Diamond Peak H2B Visas Don’t Come Through
According to the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza:
A federal foreign-worker visa program used by local ski resorts filled its quota in July, leaving many resorts looking for help elsewhere.
Last year local ski resorts, including Incline Village’s Diamond Peak, were sent scrambling after a logjam in requests for government H2B visas created a shortage in skilled workers.
Because of this, Diamond Peak is not even seeking H2B employees for the 2008-2009 ski season, said Ed Youmans, Diamond Peak general manager.
The H2B program provides visas for skilled, seasonal foreign workers. Last year, resorts attempted to lobby Congress to expand the quota to include an exemption for H2B workers from the 2006-2007 season. That request was denied.
Bob Roberts, California Ski Industry Association executive director, said H2B workers are generally highly skilled either in maintenance/repair work or as valuable instructors.
Such is the case for Diamond Peak, where Youmans said the mountain lost its longtime assistant director of child ski instruction last year.
“It’s been tough to fill (that position),” Youmans said. “We’re trying to fill the gaps as we can, but losing those people will eventually catch up to us and hurt.”
To read the whole article, go HERE
Press Release
- September 09 2008 | 60 views
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