Immigration Options Immigration Options for Students and Scholars William A. Stock, Esq. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York 1800 John F Kennedy Blvd Floor 17 317 Madison Ave Suite 1518 1800 John F . Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17 317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518 Philadelphia, PA 19103 New York, NY 10017 215.825.8600 212.796.8840 [email protected]www.klaskolaw.com
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Immigration OptionsImmigration Optionsfor Students and Scholars
William A. Stock, Esq.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
, qKlasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Philadelphia New York1800 John F Kennedy Blvd Floor 17 317 Madison Ave Suite 15181800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17 317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518Philadelphia, PA 19103 New York, NY 10017215.825.8600 [email protected] www.klaskolaw.com
Willi A St k EWilliam A. Stock, Esq.
Bill Stock is a founding partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP and hasbeen providing immigration assistance and solutions to leading universities,research institutions, hospitals, multinational corporations, and individuals for
18over 18 years.
Bill is featured in Chambers Global, Best Lawyers in America, PennsylvaniaSuper Lawyers, Who’s Who of Business Lawyers and other guides to prominentattorneys He is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association on aattorneys. He is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association on anational level, currently serving as a national Director on the Association’s Boardof Governors and chairing two national committees. He is also active in NAFSA’sRegion VIII and as a Regulatory Ombudsman for the region on scholar andfaculty issues.faculty issues.
Bill is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and is a frequentauthor and lecturer on business-related immigration topics and has served as anAdjunct Faculty Member at Villanova University School of Law.
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Immigration OptionsImmigration Optionsfor Students and Scholars
Issues with Prospective Employers
Agenda
H-1B VisasH-1B QuotaOptions for Dealing with H-1B QuotaOptions for Dealing with H-1B QuotaQuota-Exempt EmploymentStrategies to Enhance Chances of Getting H-1BOPT vs. H-1BCap Gap Employment
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Immigration OptionsImmigration Optionsfor Students and Scholars
Other Visa Options
(cont’d)AgendaOther Visa OptionsPermanent Resident Status – Family, Investment, Asylum, LotteryPermanent Resident Status – EmploymentEvaluating EligibilityQuotasQ & A Session
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Issues with Prospective EmployersPolicies regarding H-1B
Employer required to pay fees post notice andEmployer required to pay fees, post notice and maintain documentationJob market affects employer willingness to sponsor
Policies regarding green card sponsorshipShort term vs. Long term employmentEmployers consider long term even for H-1B sponsorship
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H-1B VisasBasic requirements
H-1B Visasq
Job OfferPart-time or full-time
SSpecialty occupationJob requires bachelors or higher degree in specific fieldfield
Prevailing wageBachelors or higher degreeg g
Determine U.S. equivalence of foreign degreeCombination of education and experience
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H 1B ViH-1B Visas(cont’d)
Procedure and processing timeFile Labor Condition Application with DOLFile Labor Condition Application with DOLFile H-1B petition with CISChange of status or consular visa issuanceChange of status or consular visa issuanceProcessing time
3 to 6 months3 to 6 months15 days or less with premium processing
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H 1B VisasH-1B VisasLength of approval and extensions
(cont’d)Length of approval and extensions
3 year initial approval and 3 year extension6 year maximum any combination of employers6 year maximum – any combination of employersExtensions beyond 6 years
Recapture time out of U SRecapture time out of U.S.1 year extension if file labor certification application or immigrant petition one year before expirationg p y p3 year extension if immigrant petition approved and quota backlog
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H-1B VisasH 1B Visas
H 1B portability(cont’d)
H-1B portabilityPresent or prior H-1BCommence employment upon new employer filing p y p p y gpetition
SpousesH-4 cannot work (limited proposal to change)
TravelD l i t tDual intent
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H-1B QuotaH 1B QuotaWhat is it, and what does it mean?
