1. Immigration Options Immigration Options for Post Docs February 12, 2009 H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York 1800 JFK Blvd., 17 th Floor317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518 Philadelphia, PA 19103 New York, NY 10017 215.825.8600 212.796.8840 rklasko@klaskolaw.com www.klaskolaw.com rklasko@klaskolaw.com

2. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Ron Klasko has been providing immigration assistance and solutions to leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions for over 25 years. Ron is a past National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He has been a member of the AILA Board of Governors since 1980. His firm is the first immigration law firm global partner of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The firm has been selected as one of six top tier immigration firms in the United States for three consecutive years by the prestigious Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Chambers and Partners). This publication noted the firm as the “strongest in the country” when it comes to representing clients in the university research and medical sectors and recognized Ron as “a leading national practitioner who really does it all” who is “literally on the cutting edge” when it comes to immigration policy and legislative issues. Ron has been selected as one of twelve top tier immigration lawyers in the US by The Chambers Global Guide. He is selected annually for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America. The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2007 and 2008 editions selected Ron as the “most highly regarded” immigration lawyer in the world. Ron is a frequent author and lecturer on hospital and university-related immigration law topics and is a former Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at Villanova University Law School. Ron is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

3. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota What is it, and what does it mean?  65,000 visas Separate quota for US-educated advanced degree holders  20,000 visas Separate options for Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile and Singapore  TN-1, E-3, H-1B1 Prospects for change Timing  April 1 filing date  October 1 start date

4. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Quota-Exempt Employment Who is not subject to the quota?  Universities  Nonprofit institutions affiliated with universities  Employed “at” university  Nonprofit or government research organization  Concurrent employment  Previous H-1B

5. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Length of approval and extensions  3 year initial approval and 3 year extension  6 year maximum – any combination of employers  Extensions beyond 6 years Recapture time out of U.S. 1 year extension if file labor certification application or immigrant petition one year before expiration 3 year extension if immigrant petition approved and quota backlog

6. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP  Who is subject to 2-year return?  What does it mean to be subject?  Options if subject:  Return home  Where is home?  Aggregating trips?  O-1  Waiver J-1 Visas (cont’d)

7. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Waiver options  No objection waiver  Hardship  Persecution  Federal government agency waiver J-1 Visas (cont’d)

8. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP  Employer sponsored  Standards  National or international reputation  Documentation  Reference letters  Length of approval  3 years  Unlimited one year extensions  Spouses  O-3 cannot be employed O-1 Visas

9. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Family Investment Asylum Employment Lottery

10. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Spouse of U.S. citizen  No quota wait  EAD and AP within 3 months  All other relationships  Long quota wait  No interim benefits Family

11. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Investment $500,000 or $1,000,000 Individual investment or regional center

12. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Asylum Individualized fear of persecution Race, religion, nationality, political opinion, social group, sexual persuasion

13. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Lottery Only specified countries One year window www.travel.state.gov

14. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptional Multiple petitions

15. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Self-Sponsored  Extraordinary ability EB-1 Standard  National or international reputation  “One of few at the top of peers”  Key is defining field of expertise specifically Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical

16. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d)  National Interest Waiver EB-2 Standard  Exceptional ability or advanced degree  National priority  National impact Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical

17. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Employer-Sponsored  Outstanding Researcher EB-1 “Permanent position” Similar to extraordinary ability

18. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Evaluating Eligibility  1 st listed author publications  Impact factor?  Citations  Presentations 1 st listed abstracts  Book chapters  Honors and awards  Manuscripts reviewer  Importance/narrowness of field of expertise  Referees

19. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Choosing Referees  How many?  Good C.V.’s  Prestigious institutions  Geographical diversity One per institution  Impartiality

20. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Other Factors  Not a peer review process  Importance of job title?  Importance of employer sponsorship?  File now, or wait?

21. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d)  Labor Certification Application (PERM) EB-2 or EB-3 Employer must:  Pay attorney fees and advertising costs  Define “minimum requirements”  Engage in required recruitment (approximately 4-5 months)  Interview U.S. worker applicants  Prove unavailability of qualified, interested, and available U.S. worker  Pay prevailing wage

22. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Timing  Electronic filing  8 months?  Possibility of audit  First of three steps  Importance of filing before end of 5 th year in H-1B status

23. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Quotas  Per country of birth, per preference category, per fiscal year  Filing date is “priority date”  EB-1 (extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher, multinational manager)  No quota wait

24. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Quotas  EB-2 (national interest waiver and labor certification) National interest waiver Labor certification requiring  Masters degree  Bachelors degree plus 5 years progressive experience, or  Exceptional ability No quota wait, except China and India  EB-3 Labor certification requiring bachelors or 2 years experience Long quota wait for all countries

25. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) I-140 Petition  1 st step for EB-1 and national interest waiver  2 nd step for PERM Employee documents education and experience  If adjustment of status, file concurrently with I-485 if quota current  If consular immigrant visa processing, approval sent to National Visa Center

26. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) I-485 (Application for Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident)  Cannot file until quota is current  Importance of filing Do not need to maintain visa status Can file for spouse and child Can get Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

27. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Can get advance parole travel document  Eliminate need to obtain visas  Can still maintain and extend H-1B status Can leave employer if  I-140 approved  I-485 pending 180 days  Similar occupation Permanent resident upon approval Timing and delay issues

28. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Travel Issues Potential Problems  Intent to return – F & J vs. H &O  Visa interview delays  Security clearances  Technology Alert List  222(g) Possible solutions  Don’t travel  Canada/Mexico  Advance Parole

29. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Questions ?

30. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP For Further Information H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP rklasko@klaskolaw.com 215-825-8600 (Philadelphia) 212-796-8840 (New York) www.klaskolaw.com