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Immigration OptionsImmigration Optionsfor Students and Scholars

William A. Stock, Esq.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

, qKlasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Philadelphia New York1800 John F Kennedy Blvd Floor 17 317 Madison Ave Suite 15181800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17 317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518Philadelphia, PA 19103 New York, NY 10017215.825.8600 [email protected] www.klaskolaw.com

Willi A St k EWilliam A. Stock, Esq.

Bill Stock is a founding partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP and hasbeen providing immigration assistance and solutions to leading universities,research institutions, hospitals, multinational corporations, and individuals for

18over 18 years.

Bill is featured in Chambers Global, Best Lawyers in America, PennsylvaniaSuper Lawyers, Who’s Who of Business Lawyers and other guides to prominentattorneys He is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association on aattorneys. He is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association on anational level, currently serving as a national Director on the Association’s Boardof Governors and chairing two national committees. He is also active in NAFSA’sRegion VIII and as a Regulatory Ombudsman for the region on scholar andfaculty issues.faculty issues.

Bill is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and is a frequentauthor and lecturer on business-related immigration topics and has served as anAdjunct Faculty Member at Villanova University School of Law.

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP


Issues with Prospective Employers

Agenda

H-1B VisasH-1B QuotaOptions for Dealing with H-1B QuotaOptions for Dealing with H-1B QuotaQuota-Exempt EmploymentStrategies to Enhance Chances of Getting H-1BOPT vs. H-1BCap Gap Employment


For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com


Other Visa Options

(cont’d)AgendaOther Visa OptionsPermanent Resident Status – Family, Investment, Asylum, LotteryPermanent Resident Status – EmploymentEvaluating EligibilityQuotasQ & A Session



Issues with Prospective EmployersPolicies regarding H-1B

Employer required to pay fees post notice andEmployer required to pay fees, post notice and maintain documentationJob market affects employer willingness to sponsor

Policies regarding green card sponsorshipShort term vs. Long term employmentEmployers consider long term even for H-1B sponsorship



H-1B VisasBasic requirements

H-1B Visasq

Job OfferPart-time or full-time

SSpecialty occupationJob requires bachelors or higher degree in specific fieldfield

Prevailing wageBachelors or higher degreeg g

Determine U.S. equivalence of foreign degreeCombination of education and experience



H 1B ViH-1B Visas(cont’d)

Procedure and processing timeFile Labor Condition Application with DOLFile Labor Condition Application with DOLFile H-1B petition with CISChange of status or consular visa issuanceChange of status or consular visa issuanceProcessing time

3 to 6 months3 to 6 months15 days or less with premium processing



H 1B VisasH-1B VisasLength of approval and extensions

(cont’d)Length of approval and extensions

3 year initial approval and 3 year extension6 year maximum any combination of employers6 year maximum – any combination of employersExtensions beyond 6 years

Recapture time out of U SRecapture time out of U.S.1 year extension if file labor certification application or immigrant petition one year before expirationg p y p3 year extension if immigrant petition approved and quota backlog



H-1B VisasH 1B Visas

H 1B portability(cont’d)

H-1B portabilityPresent or prior H-1BCommence employment upon new employer filing p y p p y gpetition

SpousesH-4 cannot work (limited proposal to change)

TravelD l i t tDual intent



H-1B QuotaH 1B QuotaWhat is it, and what does it mean?

65 000 visas base plus 20 000 additional for US advanced degree65,000 visas base, plus 20,000 additional for US advanced degree holders

TimingA il 1 fili d tApril 1 filing dateOctober 1 start date

Who is not subject to the quota?Universities & their nonprofit affiliatesEmployed “at” universityNonprofit or government research organizationNonprofit or government research organizationConcurrent employmentPrevious H-1B



St t i t E hStrategies to Enhance Chances of Getting H-1Bg

Obtaining masters degreeFili lti lFiling multiple yearsFiling first dayU i i l bt i d dUsing previously-obtained degreeCombination of education and experienceStart your own business?Start your own business?

Apply as H-1B employee?



OPT vs. H-1B

Maximize use of OPT timeTax benefit to OPTAdvantage to getting H-1B quota numberHow to get best of both



Cap Gap Employment

Work authorization between end of OPT and O t b 1October 1Cannot travel out of country



Oth Vi O tiOther Visa Options

F-1Going back to school

Separate options for Canada Mexico Australia ChileSeparate options for Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile and Singapore

TN-1, E-3, H-1B1Working overseas for U.S. employer Look at spouse’s statusp

Spouse of J, E and L can work



Oth Vi O tiJ 1 Visas

Other Visa Options(cont’d)J-1 Visas

Trainee, researcher, scholarWho is subject to 2-year return?j yWhat does it mean to be subject?Options if subject:

R t hReturn homeWhere is home?Aggregating trips?

O-1Waiver



Other Visa OptionsOther Visa OptionsE-1 Treaty Trader

Substantial import or export

(cont’d)

Substantial import or exportTreaty country nationalityExecutive, supervisor, essential skill employee

E 2 Treaty InvestorE-2 Treaty InvestorSubstantial investment

No exact amountTreaty country nationalityI l ( i i i l kill)Investor or employee (executive, supervisory or essential skill)

L-1 Intracompany TransfereeRelated company (equity ownership)One year employment overseasManagerial or specialized knowledge

Overseas and U.S.



