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Permanent Residence Options for Clinicians and Researchers. H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York 1800 JFK Blvd., 17 th Floor 317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518 Philadelphia, PA 19103 New York, NY 10017
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Permanent Residence Options forClinicians and Researchers H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP Philadelphia New York 1800 JFK Blvd., 17th Floor 317 Madison Ave., Suite 1518 Philadelphia, PA 19103 New York, NY 10017 215.825.8600 212.796.8840rklasko@klaskolaw.comwww.klaskolaw.com
H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. • H. Ronald Klasko is the Managing Partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP. Ron and his firm were chosen by clients and peers as one of the top five immigration firms in the country and “the strongest in the country in representing clients in the university research and medical sectors.” • He is a former National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He has been a featured invited speaker for the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). He has been Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at Villanova University Law School and is a frequent author and lecturer on immigration law issues related to academic healthcare institutions. • Mr. Klasko is selected annually for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Klasko is the founder and co-chair of NAFSA’s Healthcare Interest Group. His practice emphasizes representation of universities, hospitals and research institutions and their students, scholars, staff and employees.
Issues • Employer-sponsored, family-sponsored or self-sponsored • Quotas/timing issues • Impact on visa status • Impact on family • Impact on travel
Permanent Resident Status • Family • Investment • Asylum • Lottery • Employment
Family • Spouse of U.S. citizen • No quota wait • EAD and AP within 3 months • Travel may result in loss of status unless H-1B • All other relationships • Long quota wait • No interim benefits
Investment • $500,000 or $1,000,000 • Individual investment or regional center
Asylum • Individualized fear of persecution • Race, religion, nationality, political opinion, social group, sexual persuasion
Lottery • Only specified countries • One year window • www.travel.state.gov • Effect of application on future visa applications
Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored Labor certification or extraordinary/national interest/exceptional Multiple petitions Permanent Resident StatusEmployment
Quotas Visa Bulletin (www.travel.state.gov) Per country of birth, per preference category, per fiscal year Filing date is “priority date” EB-1 (extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher) No quota wait Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
Quotas EB-2 National interest waiver Labor certification requiring Masters degree Bachelors degree plus 5 years progressive experience, or Exceptional ability No quota wait, except China and India EB-3 Labor certification requiring bachelors or 2 years experience Long quota wait for all countries Permanent Resident StatusEmployment (cont’d)
Self-Sponsored Extraordinary ability EB-1 Standard National or international reputation “One of few at the top of peers” Key is defining field of expertise specifically Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
National Interest Waiver EB-2 Standard Exceptional ability or advanced degree National priority National impact Extensive documentation required Reference letters critical Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
Employer-Sponsored Outstanding Researcher EB-1 “Permanent position” Similar to extraordinary ability Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d) • Evaluating Eligibility • 1st listed author publications • Impact factor? • Citations • Presentations • 1st listed abstracts • Book chapters • Honors and awards • Manuscripts reviewer • Importance/narrowness of field of expertise • Referees
Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d) • Choosing Referees • How many? • Good C.V.’s • Prestigious institutions • Geographical diversity • One per institution • Impartiality
Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d) • Other Factors • Not a peer review process • Importance of job title? • Importance of employer sponsorship? • File now, or wait?
EB-1 for Clinicians • General • Why more difficult than researchers • Can be done for residents? • Still need waiver for I-485
EB-1 for Clinicians (cont’d) • How prove extraordinary ability as a clinician? • Rare expertise in sophisticated procedures or technologies • Complicated diagnoses missed by other specialists • Unusual success rate • Novelty of procedures • “Wow” cases • Prestige of institution
EB-1 for Clinicians (cont’d) • Difficult surgical procedures • Prestigious fellowships • Significance of Board certification or “Diplomate” • Judge of medical students, residents, or nurses • Grand round presentations • High salary
Special Handling Labor Certification (PERM) • Employer-sponsored • Must be “some classroom teaching” • Nationwide competitive recruitment • At least one print ad • “Selected” within last 18 months • EB-2
Special Handling Labor Certification (PERM) (cont’d) • Can apply to attendings and other clinicians if “some classroom teaching” • Can be very small percentage • Can be teaching of residents in a classroom • Choice if selection more than 18 months ago • “Reselection” • One national print ad • Regular recruitment • Most qualified standard still applies
Clinical National Interest Waivers • Credentialing examination required except graduates of US medical school or non-clinical medical practice • Available for physicians working full time in HPSA or MUA or for a VA facility for a minimum of five years • Can switch locations • Can count time before filing, but not J time before H-1B • Can be specialist
Clinical National Interest Waivers (cont’d) • Physicians can apply for permanent residence (when EB-2 available) before completing five years, but cannot be approved until completion • Requires letter from state or federal agency attesting that the physician’s work furthers the public interest
Timing Electronic filing 10 months? Possibility of audit First of three steps Importance of filing before end of 5th year in H-1B status Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
I-140 Petition 1st step for EB-1 and national interest waiver 2nd step for PERM Employee documents education and experience If adjustment of status, file concurrently with I-485 if quota current If consular immigrant visa processing, approval sent to National Visa Center Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
I-485 (Application for Adjustment of Status to Permanent Resident) Cannot file until quota is current Importance of filing Do not need to maintain visa status Can file for spouse and child Can get Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
Can get advance parole travel document Eliminate need to obtain visas Can still maintain and extend H-1B status Can leave employer if I-140 approved I-485 pending 180 days Similar occupation Permanent resident upon approval Timing and delay issues Permanent Resident StatusEmployment(cont’d)
For Further Information H. Ronald Klasko, Esq. Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP E-mail: rklasko@klaskolaw.com Telephone: 215-825-8600 (Philadelphia) 212-796-8840 (New York) Websites:www.klaskolaw.com www.worsite-compliance.com www.eb5immigration.com Blog:http://blog.klaskolaw.com