Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP New York Philadelphia

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Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP New York Philadelphia 317 Madison Avenue, Suite 1518 1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17 New York, NY 10017 Philadelphia, PA 19103 212.796.8840 215.825.8600 [email protected] www.klaskolaw.com Immigration Immigration Opportunities Opportunities for for Clinicians and Clinicians and Researchers Researchers Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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Immigration Opportunities for Clinicians and Researchers. Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP New York Philadelphia 317 Madison Avenue, Suite 15181800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP New York Philadelphia

Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

New York Philadelphia317 Madison Avenue, Suite 1518 1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17 New York, NY 10017 Philadelphia, PA 19103212.796.8840 215.825.8600

[email protected] www.klaskolaw.com

Immigration Opportunities Immigration Opportunities forfor Clinicians and Researchers Clinicians and Researchers

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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).

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Immigration Opportunities

Part I: J-1 Waivers & Options Understanding J-1 two year rule

Who is Subject What Does it Mean to be Subject Options if Subject

J-1 Waivers Research based Clinical based

The O-1 Visa as a bridge to a waiver

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

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J-1 Visa

Who is subject to 2-year return?Exchange Visitor Skills List

Right Skill? Right List?

Government Funding U.S. or Home Country Direct or Indirect

Graduate Medical Training

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What Does it Mean to be Subject?

Ineligible for Certain Visas H-1B L-1 K

Ineligible to apply for final step of Green Card I-485 IV Consular Processing But may commence initial steps…

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If Subject, are there Options?

Return home Where is home? Aggregating trips

Apply for a Waiver Obtain an O-1 Visa

Requires an employer willing to sponsor Must Demonstrate “Outstanding” in field Does not ‘waive’ the two years, just puts it off for awhile

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

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J-1 Waiver Options

Waiver options HardshipPersecutionNo objection waiver (researchers

only)

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J-1 Waiver Options: Research

Federal government agency waiver based on essentiality to research:National Science FoundationDepartment of EnergyHealth & Human Services U.S. Dep’t of Veteran’s Affairs

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

J-1 Waiver Options: Clinical

Federal government agency waiver based on clinical service:Appalachian Regional CommissionDelta Regional Authority waiverHealth & Human ServicesDepartment of Veteran’s AffairsConrad State 30 waiver

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

J-1 Waiver Options: Clinical

Clinical WaiversRequires at least 3 Year Commitment3 Year Obligation Must be fulfilled in H-1B status If 3 year commitment is extended to 5 years,

may be a pathway to the green card

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

O-1 Alien of Extraordinary Ability

Factors Considered in Initial Evaluation1st authored articles / impact factorsCitations to 1st authored workConference presentationsBook chapters / review articlesPeer reviewer / manuscript reviewer

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O-1 (cont’d)

What’s Included in the Petition Reference letters

Independent referees Addressing O-1 criteria

Corroborating Documentation

Processing time / issues Length of approval Extensions

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For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Part II

Pathways toPermanent Residency

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Immigration Opportunities

Part II: Pathways toPermanent Residency

What is Permanent Residency Permanent Residency Quotas Employment Based Permanent Residency

Self Petitions Employer Sponsored

Adjustment of Status and Maintenance of statusFor more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

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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 vs. Nonimmigrant Visas

Immigrant VisaGreen Card / Permanent Residency

Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV)H, F, J, O, etcLimited durationSpecific to employer / institutionSpecific to purpose (work/study/tourism)

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

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How Do I Apply?

Family Investment Asylum Employment DV Lottery

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

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Permanent Residency Quotas

Annual Limit on Permanent Residency Per Country Limit – 7% Allocated by:

Priority Date – place in line Preference Category

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

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Permanent Residency Quotas

Employment Based PreferencesFirst Preference (EB-1)

Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher, Multinational Executive

Second Preference (EB-2) Nat’l Interest Waivers, Advanced Degreed Professionals,

Bachelors plus 5 years exp.Third Preference (EB-3)

Skilled Worker (2+ years experience), Bachelor’s Degree

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Permanent Residency Quotas, Where Are We Now?

Vis

a B

ulle

tin fo

r F

ebru

ary

2012

EmploymentBased

All Charge-ability Areas Except Those

Listed

CHINA- mainland born

INDIA MEXICO PHILIPPINES

1st C C C C C

2nd C 01JAN10 01JAN10 C C

3rd 22FEB06 01DEC04 15AUG02 22FEB06 22FEB06

Other Workers* 22FEB06 22APR03 15AUG02 22FEB06 22FEB06

4th C C C C C

Certain Religious Workers

C C C C C

5th     Targeted Employment

Areas/Regional

Centers and Pilot

Programs

C C C C C

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

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency

Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary / national

interest / exceptional Multiple petitions Multi-Step Process Non-Immigrant Status?

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency: EB-1

Extraordinary Ability/EB-1 (I-140, filing fee $580) “One of a Few at the Top” ‘Self-Petition’ – no need for employer sponsor Factors Considered in Initial Evaluation

1st authored articles/impact factors Citations to 1st authored work Conference Presentations Peer Review/Manuscript Review Work References from independent Experts Documenting Regulatory Criteria

Preparation/Processing TimesFor more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Employment Based: EB-1

Outstanding Researcher/EB-1 (I-140, filing fee $580) 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

(cont’d)

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

New EB-1 Guidance (Kazarian)

Issued December 2010

Establishes Two-Part Analysis of EB-1 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?

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

New EB-1 Guidance

Implications of Two Part Analysis

‘Final merits analysis’ is an opportunity to second guess the criteria – more subjective adjudication

USCIS provides no clear guidelines for applying final merits analysis

Confusion among adjudicators as to the correct standards to apply

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

(cont’d)

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Employment Based: EB-2

National Interest Waiver/EB-2 (I-140, filing fee $580)

Self-Petition, no employer sponsor required Three Prong Test

Field is of Substantial Intrinsic Merit National Impact of Your Contributions You Are “Substantially Better” Than Your Peers

Preparation/Processing Times India/China backlog

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Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Employment Based: Employer Sponsored

Labor Certification Application (PERM) Employer MUST Pay Costs Recruitment Prevailing wage First of 3 steps

2nd Step – I-140 3rd Step – I-485 or IV Consular Process

No filing fee for this step

(cont’d)

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Permanent Resident StatusAdjustment of Status (I-485)

Timing Preference categories/quotas Priority dates Processing times

Concurrent filing (I-140/I-485) I-485 filing fee $1070, includes:

Employment authorization (I-765) Advance parole (I-131)

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Permanent Resident StatusAdjustment of Status (I-485)

Adjustment portability H-1B Extensions

One Year Three years

Spouses

(cont’d)

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP

Issues Relating to NIV Status During Permanent Residency Process

Important to Maintain NIV status Travel Extensions of Status Dependents Eligibility for OPT

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

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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

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com

Questions?

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)

Websites: www.klaskolaw.comwww.eb1immigration.com

Blog: http://blog.klaskolaw.com