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CIE-GNYC Immigration Seminar at Rutgers - May 21, 2005

2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com. 2. Employment-based Immigrant Visas. IMMACT of 1990140,000 employment-based immigrant visas unused family preference visaFive preference categoriesNormal steps: Labor Certification from the Department of Labor (DOL)Visa petition (I-1

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CIE-GNYC Immigration Seminar at Rutgers - May 21, 2005

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    1. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 1 CIE-GNYC Immigration Seminar at Rutgers - May 21, 2005 By Paul Szeto, Esq. Alice Yao, Esq. ss

    2. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 2 Employment-based Immigrant Visas IMMACT of 1990 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas +unused family preference visa Five preference categories Normal steps: Labor Certification from the Department of Labor (DOL) Visa petition (I-140) and Green card (I-485) application w/ Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS, formerly INS)

    3. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 3 Five Categories EB1: Priority Workers EB2: Persons with Advanced Degree and Aliens of Exceptional Ability EB3: Professional, Skilled and Other Workers EB4: Special Immigrants (Religious Workers) EB5: Employment Creation (Investors)

    4. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 4 EB1: First Preference – Priority Workers Extraordinary ability Outstanding professors and researchers Multinational executives and managers

    5. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 5 EB1: First Preference – Priority Workers Benefits: No Labor Certification required I-140/I-485 filed together with service center Usually no interviews needed 28.6 % of worldwide limit

    6. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 6 EB1-A – Persons of Extraordinary Ability In the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Sustained national or international acclaim and recognition in the field of expertise. Seeks to enter the U.S. to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability The alien’s entry will substantially benefit prospectively the U.S.

    7. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 7 EB1-A – Persons of Extraordinary Ability Self-Petitioning: No job offer, no employer Proof: Major award recipient (Nobel Prize, Olympic Medalist, Academy Award, Grammy, etc.) OR three of ten criteria set forth in the regulations or comparable evidence

    8. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 8 Persons of Extraordinary Ability The enumerated ten criteria are: Lesser national or international awards Membership in Associations which require outstanding achievements Published material about the applicant or her work Participation as a judge of others’ work Original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions

    9. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 9 Persons of Extraordinary Ability Written scholarly articles and publications Display of applicants’ work in artistic exhibitions Leading or critical role in organizations of distinguished reputation High salary or compensation Commercial success in the performing arts Other comparable evidence accepted.

    10. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 10 EB1-B - Outstanding Professors and Researchers Internationally recognized as outstanding in a specific area (need 2 of the first six criteria from Eb1-A list) Key is outstanding (above and beyond a Ph.D) Three years experience in teaching or research Seeks tenure or tenure-track teaching or research position

    11. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 11 Outstanding Researcher/Professor University or a private company w/ an established research department Private employer must have at least 3 full-time research positions + “documented accomplishments” No self-petitioning; needs offer of employment from a U.S. employer

    12. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 12 EB1-C – Multinational Executives and Managers Employed for at least 1 of 3 last three years An affiliate or parent or subsidiary or branch of the U.S. petitioner. U.S. employer must have been in business for 1 year

    13. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 13 Eb-1C Multi. Mgr./Executives Applicant must be in managerial (supervises employees or functional manager) or executive capacities Also needs job offer

    14. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 14 EB2: Second Preference Professionals holding Advanced Degrees or Aliens of Exceptional Ability 28.6 % of the worldwide limit + unused first preference

    15. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 15 EB2 – Second Preference Professionals holding advanced degrees or equivalent Persons of Exceptional Ability in the Arts Requires labor certification except National Interest Waiver (also self-petitioning) Schedule A - Group I, II

    16. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 16 EB-2 Procedures File I-140 with a Labor Certification (in duplicate) with CIS Schedule A: I-140, ETA 9089 + all LC supporting docs. => all go to CIS

    17. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 17 EB-2 Peference – Sch. A Group I: Physical Therapists, Nurses Group II: Exceptional Ability in Sciences or Arts + Performing Arts

