussed the possibility of updates to Schedule A, a list of occupations that qualify for employment-based green cards because of shortages of U.S. workers in those areas. She noted that these changes are eagerly anticipated by employers.
An excerpt:
The prospect of updates to Schedule A — which currently only includes physical therapists, nurses and jobs requiring exceptional ability in the sciences, arts or performing arts — is one that delighted immigration attorneys and employers alike since Schedule A workers get to skip the lengthy permanent labor certification process, which is currently taking the U.S. Department of Labor more than 12 months to complete, according to Quarles & Brady LLP partner Lynn O'Brien.
"I think employers were mostly so excited because it was kind of like a foregone conclusion that we were just … stuck with this antiquated Schedule A," O'Brien said.
Public comments were initially due on February 20, but the DOL extended the deadline to May 13 after the request for information garnered few initial responses. The agency ultimately received more than 2,000 comments, and the DOL will wrap up its analysis of the comments in August, according to the Biden administration's spring 2024 regulatory agenda.
However, what the DOL plans to do after assessing the comments remains "a big mystery," O'Brien said.
"Are they going to do something with any sense of urgency? Because not only would it help employers, but frankly, the Department of Labor needs help," she said.