Maximize Your H-1B Chances . . . and What to do if You Don’t Win the Lottery● Job Search Tips● 12 Work Visa Choices -- not JUST the H-1B

Knowledge = Power

Art Serratelli, PartnerSerratelli Mijal PLLC

Immigration Attorneys-at-Lawwww.smimmigrationlaw.com | 757.333.7513 | immigration.art@gmail.com

Art Serratelli: Your Guest Speaker

Resume (is there really ... a … career “path?”)

● BSBA (summa cum laude): Georgetown University● “Big 8” Certified Public Accountant 1984-86● MBA: University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of

Business Administration 1986-88● Financial Analyst 1988-90● JD (w/ honors): George Washington University

National Law Center 1990-93● Vandeventer Black LLP

○ Government Contracts Lawyer 1993 - 1999○ Partner & Chair, Immigration Law Group 1999 - 2015

● Serratelli Mijal PLLC 2015 - Present

Web: www.smimmigrationlaw.com

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@Immigration_Art

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Socialize on Google+ . . .

. . . aaaaaand, on Instagram!

TRUMP: Fact vs. Fiction

● Don’t Rely on the Media: ○ They Get the Details Wrong, and often○ They Report on Leaked Drafts as if They Were Final

● Go to the Source○ White House Press Room○ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/executi

ve-orders

● Immigration EOs as of 11.12.2017○ Build Wall / End Catch & Release / Hire More Feds / No Sanctuary

Cities○ Broadens “Criminal Acts” by the Undocumented ○ Muslim 90 day Travel Ban / Refugee Program Halt (ver 1.0)○ Muslim 90 Day Travel Ban / Refugee Program Halt (ver 2.0)○ Buy American & Hire American (“H-1B Reform”)○ Muslim Travel Ban (ver 3.0)

Goal: Green Card

● Employment Based○ F-1 / OPT○ Work Visa○ Green Card

● Family: Immediate Relative ○ USC Spouse & Parents

● Family: Preference Relative● DV Lottery ( www.travel.state.gov )● Asylum / RefugeeOur focus -- Employment Based Path to the Green Card

A Word About Marriage

L-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-v

● If you are in L-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-v with an American, seriously consider this option!

● We are using 1965 rules in the 21st Century . . . Old Fashioned, but Helpful if you are in L-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-v

● But you gotta be in L-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-v

○ Marriage Fraud = Crime = Jail & then Deportation

Overview: Employment Based Path

OPT: 12 Month Original OPT RulesTypes of Work Allowed

ASK YOUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISOR: Don’t Ask a Lawyer!●● 90 Day Rule: TYPES OF WORK ALLOWED ON OPT

○ Paid work■ Evidence: W-2 Tax Form From Employer■ Evidence: File a Tax Return

○ Self-employment (entrepreneur)■ Evidence: Paid as a 1099 Contractor ■ Evidence: Sole Proprietor or LLC■ Evidence: Business License; File a Tax Return

○ Unpaid Intern■ “Can't work for free” (DOL Rules■ Evidence: letter from employer

OPT: 12 Month Original OPT / THEN OPT STEM Extension

● 12 Original OPT Obtained First, THEN● Science Technology Engineering & Math

(STEM) Extension = Additional 24 Months○ IF STEM &

○ IF E-Verify Employer,

○ THEN 12 +24 = 36 Months of OPT NEW!

Find OPT STEM E-Verify Employers

myvisajobs.com E-Verify Employer Search Tool:http://www.myvisajobs.com/E-Verify.aspx

USCIS E-Verify Employer Search Tool:http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/about-program/e-verify-employers-search-tool

STEM OPT Extension RulesASK YOUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISOR: Don’t Ask a Lawyer!

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/stem-opt-hub

Employment-Based Immigration“Normal Process:” OPT, WORK VISA, then Green Card

F-1 Student:In School

No Longer a Student:

WORK VISA

F-1 Student:

Graduation

F-1 Student:

OPT

GREEN CARD

Employment-Based: Country SpecificGoal: OPT, WORK VISA, then Green Card

F-1 Student:In School

No Longer a Student:

WORK VISA

F-1 Student:

Graduation

F-1 Student:

OPT

WORK VISA TYPES* H-1B / “LOTTERY”* L-1A / L-1B* H-1B * “NO LOTTERY”* G-Visa* R-1* E-3* TN* E-1 / E-2* O-visa* P-visa* A-visa* I-visa

Know Your Work Visa Options EARLY (to guide your job search)

Look for Jobs That Qualify You for Many Work Visas

Work Visa Options: Available After Student Status Country Specific

Country Specific Work Visa Options For Students

Click Here: Google Drive Link1OQ_NHia4ootR_OVtmXzSS5WCoz8Za65wHEGn5m

USCIS & U.S. Department of State Resources

● WORK VISA TYPES (those listed in the bottom-right “oval,” prior slide) DEFINED:

● USCIS○ https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/tempora

ry-nonimmigrant-workers

● U.S. Department of State○ https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/employment.

html

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:Point #1 Blow-off the H-1B, if you can!

