What Will Barack Obama Do About Visa Retrogression?

By Ron Hoppe 

 

While campaigning in July, Barack Obama stated that immigration reform would be “a top priority in my first year as president." However when asked to list his top 5 priorities after the election, immigration was not even mentioned.

 

To better understand the prospects for comprehensive immigration reforms occurring in the near future it is important to understand two of the major competing interests on this issue.

 

On the one hand you have the very large Latino population in the U.S. that overwhelmingly voted for Barack Obama.  They have high expectations that comprehensive immigration reforms will be implemented and soon.  The Latino community has a very strong voice and considerable influence based on their growing numbers in the U.S.

 

On the other hand you have U.S. labor unions.  As the unemployment rate in the U.S. continues to increase month after month as the result of the current economic slowdown, it is very likely that U.S. unions, who also strongly backed Barack Obama in the recent election, will take an increasingly firm position against any immigration measures aimed at enabling more foreigners being able to work in the U.S.  Of course, no one expects the average unemployed auto worker to be retrained as a Registered Nurse, not anytime soon anyway, but that is politics.

 

In short I think it is fair to say that with all of the economic, war and international issues facing the new Obama administration, it is unlikely that comprehensive immigration reform will see the light of day in 2009.

 

But There is Also Good News

 

That being said, the likelihood of some targeted legislative relief specifically for health care professionals is something that has a very good chance of being enacted and soon.

 

Prior to the election good progress was being made on retrogression ending legislation.  There is no reason to believe that support for more visas for registered nurses and physical therapists has diminished among the elected officials in Washington, in fact, this support may have increased with the recent electoral gains by the Democratic Party.

 

The fact that some large U.S. hospitals are again recruiting international nurses and filing new immigration petitions also indicates that these employers, many of whom have been active in lobbying to end retrogression,  believe that visa retrogression for health care professionals will end and soon.

 

What do you think will happen?  There is currently a brief online survey on the topic of visa retrogression at www.visaretrogression.com  Why note take 2-3 minutes to complete the survey so that your views can be shared in a future edition of this newsletter.

 

Ron Hoppe is the Chief Operating Officer of WorldWide HealthStaff Associates Ltd, a leading international recruitment firm with offices in Canada, India, Philippines, UK and US.

 

 

Visit www.visaretrogression.com

for the latest updates on Visa Retrogression

Are you planning heading abroad to work and bidding farewell to friends and family?

 

Lion Television is producing a new feel-good reality series called Hello Goodbye, for Sky One. We are filming at Heathrow arrivals and departure lounges from now until January 2009.

 

We hope to take a look at the lives and relationships coming together (and apart) at the airport terminals. Presenter Kate Thornton will meet and greet travellers to explore the stories of emotions bubbling in the crowds at the terminals.

 

Perhaps you will be bidding farewell to your loved ones at the airport as you head off to work abroad or perhaps you are returning to Britain and will be saying a joyous ‘hello’ to family members at the airport.

 

If you or someone you know is passing through Heathrow, and has a story to share we would love to hear from you. 

 

Please email linzi.small@liontv.co.uk or call me on 0208 846 2191

 

AtlasMR.com is an independent online resource providing recruitment and career guidance services to nurses, healthcare staff and businesses. 

We currently have international nursing jobs (for nurses already working in the UK) in the UK, USA, and New Zealand. 

Plus healthcare worker positions all over the UK (no overseas applicants please). 

We have a US facility from North Carolina visiting London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi after Christmas to interview nurses of all specialties.  Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years current experience, and be able to attend the interviews in person. Preferably NCLEX passers but if you do not have NCLEX you will still be considered.

Visit our website at www.atlasmr.com  to find out more today.

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