Alex Philippidis Senior News Editor Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Which companies hire the most professionals from overseas?

Recently, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013, a measure that would raise the H-1B cap from the current 65,000 to 115,000 and even higher, under some circumstances. This would raise the current cap on the number of individuals eligible for H-1B visas issued annually to overseas professionals working for biopharmas and other U.S. tech employers. So, who’s actually doing the hiring?

You’ve already seen the top 10 biopharma layoffs of 2012; now, here are the top 10 biopharma companies with certified H-1B staff, ranked by their numbers of workers certified for employment through the H-1B visa program during federal Fiscal Year 2012, ending September 30, 2012. Also listed for companies are their numbers, if any, of workers denied the visas, and workers who were certified, but whose certifications were later withdrawn.

#10. AstraZeneca and subsidiary MedImmune1

23 workers certified

1 certified-withdrawn; 1 withdrawn; 1 denied

#9. Sanofi (and subsidiary Genzyme)2

24 workers certified

2 certified-withdrawn; 1 denied

#8. Biogen Idec

25 workers certified

#7. Pfizer

28 workers certified

4 certified-withdrawn

#6. Merck & Co.

34 workers certified

3 denied; one certified-withdrawn; 1 withdrawn

#5. Abbott Laboratories

37 workers certified

3 denied

#4. Amgen

40 workers certified

2 certified-withdrawn

#3. Roche and subsidiary Genentech3

41 workers certified

3 denied; 1 certified-withdrawn

#2. Bristol-Myers Squibb

50 workers certified

1 certified-withdrawn

#1. Novartis4

62 workers certified

3 withdrawn; 1 denied

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification.

Notes:
1 19 certified workers based at MedImmune; four based at AstraZeneca. One certified-withdrawn and one withdrawn each based at Genentech. One denied position based at AstraZeneca.
2 17 certified workers based at Genzyme; seven based at Sanofi. One certified-withdrawn position and one denied position based at Sanofi; the other certified-withdrawn position, at Genzyme.
3 40 certified workers based at Genentech; one based at Roche. Two denied positions based at Genentech; one at Roche. One certified-withdrawn position based at Genentech.
4 Novartis applications processed by company unit. Of the certified workers, 22 are based at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, 18 at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 11 at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, four at Sandoz, three each at Novartis Institute for Functional Genomics and Novartis Services, and one at Novartis Animal Health. One withdrawn position each based at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, and Novartis Services. One denied position based at Novartis Services.

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