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V O L . X X I I N O. X X V I N OV E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 26 "You have to make sure they're here legally and have the proper documentation," he says, adding the biggest challenge is language. at proved easy to overcome by creating visual assembly templates. Lyons has stayed in touch with most: one is at school, another works the oil fi elds, others haven't been able to fi nd work. None has yet achieved citizenship. "It's a long complicated process, and it takes time," says Lyons. Immigration is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security and its immigration services, and the departments of Labor and State. e immigrant's legal hurdles are one side of the equation. e other side is hurdles faced by U.S. businesses seek- ing to bring in foreign nationals for specifi c workforce needs. Companies typically look for foreign nationals only when they can't fi nd people they need in the United States, says Michael Murray, founding partner at FordMurray in Portland, which specializes in help- ing employers with immigration needs, which often comes down to fi lling out forms. "I'd call it a complex miasma of diff erent forms and bureaucratic hurdles, legal standards you need to meet and diff erent government agen- cies you need to get approval from," Murray says. FordMurray represents universi- ties, hospitals and businesses across the country seeking to hire engineers, doctors and other specialists. " e conundrum for a lot of employers is to fi nd talented work- ers to fi t certain types of jobs, like engineers or specialist doctors," says Murray. "Many times, they can't fi nd U.S. workers to fi ll the open position, so they use work visas, like the H-1B program, to bring in foreign nationals." Challenges include the federal gov- ernment's caps on work visas. "A couple of my clients have run into that roadblock. ey've identi- fi ed a talented person, off ered the job, but can't bring them onto the payroll because the visa numbers have run out," Murray says. "So either the work goes undone or the company doesn't grow in the way they could." L a U r i e S C H r e i b e r , a w r i t e r b a s e d i n B a s s H a r b o r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t l a U r i e @ m a i n e P r o F i l e S . C o m » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E " " " " Colors Pantone 2747 Pantone 1807 IT Solutions Designed for Your Business Finding the right IT partner is one of the most important decisions your company can make. At WGTECH, making information technology work for your business is our core competency. We develop individualized solutions that help you grow your business, improve operations, and boost efficiency. We're Northern New England's resource for advanced technology – we'd like to partner with you. www.WGTECH.com 207.856.5300 Build a Better Technology Environment P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY F O C U S Business immigration law faces challenges I mmigration is a politically charged topic today. Companies looking to navigate the maze of legal hurdles face many challenges. "Politicians on both sides have said we want the brightest and most power- ful brains around the world to come to the United States to build business and innovate and invent. Both sides have said we need to give out more visas," says Michael Murray, a partner in the year-old immigration law fi rm FordMurray. "The problem is the conversation gets swallowed in the larger conversation around immigration reform, about building walls and deporting people. That all gets clumped together. What I hope is that they would peel off the business solutions, so they're no longer handcuffi ng innovation and industry," he adds. Murray and his partner, Russell Ford, have deep background in this specialty. Murray previously practiced at large national law fi rms, representing clients across a range of industries. Ford is accomplished in immigration, education and employment law. Clients include colleges and universities, multinational corporations, and nonprofi ts. Employers seeking top talents most often utilize the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' H-1B program. That includes everything from chefs to software engineers. "That's the one where there are simply not enough," says Murray. In 2016, the H-1B cap was 85,000; that compares with 236,000 appli- cations, according to CNN Money. Coming from diverse backgrounds, these immigrants share excellence in their fi eld. "Wherever they come from — the slums of India or a metropolitan area in France — they've risen to a level where they truly are some of the best in the world, or they've developed skills that makes them appealing to a U.S. employer," says Murray. Bringing in foreign nationals for work involves numerous federal programs. That includes pre-employment programs for students, trainees, etc.; nonimmigrant options such as the time-limited H-1B program; and permanent residency programs. Michael Murray, an immigration attorney with FordMurray, at his Portland offi ce.

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