●

● GOAL For STEM Majors (Industry or Academia)○ Get Green Card DURING 36 months of OPT . . . &

try the “Lottery” H-1B as a back-up (if possible) ●

○ HOW: Find E-Verify Employers to Get OPT & STEM OPT Extension

●

● (12 + 24 = 36 mo) ⇒ Directly to Green Card○ Green Card: Employer Sponsored or

Self-Sponsored

● Wait Times: India & China

Point #1: The Green Card on STEM OPT

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:Point #2

● For Jobs in Industry

● GOAL For Everyone (non-STEM & STEM):

○ 3 Best Choices / See Details: Upcoming Slides■ PLAN A:

● H-1B Cap-Covered: “Lottery”

■ PLAN B:● L-1A / L-1B: For employers with offices outside the USA

■ PLAN C:● H-1B Cap-Exempt: “No Lottery” & G-Visa

○ Green Card: Not one “set” path

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:Point #3

● For Jobs in Academia (PhD + Post-Doc)

● GOAL For Everyone (non-STEM & STEM):

○ ACADEMIA = BEST! See Details: Upcoming Slides■ PLAN A:

● H-1B Cap-Exempt: “No Lottery” ● THEN:

○ Tenure Track: University/College Sponsored Green Card

○ Post-Doc: Self-Sponsored Green Card

■ PLAN B:● There is NO Plan B required . . .

Maximize Your H-1B Chances: Point #4 Brainstorm with the Career Center

● Everyone (non-STEM & STEM): Career Center Plan! ● OPT ⇒ Work Visa ⇒ Green Card

○ http://www.goinglobal.com/○ www.myvisajobs.com

● NETWORK! GET OFF CAMPUS! MEET PEOPLE!

● Human Beings Give Jobs to Other Human Beings --○ Don’t send resumes to HR or websites without

dealing with a Human First

● Job Applications & Job Interviews

Talk About Maximize H-1B / L-1 / Other Visa Chances: Ask Your Career Center: http://www.goinglobal.com/

Talk About Maximize H-1B Chances: The Next Best (& Free) Thing

○ www.myvisajobs.com

Talk About Maximize Your H-1B Chances:JOB APPLICATIONS & JOB INTERVIEWS

YouTube Video: Click Here Strategies to Deal with Immigration Questions

12 Work Visa Details: Upcoming Slides

F-1 Student:In School

No Longer a Student:

WORK VISA

F-1 Student:

Graduation

F-1 Student:

OPT

WORK VISA TYPES* H-1B / “LOTTERY”* L-1A / L-1B* H-1B * “NO LOTTERY”* G-Visa* R-1* E-3* TN* E-1 / E-2* O-visa* P-visa* A-visa* I-visa

Know Your Work Visa Options EARLY (to guide your job search)

Look for Jobs That Qualify You for Many Work Visas

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:Plan A -- H-1B “Lottery” / “Cap-Covered”

H-1B Regular: Limited by a “Cap” / Quota [duration: 6 yrs]Requirements__________________________________● A job offer w/ a company with a “proven track record”

(10 / 25 / 10 Guidance - start-ups & smaller companies: tricky);

● For a position that requires at least a 4 year college degree; and

● You have the required degree.

● Also: Concurrent H-1Bs● Also: "Prevailing Wage"● Also: Who Pays the Fees

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:Is the H-1B Really “so special?”

Video Playlist: Click Here

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:Graduate in December? Cap-Gap?

Don’t Graduate too soon! Click Here for Video Playlist

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:H-1B “Lottery” is No Good!

H-1B “Lottery” / “Cap-Covered” Regular Option● No Good! Bad!● WHY?

