Visa and Permanent
Residence Options
for Business Students
Friday, November 8, 2013
William A. Stock, Esq.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Philadelphia
New York
1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Floor 17
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.825.8600
wstock@klaskolaw.com
317 Madison Avenue, Suite 1518
New York, NY 10017
212.796.8840
www.klaskolaw.com
William A. Stock, Esq.

Bill Stock is a founding partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP and has
been providing immigration assistance and solutions to leading universities,
research institutions, hospitals, multinational corporations, and individuals for
nearly 20 years.

Bill is featured in Chambers Global, Best Lawyers in America, Pennsylvania
Super Lawyers, Who’s Who of Business Lawyers and other guides to prominent
attorneys. He is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association on a
national level, currently serving as second vice president on the Association’s
national Executive Committee, and has been Business Committee chair and
Distance Learning Committee chair. He is also active in NAFSA’s Region VIII
and has been a Regulatory Ombudsman for the region on scholar and faculty
issues.

Bill is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and is a frequent
author and lecturer on business-related immigration topics and has served as an
Adjunct Faculty Member at Villanova University School of Law.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
2013 Issues

Recovering economy
 Good
news
 Bad news


Mixed bag for investors and entrepreneurs
New immigration legislation?
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
General H-1B Issues


Employer preconceptions and misconceptions
Employer requirements

U.S. employer
 Pay fees
 Post notice
 Keep public examination file
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Visas

Basic requirements

Job offer

Part-time or full-time

Bachelors or higher degree
 Specialty occupation

Job requires bachelors or higher degree in specific
field
 Prevailing
wage
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Visas
(cont’d)

Length of approval and extensions

3 year initial approval and 3 year extension
 6 year maximum – any combination of employers
 Extensions beyond 6 years

Recapture time out of U.S.

1 year extension if file labor certification application or
immigrant petition one year before expiration

3 year extension if immigrant petition approved and quota
backlog
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Visas
(cont’d)

H-1B portability

Present or prior H-1B
 Commence employment upon new employer
filing petition

Spouses


H-4 cannot work
Travel

Dual intent
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Quota

What is it, and what does it mean?


Separate quota for US-educated advanced degree holders



20,000 visas
Separate options for Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile and
Singapore


65,000 visas
TN-1, E-3, H-1B
Prospects for change
Timing


April 1 filing date
October 1 start date
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Quota-Exempt Employment

Who is not subject to the quota?

Universities
 Nonprofit institutions affiliated with universities
 Employed “at” university
 Nonprofit or government research organization
 Concurrent employment
 Previous H-1B
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Strategies to Enhance
Chances of Getting H-1B




Filing multiple years
Filing first day
Using previously-obtained degree
Start your own business
 Apply
as H-1B employee?
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Travel and Status Issues
for H-1B Approvals



Change of status vs. consular visa issuance
Travel after April 1
Maintaining status until October 1
 “Cap
gap” relief
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Issues
for Start-Up Business


Must establish company with employer tax I.D.
number
Can company be owned by H-1B employee?
 Must
be W-2 employee
 Company separate entity from owner/employee

Company right of control over employee
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Issues
for Start-Up Business
(cont’d)

Company must prove
 Financial

ability to pay salary
Profits and/or capitalization
 Real
job to be done by H-1B
 Place of business
 Specialty occupation
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
H-1B Issues
for Start-Up Business
(cont’d)

Other employees or owners required?

Ability to hire/fire
 Independent Board of Directors


Importance of business plan/financial projections
Prevailing Wage

CEO vs. function-descriptive position
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Other Visa Options

F-1
 Going


back to school
Advantages of Masters or PhD
Working overseas for U.S. employer
 Entering
U.S. as B-1
 Eligibility for L-1 after one year

Look at spouse’s status
 Spouse

of J, E and L can work
Country-specific options: TN-1, E-3, H-1B1
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
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
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas
(cont’d)

Visa for 1 to 5 years
 Each
entry limited to two years
 Visa and entry can be extended indefinitely


No quota
Spouse can work
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas
(cont’d)
■ Treaty traders (E-1)
“Substantial” import or export
 Majority between U.S. and treaty country
 Can be manager, supervisor or “essential
skill” employee

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas

Treaty investors (E-2)
 “Substantial”
investment
No exact amount
 Varies depending upon type of investment
 Relevant issues






Amount of investment
Number of employees
Needs of business
Likely profitability and growth potential
Business plan and financial projections critical
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
(cont’d)
Other Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Options
Treaty (E) Visas
(cont’d)
■ Visa applicant can be
 Investor
or
 Manager, supervisor or essential employee
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
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 more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Intracompany Transferee
(L-1) Visas
■ Spouse can work
■ Must be “international” business


(cont’d)
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

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Intracompany Transferee
(L-1) Visas
(cont’d)

Start-up issues
 Place
of business
 Employees
 Capitalization
 Need for “manager”
 Business plan and financial projections
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Extraordinary Ability (O-1) Visas



