U.S. authorities have begun examining guest worker visa programs more closely than before, and the resulting delay in H-1B visa processing could leave IT shops short-staffed at critical moments, reports Stephanie Overby at CIO magazine.

At one time, the H-1B visa applications used by outsourcing firms to bring temporary employees to the United States were processed in an average of two to four weeks. Now, the average time is 60 days, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The lengthy, bureaucratic process can interfere with IT project schedules, experts say.

"The issue is not just the length of the delay, but the fact that the delays risk derailing implementation schedules that have very little leeway built into them," said Steven Hall, partner and managing director of CIO services for consulting firm TPI. "If the change plan anticipates a two-week turnaround, but the visa delays make it a four-week turnaround, that means the entire project plan is off track."

Offshore service providers depend on H-1B visas to enable staff to move between client sites in the United States and the offshore operation. The ease of travel is especially important at the beginning of an outsourcing arrangement, when the provider is gaining essential knowledge about the customer.

To avoid having projects sidelined by an H-1B processing delay, IT departments should have back-up plans, experts advise. It may also behoove outsourcing customers to retain their own subject matter experts until an outsourcing deal is well underway.

For more, see:
- Stephanie Overby's article at CIO

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