Post-Residency Options for International Medical Graduates H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. K lasko, R ulon, S tock & S eltzer, LLP 1800 JFK Blvd. Suite Madison Ave. Suite 1518 Philadelphia, PA New York, NY

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Ron Klasko is the Managing Partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP and has been providing immigration assistance and solutions to individuals, multinational corporations, research institutions, hospitals, and leading universities for over 25 years. Ron is a former National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association 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, its Task Force on H and L Visas and Business Immigration Committee. Mr. Klasko is the Founder and Vice Chair of the Healthcare Interest Group of NAFSA. Ron has been chosen as one of twelve top tier immigration lawyers in the U.S. by The Chambers Global Guide. He is selected annually for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America. The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2007 Corporate Immigration Law edition selected Ron as the “Most Highly Regarded” business immigration lawyer in the world. He is a frequent author and lecturer on business-related immigration topics and is a former Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at Villanova University Law School. Ron is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Post-Residency Options Agenda Current Issues in H-1B Visas Current Issues J-1 Visas Current Issues in O-1 Visas Permanent Residence Status Travel Issues Q & A

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Basic requirements Procedure and processing times Specialty occupation issues Part-time or full-time Length of approval Extensions Portability Travel

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota What is it and what does it mean? Who is not subject to the quota?  Universities  Nonprofit institutions affiliated with universities  Employed “at” university  Nonprofit or government research organization  Previous H-1B under cap  Concurrent employment

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota (cont.) Strategies and timing if subject to the quota  File April 1 st if qualified for job  Explore O-1  Go to cap-exempt institution for 1 year

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP J-1 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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP J-1 Waiver Options  Hardship  Persecution  Federal government agency waiver  HHS waiver  VA waiver  ARC Waiver  DRA waiver  State 30 waiver (clinical only)  No objection waiver (researchers only)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP  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 O-1 Visas

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Family Employment Investment Asylum Timing  Quotas / priority dates  Processing times

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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Investment $500,000 or $1,000,000 Individual investment or regional center

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Asylum Individualized fear of persecution Race, religion, nationality, political opinion, social group, sexual persuasion

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Lottery Only specified countries One year window

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptional Multiple petitions

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) 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 Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d)  National Interest Waiver - Research EB-2 Standard  Exceptional ability or advanced degree  National priority  National impact Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d)  National Interest Waiver - Clinical Shortage area 5 year commitment

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Evaluating Eligibility  1 st listed author publications  Impact factor?  Citations  Presentations 1 st listed abstracts  Book chapters  Honors and awards  Manuscripts reviewer  Importance/narrowness of field of expertise  Referees

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Choosing Referees  How many?  Good C.V.’s  Prestigious institutions  Geographical diversity One per institution  Impartiality

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Other Factors  Not a peer review process  Importance of job title?  Importance of employer sponsorship?  File now, or wait?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d)  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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) Timing  Electronic filing  8 months?  Possibility of audit  First of three steps  Importance of filing before end of 5 th year in H-1B status

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) 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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) 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)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Resident Status Employment (cont’d) 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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Travel Issues Potential Problems  Intent to return – F & J vs. H & O  Visa interview delays  Security clearances  Technology Alert List  222(g) Possible solutions  Don’t travel  Canada / Mexico  Advance Parole

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Questions ?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP For Further Information H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP 1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1700 Philadelphia, PA