National or international renown
“One of a few at the top of his peers”
Must be employer or agent
 Can

be own company
Length of visa
3
years
 1 year extensions
 Can extend indefinitely
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Proving Extraordinary
Ability for the Entrepreneur

Receipt of nationally or internationally recognized
prize or award
 Venture



capital, angel investor, grant
Member of association that requires outstanding
achievements
Material published about you or your work
Participation on a panel or judge of the work of
others
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Proving Extraordinary
Ability for the Entrepreneur
(cont’d)

Original scholarly or business-related contribution
of major significance
 Reference
letters: prominent investors; CEOs; founders
of distinguished organizations
 Work implemented by others – contracts to use product;
licensed technology being used; patents being used
 On-line businesses: website usage/visitor traffic;
numbers of purchasers/downloads
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Proving Extraordinary
Ability for the Entrepreneur
(cont’d)

Authorship of scholarly articles

Employed in critical capacity by organization with
distinguished reputation

High salary or other remuneration
 Could
be equity in lieu of cash; deferred compensation;
profits from sale of business
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Trainee (H-3) Visa






Corporate trainee
Training not available overseas
Formal training program required
Productive employment incidental to training
Training will qualify for position abroad
Cannot follow F-1 OPT
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status





Family
Employment
Investment
Asylum
Lottery
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Family

Spouse of U.S. citizen

No quota wait
 EAD and AP within 3 months

All other relationships

Long quota wait
 No interim benefits
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Asylum


Individualized fear of persecution
Race, religion, nationality, political opinion,
social group, sexual persuasion
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Lottery
Only specified countries
 One year window
 www.travel.state.gov

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment



Employer-sponsored or self-sponsored
Labor certification or extraordinary/national
interest/exceptional
Multiple petitions
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment

Self-Sponsored

Extraordinary ability
EB-1
 Extensive documentation required
 Reference letters critical
 “One of a few at the top of his peers”
 National or international recognition
 Same standard as O-1

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
(cont’d)
Permanent Resident Status
Employment
 National
Interest Waiver
(cont’d)
EB-2
 Standard

Exceptional ability or advanced degree
 National priority



Examples: increasing employment; increasing exports; new
technology
National impact
Extensive documentation required
 Reference letters critical

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment

Employer-Sponsored

(cont’d)
Outstanding Researcher or Professor
EB-1
 “Permanent position”
 Similar to extraordinary ability


Multinational Manager
EB-1
 Same as L-1 except must be manager or executive
overseas

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Employment

Labor Certification Application (PERM)
(cont’d)
 EB-2
or EB-3
 Employer must:






Pay attorney fees and advertising costs
Define “minimum requirements”
Engage in required recruitment
Interview U.S. worker applicants
Prove unavailability of qualified, interested, and available U.S.
worker
Pay prevailing wage
 Not
available to owner of business
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Adjustment of Status (I-485)

Timing
 Preference
categories/quotas
 Priority dates
 Processing times


Concurrent filing (I-140/I-485)
I-485 filing fee $1,070, includes:
 Employment
authorization (I-765)
 Advance parole (I-131)
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Adjustment of Status (I-485)
(cont’d)
Adjustment portability
 H-1B Extensions

 One
year
 Three years

Spouses
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Investment (EB-5)
www.eb5immigration.com
No quota delay
 Amount of investment


$1,000,000 or
 $500,000 in “targeted employment area”
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Investment (EB-5)

Two possibilities

Individual investment


(cont’d)
Requires 10 full time US citizen or permanent
resident employees
Regional center investment
Over 300 USCIS - approved regional centers
 Mostly $500,000 investment
 Indirect employment creation ok
 90-95% of all EB-5 applications

For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Investment (EB-5)
(cont’d)

Lawful source of funds

Extensive documentation required
 Can be gift
 Must prove giftor's source of funds

Can borrow money
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Permanent Resident Status
Investment (EB-5)
(cont’d)

Nature of investor’s relationship to business

Do not have to be employee (but can)
 Do not have to be owner (but can)
 Cannot
be purely passive
 Limited
partner ok
For more information, visit www.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
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
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
For Further Information
William A. Stock, Esq.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
E-mail:
wstock@klaskolaw.com
Telephone:
215-825-8600 (Philadelphia)
212-796-8840 (New York)
Offices:
Philadelphia
1800 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Floor 17
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
New York
317 Madison Avenue
Suite 1518
New York, NY 10017
online
www.klaskolaw.com
www.eb1immigration.com
www.worksite-compliance.com
www.eb5immigration.com
http://blog.klaskolaw.com
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
DISCLAIMER / COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The materials contained in this PowerPoint does not
constitute direct legal advice and is for informational
purposes only. An attorney-client relationship is not
presumed or intended by receipt or review of this
presentation. The information provided should never
replace informed counsel when specific immigrationrelated guidance is needed.

Copyright © 2013 Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP.
All rights reserved.
Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.