    18. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 18 EB2: Second Preference Professionals holding an advanced degree Degree beyond a Bachelor’s Degree, i.e., Master’s or higher, OR Bachelor’s Degree + at least five years progressive experience Experience cannot be used to meet the requirement of a Bachelor’s Degree

    19. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 19 Persons with exceptional ability Limited to arts, sciences, or business. What about restaurant management? Exceptional ability = a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered within the field. Lower standard than EB1A (Alien or Extraordinary Ability)

    20. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 20 Persons with exceptional ability Need 3 or the following 6 criteria accepted: 1) Degree, diploma, certificate, etc., from a college 2) Letters showing 10 years of full-time experience 3) License 4) Higher salary 5) Membership in professional associations 6) Recognition for achievements or contributions to the industry Expert Testimony always helpful

    21. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 21 EB2: Second Preference Schedule A Recertification Pre-certified => No need to test the labor market Group I Physical Therapists Qualified to take the PT state exam Group I Nurses CGFNS Certificate, Permanent state license, OR Passed the NCLEX-RN (foreign)

    22. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 22 EB-2, Sch. A, Group II Group II – Exceptional Ability in “sciences or art” or “Performing Arts” Sciences or art – what is taught in college Exceptional = international acclaim, outstanding performance “well above the standards” for professional competence in an occupation

    23. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 23 EB-2, Sch. A, Group II Need 2 of 7 criteria International awards Membership in int’l Associations Published material about the applicant or her work Participation as a judge of others’ work Original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions Scholarly articles in int’l publications and journals Display of applicants’ work in int’l exhibitions

    24. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 24 EB2, Sch. A, Group II Performance Arts - Work during past 12 months and intended work in the U.S. requires exceptional ability Proof includes: awards, high salary, published materials about applicant, concert/event records, etc.

    25. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 25 EB2: Second Preference National Interest Waiver Immigration and services deemed in the “national interest” => no LC or job offer needed Both professionals or advanced degree holders File I-140 with ETA 750 (in duplicate) with all supporting docs to CIS

    26. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 26 EB2-National Interest Waiver “National Interest” not defined in the statute: NYSDOT listed a three-prone test: Area of “substantial intrinsic area” Benefit national in scope Benefit outweighs the interest of the LC protection Standard lower than “extraordinary ability”: must still stand out amongst peers

    27. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 27 EB2 – National Interest Waiver Substantial Intrinsic Area NYSDOT: Bridge / Earthquake engineer National interest areas: U.S. economy U.S. workers working conditions Education/training of children or under-qualified workers Health Care Affordable housing for the needy Environment / Productive use of natural resources Request from an interested U.S. government agency

    28. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 28 EB2 – National Interest Waiver Benefit National Scope Bridge engineer met this criteria too Not a local school teacher or a lawyer Maybe new teaching theories and national antitrust case Health Care: good candidate Business professionals: harder to prove but possible- use experts testimonies

    29. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 29 EB2-National Interest Waiver Benefit of this National Interest outweighs The Protection of U.S. workers Bridge engineer failed this prone: “not influential enough in his field” Test: Will the applicant prospectively serve the national interest to a substantially greater degree than do other qualified workers in the field? How to prove - “established record of achievement”

    30. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 30 Evidentiary Guidelines for EB1 and EB2 Cases 1) Letters written by top experts are always good. 2) Letters that discuss past contributions or research results are better than letter that speculate on future prospective benefits 3) Specific examples are better than flowery words of praise. 4) Practical applications are better than new theories. 5) Examples of actual usage in the profession are always good.

    31. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 31 Evidentiary Guidelines 6) Letters from government agencies are extremely useful. 7) Letters from unrelated persons are better than those from co-workers, mentors, classmates, and co-researchers. 8) Quantity does not always mean quality. 9) Organization is the key 10) Know what is the basis of the application – EB-1A is similar but different form NIW. 11) A listing of publications not enough for NIW without annotation.

