Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York 1800 JFK Blvd., 17 th Floor317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518 Philadelphia, PA New York, NY Planning for 2010 H-1B Submissions: Planning for 2010 H-1B Submissions: What Employers Need to Know!

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP April 1 st is Fast Approaching Agenda H-1B Availability and “Cap Numbers” Preparing for this Year’s H-1B Rush Prevailing Wage Issues iCERT Issues The “Cap Gap” H-1B Exemptions/Alternative Visa Options Q & As

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP 2010 H-1B Availability Same as availability in recent years: 58,200 + remaining for Chile and Singapore (6800 subtracted)  Last year’s cap reached in December 2009 “Master’s Cap” – 20,000 petitions for persons with Master’s or higher degree from U.S. university  Last year’s cap reached in April 2009

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Availability- Past Years 65,000 H-1Bs  FY 2010 gone by December 2009  FY2009 gone by April 2008  FY2008 gone by April ,000 for US awarded advanced degrees  FY 2010 gone by April 2009  FY2009 gone by April 2008  FY2008 gone by April 2007

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Preparing for This Year’s H-1B Rush Identify cases early – February/Early March  Current Employees working pursuant to OPT  External Hires Lottery for 2010?  Increased Demand Anticipated?  TARP Recipients Hiring H-1Bs?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Prevailing Wage Issues Timing on Prevailing Wage Determinations Making the PWD yourself? Private surveys in iCERT  Acceptability?  Which surveys?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP iCERT Issues Online system for Labor Condition Application  Includes “business verification” step  Anticipated 7 days for approvals Current issues  Erroneous FEINs  Rejection of Private Surveys Timing of LCA filings in light of April 1 H-1B filing date?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP iCERT Issues Due to delays, USCIS temporarily accepting H-1Bs without certified LCAs  Filed between November 5, 2009 to March 9, 2010  Extension beyond March 9, 2010?  Only allows for delays resulting in approvals; if LCA denied, H-1B denied (cont’d)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Transition Issues F-1 to H-1B: File Petition April 1, effective October 1 Travel before October 1: Last action rule Travel after H-1B

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP The “Cap Gap” What is the “cap gap”?  File during H-1B acceptance period  File while student’s D/S admission still in effect  Timely filing will provide F-1 status and employment authorization extension Change of status versus petition approval Timing of an application to close the gap

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP The “Cap Gap” Travel during the cap gap period – no return until 9/20/10 Proof of continuing status  DSO to issue cap gap I-20 Work authorization  Valid EAD at time of filing?  Completing Form I-9 (cont’d)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Exemptions/Alternatives Exemption based on employer Exemption based on employee Alternative visa/work authorization options Straight to permanent residence?

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Speaker Contact Information William A. Stock, Esq.  Tele:  Fax:  David J. Ceccanecchio, Esq.  Tele:  Fax:  Kate Kalmykov, Esq.  Tele:  Fax: 