Workplace immigration policy is entering another period of significant change, creating operational, compliance, and talent-planning challenges for employers across industries. While proposed 2026 H-1B reforms — including changes to the lottery process, increased filing fees (including the proposed $100,000 fee), and ongoing litigation — remain top of mind, they are only part of a broader workforce immigration landscape that HR leaders must navigate.
This session will examine how shifting policies are affecting employers in real time, including rescinded or expiring Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), evolving H-1B hiring and processing trends, H-2B visa allocations and timing challenges, embassy and consular processing backlogs or bans, consultant-related scrutiny, and heightened compliance expectations.
Designed for organizational leaders and HR professionals, this webinar will provide practical, workforce-centered guidance to help employers manage risk, maintain operational continuity, and prepare for FY 2027 workforce planning.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand workforce impacts of rescinded or expiring EADs and related employment authorization disruptions
- Evaluate H-1B hiring timelines, processing trends, and fee considerations
- Navigate embassy and consular delays, travel restrictions, and consultant-related scrutiny
- Identify proactive risk mitigation, compliance, and workforce continuity strategies
Meet the Presenters
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Steven Plastrik
Steve is a Senior Associate with BAL’s D.C.-based Government Strategies team. He advises clients on a range of topics, including compliance with H-1B worker regulations and policies, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudication trends, as well as issues presented by mergers, acquisitions and other corporate restructuring. Steve conducts benchmarking on immigration issues and company policies and frequently hosts BAL Community webinars focused on benchmarking.
Prior to joining BAL, Steve served as associate counsel for the USCIS Vermont Service Center, where he advised USCIS officers on employment-based nonimmigrant eligibility issues and coordinated litigation defense strategies for the agency. He has worked in-house for the immigration team of an e-commerce and cloud computing company. He is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
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Audrea Golden
Based in Fragomen’s Silicon Valley office, Audrea is a multi-jurisdictional attorney and trusted advisor to companies across technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, engineering, automotive and manufacturing. She counsels startups, entrepreneurs and multinational corporations on securing temporary work visas and permanent residence for key talent, designing scalable, compliant immigration programs aligned with business growth and evolving workforce strategies. She is particularly regarded for her guidance on U.S.–Canada cross-border matters, advising on the movement of professionals and executives across North America and helping organizations manage risk while maintaining workforce mobility.
Audrea serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Culture & Inclusion Committee, providing strategic guidance and advancing initiatives that foster inclusion and belonging across the organization. Drawing from her personal experience immigrating to multiple countries, she brings a practical, empathetic perspective to her work and is committed to delivering thoughtful, solutions-oriented counsel. She earned her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University and her B.A. from McGill University.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.