Immigration Considerations for a Post-Yale World Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Kate Kalmykov, Esq. Philadelphia - New York

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Agenda H-1B Visas & Alternatives J-1 Issues  Am I Subject?  If yes, What are my Options? Options for Permanent Residence Q&As

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Basic requirements  Job Offer  Prevailing Wage  Specialty occupation  Related Bachelors or higher degree Procedure and processing times Part-time or full-time Length of approval Extensions Portability

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota What is it and what does it mean?  65,000 H-1bs FY2009 still going…! FY2008 gone by April 3, 2007 FY2007 gone by May 2006 FY2006 gone by August 2005 FY2005 gone by October 2004  20,000 for US awarded advanced degrees FY2009 gone FY2008 gone by April 30, 2007 FY2007 gone by August 2006 FY2006 gone by January 2006

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Avoiding H-1B Quota Exemption based on employer  Universities  Non-profit affiliated with universities  Non-profit or gov’t research organization  Or place of employment, law says “at” Exemption based on employee  Previously counted  Singapore/Chile  Concurrent employment

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Can’t avoid the quota, planning strategies? Filing April 1 for Oct 1 start date Going from quota exempt to quota subject  Portability?  Concurrent employment?  Working “at” University or non-profit

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Alternatives to H-1B Alternative Visa Options  O-1  E-3 (Australians)  TN (Canadian/Mexicans)  J-1  E visas (treaty between home & US)  L visas ( work for company overseas, transfer to US)  I visa (journalists – disseminate news abroad)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP More alternatives… Alternative Visa Options (cont’d)  EAD through spouse’s status J-2 E L-2 I-485

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP J-1: Am I Subject? Who is subject to 2-year return?  Exchange Visitor Skills List Right Skill? Right List?  Receipt of Government Funding  ECFMG Sponsored for GME

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP What does it mean to be subject? What Can’t I do?  No H Visa  No L Visa  No K Visa  No Immigration Visa (final step of green card) What Can I do?  Go Home  Apply for Visa other than H or L  Obtain a Waiver

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP J-1 Waiver Options Waiver options  Hardship  Persecution  Federal government agency waiver  State 30 waiver (clinical only)  No objection waiver

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP What is Permanent Residency? Authorization to Live & Work Indefinitely in the United States “Immigrant Visa” The “Green Card” or “Form I-551” Not always ‘forever’ – may be abandoned or taken away

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Immigrant Versus Non-Immigrant Visas Immigrant Visa  Green Card/Permanent Residency Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV)  H, F, J, O, etc  Limited duration  Specific to employer/institution  Specific to purpose (work/study/tourism)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas Annual Limit on Permanent Residency Per Country Limit – 7% Allocated by:  Priority Date – place in line  Preference Category

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP How Do I Apply? Family Investment Asylum Employment

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas Employment Based Preferences  First Preference (EB-1) Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher, Multinational Executive  Second Preference (EB-2) Nat’l Interest Waivers, Advanced Degreed Professionals, Bachelors plus 5 years exp.  Third Preference (EB-3) Skilled Worker (2+ years experience), Bachelor’s Degree

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas, Where Are We Now? Visa Bulletin for December 2009 All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA- mainland born INDIAMEXICO PHILIPP- INES Employment Based 1stCCCCC 2ndC01APR0522JAN05 CC 3rd01JUN02 22APR0101JUN02 4thCCCCC 5 th CCCCC

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas, Where are We Now? “Oversubscribed” versus “Available”  Available if: Visa Bulletin indicates “C” = current Priority date earlier than posted date  Current Situation (Nov 2009) EB-3  China – June 1, 2001  India - April 22, 2001  Mexico – June 1, 2001  All Other – June 1, 2002

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas, Where are We Now? Current Situation  EB-2 China – March 22, 2005 India – January 22, 2005 “all other” – Current  EB-1 Current

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptional Multiple petitions Multi-Step Process Non-Immigrant Status?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency: Self-Petitions Extraordinary Ability/EB-1 (I-140, filing fee $475)  “One of a Few at the Top”  Factors Considered in Initial Evaluation 1 st authored articles/impact factors Citations to 1 st authored work Conference Presentations Peer Review/Manuscript Review Work References from independent Experts Documenting Regulatory Criteria  Preparation/Processing Times

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP I-140 Self-Petitions (cont’d) National Interest Waiver/EB-2 (I-140, filing fee $475)  Three Prong Test Field is of Substantial Intrinsic Merit National Impact of Your Contributions You Are “Substantially Better” Than Your Peers

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency : Employer-Sponsored Outstanding Researcher/EB-1 (I-140, filing fee $475)  Similar to Extraordinary Ability  At least 3 Years experience  Qualified Employers: Academic Institutions Industry  at least 3 FT researchers  Recognition in field

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency : Employer-Sponsored Labor Certification Application (PERM)  Employer Sponsored  Employer MUST Pay Costs  Recruitment  Prevailing wage  Timing  First of 3 steps  No filing fee for this step

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Adjustment of Status (I-485) Timing  Preference categories/quotas  Priority dates  Processing times Concurrent filing (I-140/I-485) I-485 filing fee $1010, includes:  Employment authorization (I-765)  Advance parole (I-131)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Adjustment of Status (I-485) Adjustment portability H-1B Extensions  One Year  Three years Spouses

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Issues Relating to NIV Status During Permanent Residency Process Travel Extensions of Status Dependents Eligibility for OPT

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Contact Information Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq.  Telephone:  Fax:  Kate Kalmykov, Esq.  Telephone:  Fax:   Websites: