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Immigration Options for Students and Scholars Tuesday, November 8, 2011 H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York.

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Presentation on theme: "Immigration Options for Students and Scholars Tuesday, November 8, 2011 H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York."— Presentation transcript:

1 Immigration Options for Students and Scholars Tuesday, November 8, 2011 H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York 1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518 Philadelphia, PA 19103 New York, NY 10017 215.825.8600 212.796.8840 rklasko@klaskolaw.com www.klaskolaw.com

2 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Ron Klasko is the Managing Partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP, the first immigration law firm global partner of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. He has been providing immigration assistance and solutions to leading universities, research institutions, hospitals and individuals for over 25 years. He and his firm have assisted thousands of students, postdocs and other researchers obtain permanent resident status, J-1 waivers and other immigration benefits. Ron is a former National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and served for 3 years as the bar association’s General Counsel. He is a past Chair of AILA’s Department of Labor National Liaison Committee and its Task Force on H and L Visas. Mr. Klasko is one of only three practicing lawyers to have received the American Immigration Lawyers Association Founders Award, bestowed upon the individual who has had the most positive impact on immigration law. Ron’s firm has been regularly chosen as one of five top tier immigration firms in the U.S., and Ron has been selected as one of twelve top tier immigration lawyers in the U.S. by Chambers Global. He is the only lawyer selected as “Philadelphia Immigration Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America. The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers selected Ron as the “most highly regarded” immigration lawyer in the world. Ron is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

3 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Issues with Prospective Employers H-1B Visas H-1B Quota Options for Dealing with H-1B Quota Quota-Exempt Employment Strategies to Enhance Chances of Getting H-1B OPT vs. H-1B Cap Gap Employment Immigration Options for Students and Scholars Agenda For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

4 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Other Visa Options Permanent Resident Status – Family, Investment, Asylum, Lottery Permanent Resident Status – Employment Quotas Q & A Session (cont’d) Immigration Options for Students and Scholars Agenda For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

5 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Issues with Prospective Employers Policies regarding H-1B Policies regarding green card sponsorship For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

6 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Basic requirements  Job Offer Part-time or full-time  Bachelors or higher degree Determine U.S. equivalence of foreign degree Combination of education and experience  Specialty occupation Job requires bachelors or higher degree in specific field  Prevailing wage H-1B Visas For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

7 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Employer requirements  U.S. employer  Pay fees  Post notice  Keep public examination file (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

8 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Procedure and processing time  File Labor Condition Application with DOL  File H-1B petition with CIS  Change of status or consular visa issuance  Processing time 3 to 6 months 15 days or less with premium processing (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

9 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 (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

10 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas H-1B portability  Present or prior H-1B  Commence employment upon new employer filing petition Spouses  H-4 cannot work Travel  Dual intent (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

11 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 For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

12 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Options for Dealing with H-1B Quota Quota-exempt employment Strategies to enhance chances of getting H-1B Cap gap employment Alternative visa options Applying for permanent residence directly For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

13 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 For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

14 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Strategies to Enhance Chances of Getting H-1B Obtaining masters degree Filing multiple years Filing first day Using previously-obtained degree Combination of education and experience Start your own business?  Apply as H-1B employee? For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

15 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP OPT vs. H-1B Maximize use of OPT time Tax benefit to OPT Advantage to getting H-1B quota number How to get best of both For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

16 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Cap Gap Employment Work authorization between end of OPT and October 1 Cannot travel out of country For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

17 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Other Visa Options F-1  Going back to school Advantages of Masters or PhD Working overseas for U.S. employer  Entering U.S. as B-1  Eligibility for L-1 after one year Look at spouse’s status  Spouse of J,E and L can work For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

18 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Other Visa Options E-1 Treaty Trader  Substantial import or export  Treaty country nationality  Executive, supervisor, essential skill employee E-2 Treaty Investor  Substantial investment No exact amount  Treaty country nationality  Investor or employee (executive, supervisory or essential skill) L-1 Intracompany Transferee  Related company (equity ownership)  One year employment overseas  Managerial or specialized knowledge Overseas and U.S. (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

19 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-3  Corporate trainee  Training not available overseas  Formal training program required  Productive employment incidental to training  Training will qualify for position abroad Other Visa Options (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

20 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP O-1 Visas  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 Other Visa Options (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

21 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP J-1 Visas  Trainee, researcher, scholar  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 Other Visa Options (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

22 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Family Investment Asylum Employment Lottery For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

23 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 For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

24 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Investment $500,000 or $1,000,000 Individual investment or regional center For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

25 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Asylum Individualized fear of persecution Race, religion, nationality, political opinion, social group, sexual persuasion For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

26 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Lottery Only specified countries One year window Apply in October www.travel.state.gov For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

27 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptional Multiple petitions For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

28 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment 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  First? Only? Best?  Media publicity Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

29 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment  National Interest Waiver EB-2 Standard  Exceptional ability or advanced degree  National priority  National impact Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical May file multiple petitions (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

30 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment Employer-Sponsored  Outstanding Researcher EB-1 “Permanent position” Similar to extraordinary ability  Multinational Manager EB-1 Same as L-1 except must be manager or executive overseas (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

31 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment  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 (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

32 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment Timing  Electronic filing  Varies  Possibility of audit  First of three steps (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

33 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP 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 For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

34 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP 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 (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

35 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment 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 (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

36 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment 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) (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

37 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment 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 (cont’d) For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

38 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Materials Please visit www.klaskolaw.com to download this PowerPoint presentation and relevant articles. For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

39 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Questions ? For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

40 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP For Further Information H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP E-mail: rklasko@klaskolaw.com Telephone: 215-825-8600 (Philadelphia) 212-796-8840 (New York) Website:www.klaskolaw.com Blog:http://blog.klaskolaw.com


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