Transcript Pathways to Permanent Residence - Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer

Pathways to
Permanent Residence
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
New York
Philadelphia
317 Madison Avenue, Suite 1518
New York, NY 10017
212.796.8840
[email protected]
1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.825.8600
www.klaskolaw.com
 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 Service Center Operations (SCOPS) Liaison Committee, is a
member of AILA’s InterAgency Liaison Committee, and recently completed
her tenure as Chair of the USCIS Policy and Benefits Liaison Committee 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).
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
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Intro to Permanent Residency
Non-Immigrant Status, Immigrant Intent, and
Timing
Permanent Residency Quotas
Employment Based Permanent Residency
 Self
Petitions
 Employer Sponsored
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Adjustment of Status and Maintenance of Status
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.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.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Immigrant vs. Nonimmigrant Visas

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.eb1immigration.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.eb1immigration.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.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Nonimmigrant Option:
H-1B and the Quota
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What is it and what does it mean?
Who is not subject to the quota?
 Universities
 Nonprofit
institutions affiliated with universities
 Nonprofit or government research organization
 Previous H-1B under cap
 Concurrent employment
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Cap Exempt to Cap Subject
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Nonimmigrant Option
J-1 Visa
Non-Immigrant Intent
 Subject to 2-year rule?
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 What
does it mean to be subject?
 Options if subject
Return home
 Apply for a Waiver
 Obtain an O-1 Visa
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For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
J-1 Nonimmigrant to LPR
J-1 two year home requirement
O-1
waiver
fulfill two years
H-1B and/or Apply for LPR
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.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.eb1immigration.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.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Moving from Non-Immigrant
to Permanent Resident
Non-immigrant status does not convert to
green card
 Important to maintain non-immigrant status
throughout green card application process
 May be impediments to travel during this
process
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For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.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.eb1immigration.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.eb1immigration.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
Employment Based (EB)
Permanent Residency
Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored
 Labor certification or outstanding researcher;
extraordinary or national interest waiver
 Multiple petitions
 Multi-Step Process
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For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Employment Based (EB)
Permanent Residency: EB-1
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Extraordinary Ability/EB-1 (I-140, filing fee $580)
 ‘Self-Petition’ – no need for employer sponsor
 Factors Considered in Initial Evaluation
1st authored articles/impact factors
 Citations to 1st authored work
 Peer Review/Manuscript Review Work
 References from independent experts
 Documentation meeting regulatory Criteria
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 Preparation/Processing
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Times
Employment Based: EB-1
(cont’d)
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Outstanding Researcher/EB-1 (I-140, filing fee $580)
 Similar
to Extraordinary Ability
 Employer sponsored petition
 At least 3 Years experience
 Permanent job offer
 Qualified Employers:
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Academic Institutions
Industry
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At least 3 FT researchers
Recognition in field
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
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.eb1immigration.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
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For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Employment Based: EB-2
(cont’d)
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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.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Times
National Interest Waiver
(cont’d)
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Second Pathway – Physicians only
5 Year Commitment to MUA/HPSA
5
Year Contract
 Letter from State Department of Health supporting
petition
 Proof work location is physically located in HPSA/MUA
 Will not get green card until 5 year service is complete
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Employment Based:
Employer Sponsored
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Labor Certification Application (PERM)
 Employer
MUST Pay Costs
 Recruitment
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Special Handling – involves teaching
Professional – minimum requirements
 Prevailing
wage
 First of 3 steps
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2nd Step – I-140
3rd Step – I-485 or IV Consular Process
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
(cont’d)
Permanent Resident Status
Adjustment of Status (I-485)
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Timing
 Preference
categories/quotas
 Priority dates
 Processing times
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Concurrent filing (I-140/I-485)
I-485 filing fee $1,070, includes:
 Employment
authorization (I-765)
 Advance parole (I-131)
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Adjustment of Status (I-485)
(cont’d)
Adjustment portability
 H-1B Extensions
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 One
Year
 Three years
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Spouses
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Materials
Please visit www.klaskolaw.com to download this
PowerPoint presentation and relevant articles.
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Questions?
For more information, visit www.eb1immigration.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
For Further Information
Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
E-mail:
[email protected]
Telephone:
212-796-8840 (New York)
215-825-8600 (Philadelphia)
Offices:
New York
317 Madison Avenue
Suite 1518
New York, NY 10017
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Philadelphia
1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Floor 17
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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
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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.
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Copyright © 2013 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP.
All rights reserved.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.