Immigration Law Workshop
BerkshireWorks Career Center, the Berkshire Immigrant Center, and Berkshire Community College will co-sponsor Employment Based Immigration Law Basics and Compliance Issues at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, on Tuesday, March 18 from 9:00 am – 2:30 p.m. The event is also being underwritten by the Berkshire Regional Employment Board, the Berkshire Economic Development Board, and the Berkshire Compact for Higher Education.Attorneys Seth Leech and Scott Decker from the Albany law firm Whiteman Osterman & Hanna will present a morning session focusing on employment based immigration basics and employer compliance. Immigration basics will include an overview of the immigration system and of nonimmigrant (work visa) process, work visas for students and exchange visitors (F-1s, J-1s and work options for students), work visas for professionals (H1B professionals, L1 intracompany transferees, TN NAFTA visa), work visas for temporary/seasonal workers, agricultural workers and non professionals, and an overview of employment based green card processes. Employer Compliance will include basic I-9 process and procedure, the new I-9 and employer handbook, nationality discrimination (what the employer can and can’t ask), social security mismatch letters, and risks in employing undocumented workers.
William Anastasi an immigration law attorney from Hartford, CT will present an afternoon session on sponsoring employees for permanent residency. Mr. Anastasi’s focus is on family and employment based permanent residence, naturalization, deportation, and asylum cases in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.
There is no charge for Berkshire County employers to attend. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information or to register for this session, contact BerkshireWorks at 413-499-2220, ext. 111 or 110 or email bemanuel@berkshireworks.org.
BerkshireWorks at 160 North Street in Pittsfield and 37 Main Street in North Adams are among the 32 full service Massachusetts One Stop Career Centers located throughout the Commonwealth. The Centers offer a variety of employment-related services for both job seekers and businesses. Job seekers are offered job search assistance and access to online job listings, career counseling, and workshops. Training can also be provided for clients meeting eligibility requirements. Business and employer services include access to qualified applicants, job postings, prescreening, testing, interview and conference rooms, and assistance with small and large-scale recruiting activities. For more information on BerkshireWorks Career Center call (413) 499-2220, ext. 114 or email info@berkshireworks.org.
The Berkshire Immigrant Center provides citizenship assistance, immigration information, advocacy, referrals, and counseling to the growing immigrant communities in Berkshire County. The Center also sponsors monthly walk-in clinics for local residents to get free consultations with a qualified immigration attorney. The program is funded in part by the Berkshire United Way, the City of Pittsfield, the Mass Bar Foundation, the Berkshire Bank Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, and the First Baptist Church. The Center is located in the First Baptist Church at 88 South Street. Staff members are available by appointment. For more information about the Berkshire Immigrant Center, please call (413) 445-4881 or email info@berkshireic.com.
