2023 NAFSA Bi-Regional X and XI Conference

Various Fragomen professionals will be presenting during the 2023 NAFSA Bi-Regional X and XI Conference in Montreal, Canada from October 24 - 26.

Tuesday, October 24

Fragomen Partner, Aaron Blumberg; Lead Immigration Specialist, Slava Madorsky; and Hannah Somers of Talent Beyond Boundaries will present their session, "Refugee Labor Mobility: Tackling the Global Refugee Crisis" from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT.

Every day, people move internationally for work. So why not refugees? Refugees represent an invaluable source of talent, but too often circumstances prevent them from joining the workforce. Talent Beyond Boundaries matches refugees overseas with employers in the U.S. Learn how refugee labor mobility is the future of skilled immigration, understand the global refugee situation, and explore immigration pathways that can support displaced talent to move for work. See how your institution can bolster its workforce and increase diversity by sponsoring a skilled refugee for a work visa.

Wednesday, October 25:

Fragomen Business Immigration Manager, Gregory LaTraverse will present during the panel, "But I'm Canadian, eh?" from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM EDT. Fellow panelists include Kenneth J. Reade, Director of International Student & Scholars Services at the University Of Massachusetts Amherst; and Cathryn Sawicki, Partner at Serotte Law Canada.

Canada is not the 51st U.S. state, however, a surprising number of Canadian students and scholars somehow don’t really think that US immigration policies apply to them! Things are different for them, eh? This session will discuss issues regarding immigration advising for our neighbors to the north, border and port of entry case studies, US employment options including the updated TN status, as well as a discussion of federal and provincial Canadian immigration policies that focus on attracting highly educated and high-skilled workers to Canada.

Thursday, October 26:

Fragomen Partners, Aaron Blumberg and Daniel Pierce; and Lead Immigration Specialist, Slava Madorsky will present on the panel, "Supporting Students, Faculty & Staff with Humanitarian Immigration Pathways" from 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM EDT. The panel will also include Shaun Morgan, Executive Director, Office Of Global Programs at the University of Massachusetts - Boston.

Given worldwide instability, more students and employees find themselves relying on US humanitarian programs like parole, asylum, and TPS.  Our session will focus on how institutions of higher education can understand these pathways and help these individuals. We will have an in-depth discussion regarding the basics of humanitarian parole, asylum, and TPS.  We will talk about how best to support these individuals on campus, much the same way we already support individuals in F, J and H status. We will also discuss programs on the horizon that may further benefit individuals in crisis.