    32. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 32 EB3 - Employment Third Preference Skilled Workers, Professionals Holding Baccalaureate Degrees and Other Workers 28.6 % of the worldwide limit + any unused Employment First and Second Preference visas. All such workers require a labor certification, or Schedule A All Third Preference applicants require an approved I-140 petition filed by the prospective employer.

    33. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 33

    34. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 34 EB-3 Preference Skilled Workers Requires at least two years training or experience Professionals with a baccalaureate degree A bachelor’s degree Other workers Requires less than two years training or experience

    35. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 35 EB4 - Special Immigrants 7.1 % of the yearly worldwide limit. Must be the beneficiary of an approved I-360, Petition for Special Immigrant Except overseas employees of the U.S. Government - use Form DS-1884.

    36. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 36 EB4-Special Immigrants Six subgroups: 1) Religious workers 2) Certain overseas employees of the U.S. Government; 3) Former employees of the Panama Canal Company; 4) Retired employees of international organizations; 5) Certain dependents of international organization employees; and 6) Certain members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

    37. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 37 EB5 - Employment Creation Investors 7.1 percent of the yearly worldwide limit. Must file a Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur Must invest between U.S. $500,000 and $1,000,000 In a commercial enterprise in the United States Creates at least 10 new full-time jobs for U.S. workers, not including the investor and his or her family.

    38. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 38 LABOR CERTIFICATION No EB immigrant visa or green card unless DOL certifies that Not sufficient workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the job No adverse effects on the wages and working conditions US workers PERM

    39. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 39 VISA INELIGIBILITY Protect health, welfare, and security Grounds for denial of a visa or green card: Communicable Disease Dangerous physical or mental disorder Serious criminal acts Terrorists, Subversives Illegal means to enter the U.S. J Visa – 2 years foreign residence requirements

    40. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 40 Special Handling Procedures for College Professors and Teachers College may elect either regular PERM or special handling Special handling requires: Applicant selected through a competitive recruitment and selection process Requires at least one national ad Applicant more qualified than others Special handling must commerce within 18 months.

    41. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 41 Advantages of “Special Handling” No additional recruiting burden to employers Only need to certify its previous recruitment process and results Requires substantially less publication and qualifications then EB1 professors or EB2, Sch. A Group II More flexible than PERM – which requires recruiting from 6 months or less.

    42. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 42 Adv. Of “Special Handling” Includes University, colleges, community and junior colleges Professor, associate professor, lecture, assist. Professor, teacher okay: some classroom teaching May avoid other “bridging visas” if it’s timed right.

    43. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 43 Special Handling Limits: Requires Prevailing Wages from SWA Only for tenure or tenure-track position

    44. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 44 Retrogression

    45. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 45 Other Options Other NIV: H1B, O-1 (Ext. ability), TN (teaching/research), F1, J-1 Other options for employment authorization: Adjustment of status, L2, J2, K-3, F-1 (OPT), F-1 (hardship), Asylee, K3 Spouses’ options

    46. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 46 Final Words Planning and timing is the key! Planning and timing is the key! Planning and timing is the key! Planning and timing is the key!

    47. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 47 Guidelines continued 6) Letters from government agencies are extremely useful. 7) Letters from unrelated persons are better than those from co-workers, mentors, classmates, and co-researchers. 8) More does not always mean better. 9) Organization is the key – a good summary of main points + a good layout of where things are. 10) Know what is the basis of the application – EB-1A is similar but different form NIW. 11) A listing of publications not enough for NIW without annotation.

    48. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 48 Topic Three Details about this topic Supporting information and examples How it relates to your audience

    49. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 49 Real Life Give an example or real life anecdote Sympathize with the audience’s situation if appropriate

    50. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 50 What This Means Add a strong statement that summarizes how you feel or think about this topic Summarize key points you want your audience to remember

    51. ©2005 Paul Szeto LLC Tel: 732-632-9888 www.SZETOLAW.com 51 Next Steps Summarize any actions required of your audience Summarize any follow up action items required of you

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