Transcript Immigration Options for Scholars and Researchers

Immigration Options
for Scholars and Researchers
Monday, November 11, 2013
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Philadelphia
New York
1800 JFK Blvd., Floor 17
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.825.8600
317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518
New York, NY 10017
212.796.8840
www.klaskolaw.com
[email protected]
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 universities for over 30 years.
 Ron is a past National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and
served for 3 years as the bar association’s General Counsel. His firm is the first
immigration law firm global partner of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
Mr. Klasko has been invited by more than 30 universities and hospitals to address
students and scholars.
 Ron has been selected as one of six top tier immigration lawyers in the US by
Chambers Global. He is selected annually for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America.
The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers Corporate Immigration Law edition
selected Ron as one of the three “most highly regarded” immigration lawyers in the
world from 2007 to 2013. He is a frequent author and lecturer on university-related
immigration law 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. He has helped
thousands of students navigate the complicated process of obtaining working visas
and green cards.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Immigration Options for
Scholars and Researchers
Agenda
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Introduction to Permanent Residency
H-1B Visas and Quota
J-1 Visas and Waivers
O-1 Visas
Permanent Residence Status
Q&As
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
What is Permanent Residency?
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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
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Immigrant vs. Nonimmigrant Visas
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Immigrant Visa
 Green
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Card/Permanent Residency
Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV)
 H, F, J, O, etc.
 Limited duration
 Specific to employer/institution
 Specific to purpose (work/study/tourism)
 May need to establish “non-immigrant” intent
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Nonimmigrant to Immigrant
F-1 – attend school
F-1 OPT – start work
H-1B – continue working;
Cap subject? Cap exempt?
H-1B – change employer?
6 years maximum in H status
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Nonimmigrant to Immigrant
H-1B – change employer, requires new petition
may start working under ‘H-1B portability’
4th 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?
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Visas
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Basic requirements

Job Offer
 Prevailing Wage
 Bachelors or higher degree
 Specialty occupation
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Procedure and processing times
Specialty occupation issues
Part-time or full-time
Length of approval
Extensions
Portability
Spouses
Travel
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Quota
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What is it, and what does it mean?
Separate quota for US-educated advanced
degree holders
Separate options for Canada, Mexico, Australia,
Chile and Singapore
Prospects for change
Timing
 April
1 filing date
 October 1 start date
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Quota-Exempt Employment
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Who is not subject to the quota?
 Universities
 Nonprofit
institutions affiliated with universities
 Employed “at” university
 Nonprofit or government research organization
 Concurrent employment
 Previous H-1B
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Travel and Status Issues
for H-1B Approvals
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Change of status vs. consular visa issuance
Travel after April 1
Maintaining status until October 1
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
J-1 Visas
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Who is subject to 2-year return?
What does it mean to be subject?
Options if subject:
 Return
home
Where is home?
 Aggregating trips?
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 O-1
visa
 Waiver
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Avoiding Need for J-1 Waiver
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Medical Researchers
 Who
decides if 2 year return requirement?
CIS – not DOS
 Visa, DS 2019, advisory opinion not determinative
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 Only
subject if
Skills list
 Government financing
 Graduate medical education or training
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For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Avoiding Need for J-1 Waiver
(cont’d)
 Skills
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list advocacy
Country of citizenship or country of last residence
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Country of last residence vs. country of last permanent
residence
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Proving different skills list category
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Effect of new country of citizenship
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Avoiding Need for J-1 Waiver
(cont’d)
 Government
financing advocacy
Must be during J status
 Indirect government financing
 Funds earmarked for exchange program
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For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Visa Options
Without Needing Waiver
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Anything other than H or L visa or change of
status
 O-1,
TN-1, E-3 ok
 Change of status from F-1 (or other) to H-1B ok
 Labor certification and I-140 can be approved
DS230 can be filed
 I-485 cannot be filed (except clinical NIW)
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For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Fulfilling Two-Year
Return Requirement
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Return to country of nationality or last residence?
Can fulfill sequentially
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
J-1 Waiver Options
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No objection statement
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Exceptional hardship
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Persecution
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Interested government agency
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
No Objection Statement
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Researchers only
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Usually not helpful if U.S. or international
organization funding
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Quickest and easiest waiver
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Attitudes of different countries
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Exceptional Hardship Waiver
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Hardship to U.S. citizen or LPR spouse or child
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Hardship must be “exceptional”
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Very difficult
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Persecution Waiver
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Individualized persecution
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Similar to asylum
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Interested Government
Agency Waivers
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Research track
 Usually
 Peer
through HHS
review process – unlike CIS filings
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
HHS Waivers
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Key Issues
 Importance
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Does not have to be NIH funded
 Essentiality
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of research program
and uniqueness of foreign national
Recruitment (unavailability of U.S. researchers)
 Future
of program and future of foreign national
 Bench research vs. clinical research
 Excellence of foreign national’s research
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
HHS Waivers
(cont’d)
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Other Issues
 Involvement
of NIH scientists familiar with the
research
 Impact
of Fulbright funding
 Timing
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Other Medical Research Waivers
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Usually limited to agency contracts, grants or
research programs
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Examples include DOD, NASA, DOE and DOI
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Nonimmigrant Option:
O-1 Visa
Extraordinary Ability
 Factors Considered in Initial Evaluation
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 1st
authored articles / presentations
 Citations
 Book chapters / review articles
 Peer reviewer / manuscript reviewer
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
O-1 Option:
Alien of Extraordinary Ability
Document Intensive Petition
 Important option if:
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 Cap
Subject H-1B
 6 Years in H-1B
 J Subject to 2 years
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Residence
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Employer-sponsored, family-sponsored or selfsponsored
Quotas/timing issues
Impact on visa status
Impact on family
Impact on travel
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Application Pathways
for Permanent Residency
Family
 Investment
 Asylum
 Employment
 DV Lottery
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For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Residency Quotas
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Annual Limit on Immigrant Visas (Permanent
Residency)
Per Country Limit – 7%
Allocated by:
Date – place in line
 Preference Category
 Priority
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Family
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Spouse of U.S. citizen
 No
quota wait
 EAD and AP within 3 months
 Travel may result in loss of status unless H-1B
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All other relationships
 Long
quota wait
 No interim benefits
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Investment
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$500,000 or $1,000,000
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Individual investment or regional center
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Asylum
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Individualized fear of persecution
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Race, religion, nationality, political opinion,
social group, sexual persuasion
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Lottery
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Only specified countries
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One year window
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www.travel.state.gov
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Effect of application on future visa applications
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment
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Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored
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Labor certification or extraordinary/national
interest/exceptional
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Multiple petitions
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Residency Quotas
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Employment Based Preferences
 First
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Preference (EB-1)
Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher,
Multinational Executive
 Second
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Nat’l Interest Waivers, Advanced Degreed Professionals,
Bachelors plus 5 years exp.
 Third
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Preference (EB-2)
Preference (EB-3)
Skilled Worker (2+ years experience), Bachelor’s Degree
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Visa Bulletin for November 2013
Permanent Residency Quotas,
Where Are We Now?
All Chargeability Areas
Except Those
Listed
CHINAmainland born
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
1st
C
C
C
C
C
2nd
C
08OCT08
15JUN08
C
C
3rd
01OCT10
01OCT10
22SEP03
01OCT10
15DEC06
Other Workers*
01OCT10
01OCT10
22SEP03
01OCT10
15DEC06
4th
C
C
C
C
C
Certain Religious
Workers
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
Employment
Based
5th
Targeted Employment
Areas/Regional
Centers and Pilot
Programs
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment
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Self-Sponsored
 Extraordinary
ability
EB-1
 Standard
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National or international reputation
 “One of few at the top of peers”
 Key is defining field of expertise specifically
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Extensive documentation required
 Reference letters critical
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For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
(cont’d)
Permanent Resident Status
Employment
 National
Interest Waiver
EB-2
 Standard
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Exceptional ability or advanced degree
 National priority
 National impact