Other Visa OptionsO-1 Visas

Other Visa Options(cont’d)

Employer sponsoredStandards

National or international reputationNational or international reputationDocumentationReference letters Length of approval

3 yearsUnlimited one year extensionsUnlimited one year extensions

SpousesO-3 cannot be employed



Permanent Resident Status

FamilyInvestmentAsylumyEmploymentLotteryy



F ilFamily

Spouse of U.S. citizenNo quota waitNo quota waitEAD and AP within 3 months

All th l ti hiAll other relationshipsLong quota waitNo interim benefits



Investment

$500 000 $1 000 000$500,000 or $1,000,000Individual investment or regional center



Asylum

Individualized fear of persecutionpRace, religion, nationality, political opinion, social group, sexual persuasiong



Lottery

Only specified countriesOne year windowOne year windowApply in October

t l t twww.travel.state.gov



Permanent Resident StatusEmploymentp y

E l d lf dEmployer-sponsored or self-sponsoredLabor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptionalinterest/exceptionalMultiple petitions



Permanent Resident StatusEmployment

Self-Sponsored (cont’d)Self-SponsoredExtraordinary ability

EB-1

(cont d)

StandardNational or international reputation“One of few at the top of peers”One of few at the top of peersKey is defining field of expertise specificallyFirst? Only? Best?Media publicityMedia publicity

Extensive documentation requiredReference letters critical



Permanent Resident StatusPermanent Resident StatusEmployment

National Interest WaiverEB-2

(cont’d)

EB-2Standard

Exceptional ability or advanced degreeNational priorityNational impact

Extensive documentation requiredExtensive documentation requiredReference letters critical




( t’d)Employer-SponsoredOutstanding Researcher

(cont’d)

EB-1“Permanent position”Similar to extraordinary abilitySimilar to extraordinary ability

Multinational ManagerEB-1Same as L-1 except must be manager or executive overseas



E l ti Eli ibilitEvaluating Eligibility1st listed author publications1st listed author publications

Impact factor?CitationsPresentations

1st listed abstractsBook chaptersBook chaptersHonors and awardsManuscripts reviewerImportance/narrowness of field of expertiseReferees




Labor Certification Application (PERM)EB-2 or EB-3

(cont’d)

Employer must:Pay attorney fees and advertising costsDefine “minimum requirements”e e u equ e e tsEngage in required recruitment (approximately 4-5 months)Interview U.S. worker applicantsProve unavailability of qualified interested and availableProve unavailability of qualified, interested, and available U.S. workerPay prevailing wage



Permanent Resident StatusEmploymentp y

Timing(cont’d)

TimingMandatory Recruitment Steps (60-120 days)Filing and Initial Review (4-5 months)Filing and Initial Review (4 5 months) Audit Review, if Audited (5+ months additional)First of three steps: Quotas determine overall time



Q tQuotas

Per country of birth, per preference category, per fiscal yearFiling date is “priority date”EB-1 (extraordinary ability, outstanding

)researcher, multinational manager)No quota wait



QuotasQuotas

EB-2 (national interest waiver and labor certification)(cont’d)

EB 2 (national interest waiver and labor certification)National interest waiverLabor certification requiring

Masters degreeMasters degreeBachelors degree plus 5 years progressive experience, orExceptional ability

No quota wait except China and IndiaNo quota wait, except China and IndiaEB-3

Labor certification requiring bachelors or 2 years q g yexperienceLong quota wait for all countries




I-140 Petition1st step for EB 1 and national interest waiver

(cont’d)

1st step for EB-1 and national interest waiver2nd step for PERM

Employee documents education and experiencep y p

If adjustment of status, file concurrently with I-485 if quota currentIf consular immigrant visa processing, approval sent to National Visa Center




I-485 (Application for Adjustment of Status to (cont’d)

Permanent Resident)Cannot file until quota is currentImportance of filing

Do not need to maintain visa statusCan file for spouse and childCan file for spouse and childCan get Employment Authorization Document (EAD)



P t R id t St tPermanent Resident StatusEmployment

Can get advance parole travel documentEliminate need to obtain visas

(cont’d)

Can still maintain and extend H-1B status

Can leave employer ifI 140 approvedI-140 approvedI-485 pending 180 daysSimilar occupation

Permanent resident upon approvalTiming and delay issues



Materials

Please visit www klaskolaw com to download thisPlease visit www.klaskolaw.com to download this PowerPoint presentation and relevant articles.



Q ti ?Questions ?



For Further InformationFor Further Information

William A. Stock, Esq., qKlasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

E-mail: [email protected] mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 215-825-8600 (Philadelphia)

212-796-8840 (New York)212 796 8840 (New York)

Website: www.klaskolaw.comwww eb1immigration comwww.eb1immigration.comwww.eb5immigration.com

Blog: http://blog klaskolaw com


Blog: http://blog.klaskolaw.com

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