<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Hello All,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>In the past month, the Department has submitted the paperwork for two
of our international employees (a Postdoctoral Research Associate and an
Assistant Research Scientist) to apply for H1B employment visas. Both
applications have been reviewed by the BCIS with a finding regarding the
prevailing wage survey that has and may prevent these applications to be
completed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>It appears based on BCIS new policies and procedures that the finding
for salaries, which is based on employer, job duties and competitive salaries
that BCIS is requiring to approve these applications we must pay the applicant
a higher salary. In both cases, this was approximately at 25% salary
increase. These salary rates are not equitable with our current rates of
pay for the Research Associates or Assistant Research Scientists in the
Department. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Therefore, please be aware that if you agree to sponsor a H1B visa
application for one of your employees – you may be required to pay a
higher rate than other members of your laboratory. Plus, this
salary rate must be approved by the Department, College and the UA Human
Resources based on the accepted guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Some of you have current employees in your laboratories that have H1B
visas and this criterion did not apply to them when they received their H1B
visa. That is correct – this is a new rule. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>When we process the paperwork for the H1B – we do not know ahead
of time what the outcome or finding will be for the prevailing wage
survey. This is determined by the BCIS not the Department or the
University. But, since this issue has occurred twice in the last month, I
wanted to bring it to your attention.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>One concern that was raised by two faculty about this new salary
determination was for existing employees on H1B visas – do we have to
increase their salaries. No, as their application for their current visa
was under the old rules – these findings do not apply.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Donna-Rae<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>Donna-Rae M. Marquez</span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>Manager, Business & Finance</span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>Department of Plant Sciences</span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>The University of Arizona </span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>Forbes 303B</span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>Tucson, Arizona 85721</span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>520.621.8689 Telephone</span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><b><i><font size=1 color="#001a00" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#001A00;font-weight:
bold'>520.621.7186 FAX</span></font></i></b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>