65 000 visas base plus 20 000 additional for US advanced degree65,000 visas base, plus 20,000 additional for US advanced degree holders
TimingA il 1 fili d tApril 1 filing dateOctober 1 start date
Who is not subject to the quota?Universities & their nonprofit affiliatesEmployed “at” universityNonprofit or government research organizationNonprofit or government research organizationConcurrent employmentPrevious H-1B
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St t i t E hStrategies to Enhance Chances of Getting H-1Bg
Obtaining masters degreeFili lti lFiling multiple yearsFiling first dayU i i l bt i d dUsing previously-obtained degreeCombination of education and experienceStart your own business?Start your own business?
Apply as H-1B employee?
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OPT vs. H-1B
Maximize use of OPT timeTax benefit to OPTAdvantage to getting H-1B quota numberHow to get best of both
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Cap Gap Employment
Work authorization between end of OPT and O t b 1October 1Cannot travel out of country
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Oth Vi O tiOther Visa Options
F-1Going back to school
Separate options for Canada Mexico Australia ChileSeparate options for Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile and Singapore
TN-1, E-3, H-1B1Working overseas for U.S. employer Look at spouse’s statusp
Spouse of J, E and L can work
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Oth Vi O tiJ 1 Visas
Other Visa Options(cont’d)J-1 Visas
Trainee, researcher, scholarWho is subject to 2-year return?j yWhat does it mean to be subject?Options if subject:
R t hReturn homeWhere is home?Aggregating trips?
O-1Waiver
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Other Visa OptionsOther Visa OptionsE-1 Treaty Trader
Substantial import or export
(cont’d)
Substantial import or exportTreaty country nationalityExecutive, supervisor, essential skill employee
E 2 Treaty InvestorE-2 Treaty InvestorSubstantial investment
No exact amountTreaty country nationalityI l ( i i i l kill)Investor or employee (executive, supervisory or essential skill)
L-1 Intracompany TransfereeRelated company (equity ownership)One year employment overseasManagerial or specialized knowledge
Overseas and U.S.
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Other Visa OptionsO-1 Visas
Other Visa Options(cont’d)
Employer sponsoredStandards
National or international reputationNational or international reputationDocumentationReference letters Length of approval
3 yearsUnlimited one year extensionsUnlimited one year extensions
SpousesO-3 cannot be employed
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Permanent Resident Status
FamilyInvestmentAsylumyEmploymentLotteryy
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F ilFamily
Spouse of U.S. citizenNo quota waitNo quota waitEAD and AP within 3 months
All th l ti hiAll other relationshipsLong quota waitNo interim benefits
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Investment
$500 000 $1 000 000$500,000 or $1,000,000Individual investment or regional center
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Asylum
Individualized fear of persecutionpRace, religion, nationality, political opinion, social group, sexual persuasiong
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Lottery
Only specified countriesOne year windowOne year windowApply in October
t l t twww.travel.state.gov
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Permanent Resident StatusEmploymentp y
E l d lf dEmployer-sponsored or self-sponsoredLabor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptionalinterest/exceptionalMultiple petitions
StandardNational or international reputation“One of few at the top of peers”One of few at the top of peersKey is defining field of expertise specificallyFirst? Only? Best?Media publicityMedia publicity
Labor Certification Application (PERM)EB-2 or EB-3
(cont’d)
Employer must:Pay attorney fees and advertising costsDefine “minimum requirements”e e u equ e e tsEngage in required recruitment (approximately 4-5 months)Interview U.S. worker applicantsProve unavailability of qualified interested and availableProve unavailability of qualified, interested, and available U.S. workerPay prevailing wage
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Permanent Resident StatusEmploymentp y
Timing(cont’d)
TimingMandatory Recruitment Steps (60-120 days)Filing and Initial Review (4-5 months)Filing and Initial Review (4 5 months) Audit Review, if Audited (5+ months additional)First of three steps: Quotas determine overall time
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Q tQuotas
Per country of birth, per preference category, per fiscal yearFiling date is “priority date”EB-1 (extraordinary ability, outstanding
)researcher, multinational manager)No quota wait
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QuotasQuotas
EB-2 (national interest waiver and labor certification)(cont’d)