September 25, 2009 Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A.1 World Trade Center Institute: Maryland International Trade & Embassy Conference 2009 U.S.
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September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 1
World Trade Center Institute: Maryland International Trade & Embassy Conference 2009
U.S. Immigration Strategies in International Business
• After enrolled 1 full academic year• Must be directly related to major area of study• Part time during school• Full time during breaks
Post-completion OPT• Must be directly related to major area of study
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 18
F-1 OPT
F-1 – Optional Practical TrainingF-1 students 60-day departure period• Following graduation
F-1 students with post-completion OPT also receive 60-day departure period• Following end of OPT• Without employment authorization
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 19
F-1 OPT
F-1 – Optional Practical TrainingEmployer not required to file visa petition to sponsor studentStudent files Application for Employment Authorization and required documentation directly with CIS
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 20
F-1 OPT - Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
OPT EAD extensions for qualified F-1 students
12 (original) + 17 (ext.) =29 months totalSTEM degrees (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)Employed by business enrolled in CIS E-Verify program
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 21
F-1 OPT - Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
OPT EAD extensions for qualified F-1 students
Once enrolled in E-Verify• Employers must use E-Verify to verify
employment eligibility for all new hires within 3 days of hire
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 22
F-1 OPT - Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
OPT EAD extensions for qualified F-1 students
In 2008, 70,000 F-1 students in OPT• Including 23,000 in STEM fields
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 23
F-1 OPT - Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
OPT EAD extensions for qualified F-1 students
17 month STEM OPT extension (29 months total) gives employers opportunity to sponsor for H-1B status in 2 successive fiscal years
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 24
F-1 OPT - Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
Eligibility for 17 month OPT extension
F-1 studentCompleted STEM degreeCurrently participating in 12 month post-completion OPT• Based on STEM degree
Employed by U.S. employer in job directly related to degree
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 25
F-1 OPT - Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
Eligibility for 17 month OPT extension
Employed by or accepted offer of employment with employer enrolled in CIS E-Verify programProperly maintain F-1 status
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 26
F-1 OPT - Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
Eligibility for 17 month OPT extension
Where post-completion OPT expires while 17-month extension application is pending, if timely filed • Employment authorization extended after
current EAD expires• Up to 180 days
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 27
F-1 OPT- Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
“Cap-Gap”Gap in status between• Student’s F-1 status and OPT
employment authorization expiration– In current fiscal year
• Start of H-1B status– In next fiscal year
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 28
F-1 OPT- Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
Cap-Gap relief for F-1 StudentsWhere pending or approved H-1B petition• For following fiscal year (with 10/1 start date)
Automatically extends period of F-1 status and employment authorization• Covers period between end of OPT/60-day
departure period to start of following fiscal year H-1B petition approval start date
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 29
F-1 OPT- Interim Final Rule 4/4/08
Cap-Gap relief for F-1 StudentsAutomatic extension terminates if CIS rejects, denies, or revokes H-1B petitionCap-Gap benefits only if no violation of status
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 30
H-1B and F-1 OPT
H-1B cap issues for F-1 OPTRecruitment
Impact of future OPT expirationsStrategic planning to avoid• Delayed start new H-1B employees• Interruptions to existing employees
changing to H-1B status
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 31
H-1B and F-1 OPT
Strategic PlanningFY-2010 H-1B cap not exhausted during initial 5-day lottery window on 4/7/09As of 8/28/09, CIS still accepting cap-subject H-1B petitions towards FY-2010 H-1B capWhen will FY-2010 H-1B cap be reached?
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 32
H-1B and F-1 OPT
Strategic PlanningWhen will the following year’s FY-2011 H-1B cap hit?Accelerate future H-1B Filings for F-1 OPT’sIdentify potential employees not subject to H-1B cap
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 33
Visa Alternatives to H-1B & OPT
TN – NAFTA ProfessionalCanadaMexico
H-1B1 – FTA ProfessionalChileSingapore
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 34
Visa Alternatives to H-1B & OPT
E-1 – Treaty TraderE-2 – Treaty InvestorE-3 – Professional
PERM RequirementsDOL audits• Average 40% audit rate• While PERM Application pending• Up to 5 years after PERM Application
filing
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 69
PERM Greencard Sponsorship
Employer RecruitmentRecruitment Window• 180 days to 30 days before filing
Professional positions• 2 Sunday ads in general circulation
newspaper• Or 1 Sunday ad in newspaper and 1 ad in
professional journal
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 70
PERM Greencard Sponsorship
Employer Recruitment3 out of 10 alternate forms of recruitment• 1. Job Fair• 2. On-Campus Recruiting• 3. Employer Website• 4. Trade or Professional Organization• 5. Job Search Website
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 71
PERM Greencard Sponsorship
Employer Recruitment3 out of 10 alternate forms of recruitment• 6. Private Employment Firm• 7. Employee Referral Program• 8. Campus Placement Office• 9. Local or Ethnic Newspaper• 10. Radio or TV ads
1 of above can be within 30 days of filing
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 72
PERM Greencard Sponsorship
Other RequirementsJob Order with State Workforce AgencyPrevailing Wage Request with State Workforce AgencyInternal Posting at Employer SiteIn House Media Posting
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 73
PERM Greencard Sponsorship
Other RequirementsMust interview qualified applicantsCan only reject for lawful, job-related reasonsPrepare and retain recruitment reportNo restrictive requirements unless justified by business necessity
September 25, 2009Shulman, Rogers, Gandal,
Pordy & Ecker, P.A. 74
PERM Greencard Sponsorship
DOL AuditMust maintain audit file for 5 years, including:• Recruitment report justifying those
disqualified• Proof of business necessity• Proof of advertising and alternate forms of
Legal DisclaimerFacts of individual cases differThe information provided herein is general in nature and should not be relied uponConsult with an experienced immigration attorney with regard to specific cases