Extensive documentation required
 Reference letters critical
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For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
(cont’d)
Permanent Resident Status
Employment
(cont’d)
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Outstanding Researcher/EB-1
 Similar to Extraordinary Ability
 Requires employer sponsor
 At least 3 Years experience
 Permanent job offer
 Qualified Employers:
 Academic Institutions
 Industry
 At least 3 FT researchers
 Recognition in field
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
EB-1 for Researchers
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Evaluating Eligibility
CV Evaluation
 1st
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listed author publications
In process; submitted; accepted; published; cited
 Impact factor?
 Citations
 Footnote
 Text
 Presentations
 1st listed abstracts
 Oral vs. poster
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
 Book
chapters
 Honors and awards
 Manuscript reviewer
 Media
EB-1 for Researchers
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Evaluating Eligibility
Evaluation Outside of CV
 Importance/narrowness
of field of expertise
 Ability to explain importance
 Significant contributions to field
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First, only, best, new discovery?
Impact on field and other researchers
New? Old? Sustained?
 Referees
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
(cont’d)
EB-1 Two Part Analysis
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Introduced in December 2010
 Does
Petition Contain Evidence of Requisite Number of
Criteria?
 ‘Final
Merits Analysis’ – does evidence demonstrate that
beneficiary is one of a very few at the top of the field?
 USCIS
provides no clear guidelines for applying final
merits analysis
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
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?
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Employment Based: EB-2
National Interest Waiver/EB-2 (I-140, $580)
 Self-Petition,
no employer sponsor required
 Two Pathways to NIW
 Three Prong Test
Field is of Substantial Intrinsic Merit
 National Impact of Your Contributions
 You Are “Substantially Better” Than Your Peers

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Employment Based: EB-2
(cont’d)

NIW cont’d:
 Past
Record of Achievement Must Justify
Your Prospective Benefit to U.S.
 Preparation/Processing
 India/China
backlog
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Times
Permanent Resident Status
Employment
(cont’d)

Labor Certification Application (PERM)
sponsored – employer must pay
 Recruitment
 Prevailing wage
 Legal issues
 Timing
 First of 3 steps
 Employer
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment
(cont’d)

Timing
 Electronic
filing
 4 months?
 Possibility of audit
 First of three steps
 Importance of filing before end of 5th year in H-1B
status
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment

I-140 Petition
(cont’d)
 1st
step for EB-1 and national interest waiver
 2nd 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
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
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)

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment

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

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
(cont’d)
Materials
Please visit www.klaskolaw.com to download this
PowerPoint presentation and relevant articles.
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Questions?
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
For Further Information
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
E-mail:
[email protected]
Telephone:
215-825-8600 (Philadelphia)
212-796-8840 (New York)
Offices:
Philadelphia
1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Floor 17
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
New York
317 Madison Avenue
Suite 1518
New York, NY 10017
online
www.klaskolaw.com
www.eb1immigration.com
www.worksite-compliance.com
www.eb5immigration.com
http://blog.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
DISCLAIMER / COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The materials contained in this PowerPoint does not
constitute direct legal advice and is for informational
purposes only. An attorney-client relationship is not
presumed or intended by receipt or review of this
presentation. The information provided should never
replace informed counsel when specific immigrationrelated guidance is needed.

Copyright © 2013 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP.
All rights reserved.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP