The economic downturn has made the practice of business immigration law more challenging. The Sanders-Grassley provisions have significantly impacted the ability of particular employers to file H-1B petitions. The economic impact can also be felt on the labor certification process, as many employers are grappling with whether or not to proceed with a PERM case. Lay-offs and supervised recruitment have made an already complex process even more difficult. This panel will review the recent changes in the law and trends that affect the filing of H-1B petitions and labor certification applications, and discuss the best way to approach these cases during these trying times. Catherine L. Haight, Christine Alber, Alan Tafapolsky