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March 2, 2012 Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP New York Philadelphia 317 Madison Avenue, Suite 15181800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17 New York, NY 10017 Philadelphia, PA 19103 212.796.8840 215.825.8600 sseltzer@klaskolaw.com www.klaskolaw.com Post Student Years: Immigration Options
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Suzanne B. Seltzer is a partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer LLP. Ms. Seltzer is the Chair of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) USCIS Benefits & Policy Liaison Committee, is a member of AILA’s InterAgency Liaison Committee, and recently completed her tenure as the Vermont Service Center (VSC) liaison and as a NAFSA Regulatory Ombudsman. Ms. Seltzer speaks and writes extensively on visa options for scientists and researchers. She is listed in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, New York SuperLawyers, and the International Who's Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Seltzer received her law degree from Georgetown University’s Law Center (cum laude).
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Hot Topics in Immigration Law Agenda H-1B Visas H-1B Requirements H-1B Alternatives Introduction to Permanent Residency Q&As
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Basic requirements Job Offer Prevailing Wage Specialty occupation Position normally requires at least a Bachelors or higher degree in a related field Legal/Filing fees Maximum of 6 years Procedure and processing times
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Visas Part-time or full-time Length of approval Extensions Portability Spouses and Employment Authorization Travel
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Issues for Start-Ups Must establish company with employer tax I.D. number Can company be owned by H-1B employee? Must be W-2 employee Company separate entity from owner/employee Company right of control over employee Board of Directors? Company must prove Financial ability to pay salary Real job to be done by H-1B Place of business
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Issues for Start-Ups Other employees or owners required? Ability to hire/fire I mportance of business plan/financial projections Prevailing Wage CEO vs. function-descriptive position
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota What is it and what does it mean? 20,000 for US awarded advanced degrees FY 2012 gone by October 19, 2011 FY 2011 gone by December 22, 2010 FY 2010 gone by April 2009 FY 2009 gone by April 2008 FY 2008 gone by April 2007
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Quota 65,000 H-1Bs FY 2012 gone by November 22, 2011 FY 2011 gone by January 26, 2011 FY 2010 gone by December 2009 FY 2009 gone by April 2008 FY 2008 gone by April 2007 FY 2007 gone by May 2006
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Avoiding H-1B Quota Exemption based on employer Universities Non-profits affiliated with universities Increased scrutiny of affiliations Non-profit research organizations Government research organizations
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Avoiding H-1B Quota Exemption based on employee Previously counted (in last 6 years) Singapore/Chile Concurrent employment
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Travel and Status Issues for H-1B Approvals Change of status vs. consular visa issuance Visa - Permission to re-enter the U.S. after a trip abroad (stamp in passport) Need visa in specific classification to re-enter in that status Status - Permission to remain in the U.S. for a fixed period (Denoted by ‘I-94’ card and I-20 or DS-2019) Only hold status in one classification at a time (i.e. - cannot have an F and an H)
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Travel and Status Issues Travel after April 1 Depart US, relinquish I-94 F visa to come back to use OPT? What about H? What happens to petition? Maintaining status until October 1 “Cap gap” relief OPT must be valid at time H-1B petition is filed Extends only until Sept 30
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP H-1B Alternatives: Ls L-1: ‘intracompany transfer’ Must have worked for petitioning company overseas for at least one year in the last three years For execs, managers, or special knowledge Spouse eligible for employment authorization Maximum 7 years in L status NOTE: H & L combined – max 7 years
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Alternatives: Es ■ Must be national of treaty country http://www.travel.state.gov./visa http://www.travel.state.gov./visa ■ Employing company must be owned at least 50% by treaty country nationals ■ No quota and can be extended indefinitely ■ Spouse eligible for employment authorization
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Alternatives: TN Citizens of Canada and Mexico Must have employer and job offer Profession must be on the NAFTA list Applicant must have qualifications as indicated on NAFTA list Must evidence non-immigrant intent
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Alternatives I visa – journalists O visa Artists with distinction in field; or Scientists with extraordinary ability E-3 – Australians only, similar to H-1B Dependent on spouse visa
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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
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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)
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Nonimmigrant to Immigrant F-1 – attend school F-1 OPT – start work H-1B/L-1 – continue working; max 6 years total in H, 7 in L H-1B – change employer, continues to count against 6 years maximum (L trickier to change)
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Nonimmigrant to Immigrant H-1B – change employer, requires new petition may start working under ‘H-1B portability’ 4 th Year H-1B status – start thinking about LPR maintain NIV status until LPR 6 years in H-1B, other options? Eligible to file adjustment of status?
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP How Do I Apply? Family Investment Asylum Employment DV Lottery
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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
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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) Advanced Degreed Professionals, including Bachelors plus 5 years exp. Third Preference (EB-3) Skilled Worker (2+ years experience), Bachelor’s Degree Fifth Preference (EB-5) Investment in the U.S. that creates at least 10 U.S. jobs
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Permanent Residency Quotas, Where Are We Now? Visa Bulletin March 2012 All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed CHINA- mainland born INDIAMEXICO PHILIPP- INES/ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Employment Based 1stCCCCC 2ndC01MAY10 CC 3rd15MAR0601JAN0522AUG0215MAR06 5thCCCCC
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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 Predictions from State Department for FY2012 EB-1 approvals are down almost 50% This will advance EB-2 in China or India China EB-3 will advance a little; India EB-3 not at all
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary/NIW Filing multiple under different categories? Multi-Step Process Department of Labor? USCIS I-140 USCIS – I-485 Non-Immigrant Status? Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency Considerations
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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP For Further Information Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP E-mail: sseltzer@klaskolaw.com Telephone: 212-796-8840 (New York) 215-825-8600 (Philadelphia) Websites:www.klaskolaw.com www.eb1immigration.com Blog:http://blog.klaskolaw.com
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