Post Student Years: Immigration Options
March 2010
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Suzanne Seltzer, Esq. Kate Kalmykov, Esq.
Philadelphia – New York
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Hot Topics in Immigration Law Agenda
H-1B Visas H-1B Requirements and TARP H-1B Alternatives Introduction to Permanent Residency Q&As
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H-1B Visas
Basic requirements Job Offer Prevailing Wage Bachelors or higher degree Specialty occupation
Procedure and processing times
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H-1B Visas
Part-time or full-time Length of approval Extensions Portability Spouses and Employment Authorization Travel
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H-1B Quota
What is it and what does it mean? 20,000 for US awarded advanced degrees
FY 2010 gone by April 2009 FY2009 gone by April 2008 FY2008 gone by April 2007 FY2007 gone by August 2006
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H-1B Quota
65,000 H-1Bs FY 2011? FY 2010 gone by December 2009 FY2009 gone by April 2008 FY2008 gone by April 2007 FY2007 gone by May 2006
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2010 Issues(FY2011 H-1Bs)
■ Fewer job offers■ Demand■ Effect of TARP requirements■ Impact of layoffs■ Increased opportunities for investors and
entrepreneurs
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H-1B and TARP Recipients
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requires certain H-1B to attest to: good faith efforts steps to recruit U.S. workers; no U.S. worker was displaced by the employment
of an H-1B worker either at the employer's own worksite, or at any outside worksite where the employer
has placed an H-1B worker.
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H-1B and TARP Recipients
Which Employers Are Required to Make the Additional Attestations:
Recipients of TARP funds http://www.financialstability.gov/latest/index.html
Recipients of FRA Section 13 funds H-1B impact depends upon the type of borrowing
arrangement
Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) (received discounted gov’t loans)
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H-1B and TARP Recipients What if Company Repays the TARP Funds?
USCIS recently confirmed that if you received TARP funding, but have repaid your obligations, an employer will no longer be considered subject to the TARP recipient restrictions on hiring H-1B employees.
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H-1B and TARP Recipients
Does Not Apply to Every H-1B 2 year program – until February 16, 2011 Only to New Employees
H-1B extensions with same employer Change of Status - already working with
employer on OPT, attestations NOT required Only Relevant to H-1B
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Avoiding H-1B Quota
Exemption based on employer Universities Non-profits affiliated with universities Non-profits or gov’t research organizations or place of employment, law says “at”
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Avoiding H-1B Quota
Exemption based on employee Previously counted Singapore/Chile Concurrent employment
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Can’t avoid the quota, planning strategies?
Filing April 1 for Oct 1 start date CAP GAP Relief
Going from quota exempt to quota subject Portability? Concurrent employment? Working “at” University or non-profit
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Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas
■ Must be national of treaty country http://www.travel.state.gov./visa
■ Company must be owned at least 50% by treaty country nationals
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Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas
Visa for 1 to 5 yearsEach entry limited to two yearsVisa and entry can be extended indefinitely
No quota Spouse can work
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■ Treaty traders (E-1) “Substantial” import or export Majority between U.S. and treaty country Can be manager, supervisor or “essential skill”
employee
Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas
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■ Treaty investors (E-2) “Substantial” investment
No exact amount Varies depending upon type of investment Business plan and financial projections critical
Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas
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Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas■ Treaty investors (E-2)- cont.
Relevant issues Amount of investment Number of employees Needs of business Likely profitability and growth potential
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■Visa applicant can be Investor or Manager, supervisor or essential employee
Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E)
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Intracompany Transferee (L-1) Visas■ National of any country
■ No quota■ Length of visa
Start up 1 year Established business 3 years Maximum length 7 years for L-1A or 5 years for L-1B
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Intracompany Transferee (L-1) Visas
■ Spouse can work ■ Must be “international” business
Business outside U.S. with at least 50% common ownership
Must be employed by that business one year■ Type of employment (in U.S. and overseas
companies) Manager or executive “Specialized knowledge” employee
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Intracompany Transferee (L-1) Visas
Start-up issues Place of business Employees Capitalization Need for “manager” Business plan and financial projections
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Mexican & Canadian NAFTA Professional Worker (TN) Visa Allows citizens of Canada and Mexico to work in
the U.S. as NAFTA professionals Profession must be on the NAFTA list Position in the U.S. requires a NAFTA
professional Must have employer sponsor Applicant has to have qualifications of the
profession
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More Alternatives to H-1B
Alternative Employment Visas: O-1 E-3 (Australians) TN (Canadian/Mexicans) J-1 (new rules limiting applicability) I visa (journalists – disseminate news abroad) OPT Extension- STEM
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More Alternatives to H-1B
Alternative Visa Options (cont’d) EAD through spouse’s status
J-2 E L-2 I-485
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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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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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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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How Do I Apply?
Family Investment Asylum Employment
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Permanent Residency Quotas Employment Based Preferences
First 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
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Permanent Residency Quotas,Where are We Now? “Oversubscribed” versus “Available”
Available if: Visa Bulletin indicates “C” = current Priority date earlier than posted date
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Permanent Residency Quotas,Where are We Now?
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed
CHINA-mainland born
INDIA MEXICOPHILIPP-INES
EmploymentBased
1st C C C C C
2nd C 08JUL05 01FEB05 C C
3rd 15DEC02 15DEC02 01JUL01 01JUL02 15DEC02
5th C C C C C
Visa Bulletin March 2010
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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?
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Contact Information
Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq. Telephone: 212-796-8846 Fax: 212-297-1799 Email: [email protected]
Kate Kalmykov, Esq. Telephone: 212-796-8856 Fax: 212-297-1799 Email: [email protected]
Websites: www.klaskolaw.com http://blog.klaskolaw.com www.eb5immigration.com