○ Each Applicant has only a lousy 33% Chance of Actually Winning the Lottery

○ WHY?○ In 2015 & 2016, the Demand for H-1Bs was over

233,000 applications○ And the Supply was a woefully tiny 85,000

quota-limited H-1B visas------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

● The H-1B Lottery is Terrible -- You Absolutely MUST have a Plan “B”

If H-1B Lottery Doesn’t Work,Then Plan B -- Try the L-1A and L-1B

● L-1A: Manager or Executive [7 years]○ EB-1 Green Card “Short-cut”

● L-1B: Specialized Knowledge [5 years]○ Inside “proprietary” info: engineer; internal audit

● Requirements________________________________○ Work 1 full year outside USA for Company XYZ○ Transfer to Company XYZ Branch / Affiliate in USA○ L-Visa Status: Resources

https://uniworldonline.com/http://www.goinglobal.com/

On YouTube:More about the L-1A & L-1B

L-1A & L-1B Visa

● Requirements ____

● Video: Click Here

Maximize Your H-1B Chances:Plan C --Try the H-1B Cap-Exempt / No Lottery

H-1B cap-exempt - AVOID The Lottery3 Types of Employer Organizations are Cap-Exempt● Type #1 U.S. institutions of higher education● Type #2 Non-profit entities affiliated w/ U.S. institutions

of higher education● Type #3 Non-profit research organizations

Non-profit Think Tanks (Public Policy Research) & Trade Associations:● https://www.guidestar.org/nonprofit-directory/education-research/res

earch-institutes/1.aspx● http://guides.library.harvard.edu/content.php?pid=481539&sid=39458

86● http://www.directoryofassociations.com/● http://www.planningshop.com/associations/

Plan CG-Visas: “International Organizations”

Specially Designated NGOs | Click: List of Employers Requirements___________________________________● Get a Job with a Listed Employer, Get a Visa!● 6 Page List of

Employers:

● International G-visa Organizations

[duration: varies w/ job]

H-1B “No Lottery” / “Cap-Exempt”& G-Visas

Video Playlist: Click Here

Plan D:OTHER VISA CHOICES! BE CREATIVE!

F-1 Student:In School

No Longer a Student:

WORK VISA

F-1 Student:

Graduation

F-1 Student:

OPT

WORK VISA TYPES* H-1B / “LOTTERY”* L-1A / L-1B* H-1B * “NO LOTTERY”* G-Visa* R-1* E-3* TN* E-1 / E-2* O-visa* P-visa* A-visa* I-visa

Know Your Work Visa Options EARLY (to guide your job search)

Look for Jobs That Qualify You for Many Work Visas

The R-1 Religious Worker Visa

● R-1Visa Requirments

● Video: Click Here

● R-1 Religious Worker

● [duration: 5 yrs]

● R-1 Visa Requirements

● USCIS Description: Click Here

Options:E-3

● E-3: “H-1B for Australians” [duration 2 years+]

● Requirements________________________________

○ Follow the H-1B Requirements○ You MUST be from Australia

○ Video: Click Here

Options: TN (Treaty NAFTA) Visa

● Requirements_______________________________ ○ You MUST be from Canada or Mexico○ You MUST Get a Job Listed on the “TN Job Titles List” (Click, below)

& Have the Required Education Shown on the List

● List of TN Job Titles: Click Here

● TN VIDEO○ Next Slide

More about the TNVideo: Click Here

Options:E-1 / E-2

● E-1: Treaty Trader [duration 2 / 4 / 5 years+] ● E-2: Treaty Investor [duration 2 / 4 / 5 years+]

● Requirements________________________________○ Treaty between your country and USA

■ Treaty Countries -- LIST■ https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/treaty.html

○ Job offer from USA company of your nationality■ Which Means: the USA company owned by

people or a company in your country○ Skilled job

■ Multinational Companies in USA -- LISTS (ask your advisors)■ https://uniworldonline.com/■ http://www.goinglobal.com/

More about the E-1 / E-2Video: Click Here

Options:Even more!

● O-1 - Extraordinary Ability○ Extraordinary Ability Described | USCIS: Click Here

● P-1 - Athlete/Entertainer○ Athlete Described | USCIS: Click Here○ Entertainer Described | USCIS: Click here

● A-visa - Foreign Ambassador / Embassy Personnel ○ A-Visa Described | U.S. Dept of State: Click here

● I-visa - Foreign Media / Journalist visa ○ Foreign Media Visa Described | USCIS: Click Here

Questions?Schedule an appointment for a one-on-one, free consultation with Immigration Art, who’ll be available by:● Phone● Skype● Google+ Hangout

Art Serratelli, Partner Serratelli Mijal PLLC

Immigration Attorneys-at-Law

757.333.7513 | www.smimmigrationlaw.com | immigration.art@gmail.com | Cell 757.235.4624