Post LLM Years: Immigration Options February 2011 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Suzanne Seltzer, Esq. Philadelphia – New York

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Hot Topics in Immigration Law Agenda H-1B Visas H-1B Requirements H-1B Alternatives Overview of Permanent Residency Q&As

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Basic requirements  Job Offer  Specialty occupation  Bachelors or higher degree  Prevailing Wage  License to Practice Law If not yet admitted, may be ok to work if under supervision of a partner or associate

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas (cont’d) Procedure and processing times  Part-time or full-time  Length of approval  Extensions  Portability  Spouses and Employment Authorization  Travel

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota What is it and what does it mean? 20,000 for US awarded advanced degrees 65,000 H-1Bs  FY 2011 gone by January 2011  FY 2010 gone by December 2009  FY2009 gone by April 2008  FY2008 gone by April 2007  FY2007 gone by May 2006

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Travel and Status Issues for H-1B Approvals Change of status vs. consular visa issuance Travel after April 1 Maintaining status until October 1  “Cap gap” relief

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP 2011 Issues (FY2012 H-1Bs) Fewer job offers Impact of layoffs Increased USCIS scrutiny  petitions filed by owner-employees  Third–party worksites (i.e. deferral & stipend to work for government or pro bono)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Quota Planning Strategies Filing April 1 for Oct 1 start date  CAP GAP Relief Going from quota exempt to quota subject  Portability?  Concurrent employment?  Working “at” University or non-profit

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Avoiding H-1B Quota Exemption based on employer  Universities  Non-profits affiliated with universities  Non-profit/government research organizations  or place of employment, law says “at”

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Avoiding H-1B Quota (cont’d) Exemption based on employee  Previously counted  Singapore/Chile  Concurrent employment

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Alternatives to H-1B Alternative Visa Options  O-1  E-3 (Australians)  TN (Canadian/Mexicans)  J-1 (degree + 1 yr experience outside the US or 5 years of experience outside the US)  E visas (treaty between home & US)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Alternatives to H-1B (cont’d) Alternative Visa Options (cont’d)  L visas (work for company overseas, transfer to US)  EAD through spouse’s status J-2 E L-2 I-485

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 Diversity Visa Lottery

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency Considerations Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptional/ EB-5 Multiple petitions Multi-Step Process Non-Immigrant Status?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas Employment Based Preference Categories:  First Preference (EB-1) Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher, Multinational Executive  Second Preference (EB-2) National Interest Waivers, Advanced Degreed Professionals, Bachelors plus 5 years exp.  Third Preference (EB-3) Skilled Worker (2+ years experience), Bachelor’s Degree  Fifth Preference (EB-5) Investment in the U.S. that creates at least 10 U.S. jobs

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas, Where are We Now? All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA- mainland born INDIAMEXICO PHILIPP- INES/ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Employment Based 1stCCCCC 2ndC08JUL0608MAY06 CC 3rd01JUL0522JAN0415MAR0208JAN0401JUL05 5thCCCCC Visa Bulletin March 2011

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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Labor Certification Application (PERM)  First of Three Steps  EB-2 or EB-3 – depends on job requirements  Employer must : Pay attorney fees and advertising costs Define “minimum requirements” Engage in required recruitment Interview qualified U.S. worker applicants Prove unavailability of qualified, interested, and available U.S. worker Pay prevailing wage

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Immigrant Petition I-140 Petition  1 st step for EB-1 and national interest waiver  2 nd step for PERM Employee documents education and experience I-485 Petition  3 rd Step  May be option for “concurrent” filing with I-140  Cannot file until priority date is current

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Adjustment of Status: The Green Card I-485 (Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident)  Importance of filing May not need to maintain nonimmigrant status Spouse and children under 21 included Eligible for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole travel document

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Contact Information Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq.  Telephone:  Fax:  Websites: Follow us!