Washington, DC - On March 14 at 12:30 pm at the JW Marriott in Austin, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs will host a SXSW Interactive panel highlighting how the U.S. Departments of State, Homeland Security, and the White House U.S. Digital Service are working collaboratively to streamline and modernize the immigrant visa process to help the tech industry employ skilled, qualified workers and students from foreign countries.

The panel will feature U.S. Digital Services advisor Vivian Graubard, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector Jose Raul Perales, and U.S. Department of State Director of Public and Diplomatic Liaison for the Bureau of Consular Affairs Jill Esposito. The panel will be moderated by John Paul Farmer, Director of Technology & Civic Innovation at Microsoft and former Senior Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology.

During their time in Austin, panelists will also meet with members of tech startups, startup incubators, and other private industry stakeholders to explore how the U.S. government can better engage with and provide resources to these important partners in the immigrant visa process.