Post Student Years: Immigration Options March 2010 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Suzanne Seltzer, Esq. Kate Kalmykov, Esq. Philadelphia – New York

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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Basic requirements  Job Offer  Prevailing Wage  Bachelors or higher degree  Specialty occupation Procedure and processing times

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas 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 FY 2010 gone by April 2009 FY2009 gone by April 2008 FY2008 gone by April 2007 FY2007 gone by August 2006

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota 65,000 H-1Bs  FY 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 2010 Issues ( FY2011 H-1Bs) ■ Fewer job offers ■ Demand ■ Effect of TARP requirements ■ Impact of layoffs ■ Increased opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B and TARP Recipients American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requires certain H-1B to attest to:  good faith efforts steps to recruit U.S. workers;  no U.S. worker was displaced by the employment of an H-1B worker either at the employer's own worksite, or at any outside worksite where the employer has placed an H-1B worker.

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B and TARP Recipients Which Employers Are Required to Make the Additional Attestations:  Recipients of TARP funds  Recipients of FRA Section 13 funds H-1B impact depends upon the type of borrowing arrangement  Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) (received discounted gov’t loans)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B and TARP Recipients What if Company Repays the TARP Funds?  USCIS recently confirmed that if you received TARP funding, but have repaid your obligations, an employer will no longer be considered subject to the TARP recipient restrictions on hiring H-1B employees. USCIS recently confirmed

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B and TARP Recipients Does Not Apply to Every H-1B  2 year program – until February 16, 2011  Only to New Employees H-1B extensions with same employer Change of Status - already working with employer on OPT, attestations NOT required  Only Relevant to H-1B

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Avoiding H-1B Quota Exemption based on employer  Universities  Non-profits affiliated with universities  Non-profits or gov’t research organizations  or place of employment, law says “at”

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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Can’t avoid the 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 Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options Treaty (E) Visas ■ Must be national of treaty country  ■ Company must be owned at least 50% by treaty country nationals

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options Treaty (E) Visas  Visa for 1 to 5 years  Each entry limited to two years  Visa and entry can be extended indefinitely  No quota  Spouse can work

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP ■Treaty traders (E-1)  “Substantial” import or export  Majority between U.S. and treaty country  Can be manager, supervisor or “essential skill” employee Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options Treaty (E) Visas

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP ■ Treaty investors (E-2)  “Substantial” investment  No exact amount  Varies depending upon type of investment  Business plan and financial projections critical Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options Treaty (E) Visas

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options Treaty (E) Visas ■ Treaty investors (E-2)- cont.  Relevant issues  Amount of investment  Number of employees  Needs of business  Likely profitability and growth potential

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP ■ Visa applicant can be  Investor or  Manager, supervisor or essential employee Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options Treaty (E)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Intracompany Transferee (L-1) Visas ■National of any country ■No quota ■Length of visa  Start up 1 year  Established business 3 years  Maximum length 7 years for L-1A or 5 years for L-1B

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Intracompany Transferee (L-1) Visas ■Spouse can work ■Must be “international” business  Business outside U.S. with at least 50% common ownership  Must be employed by that business one year ■Type of employment (in U.S. and overseas companies)  Manager or executive  “Specialized knowledge” employee

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Intracompany Transferee (L-1) Visas Start-up issues  Place of business  Employees  Capitalization  Need for “manager”  Business plan and financial projections

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Mexican & Canadian NAFTA Professional Worker (TN) Visa Allows citizens of Canada and Mexico to work in the U.S. as NAFTA professionals Profession must be on the NAFTA list Position in the U.S. requires a NAFTA professional Must have employer sponsor Applicant has to have qualifications of the profession

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP More Alternatives to H-1B Alternative Employment Visas:  O-1  E-3 (Australians)  TN (Canadian/Mexicans)  J-1 (new rules limiting applicability)  I visa (journalists – disseminate news abroad)  OPT Extension- STEM

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP More Alternatives to H-1B Alternative Visa Options (cont’d)  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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas Employment Based Preferences  First Preference (EB-1) Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher, Multinational Executive  Second Preference (EB-2) Nat’l Interest Waivers, Advanced Degreed Professionals, Bachelors plus 5 years exp.  Third Preference (EB-3) Skilled Worker (2+ years experience), Bachelor’s Degree

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 Permanent Residency Quotas, Where are We Now? All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA- mainland born INDIAMEXICO PHILIPP- INES Employment Based 1stCCCCC 2ndC08JUL0501FEB05 CC 3rd15DEC02 01JUL0101JUL0215DEC02 5thCCCCC Visa Bulletin March 2010

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

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Contact Information Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq.  Telephone:  Fax:  Kate Kalmykov, Esq.  Telephone:  Fax:  Websites: