What You Should Know if you are Considering Permanent Resident Status

1
What You Should Know if you are
ConsideringPermanent Resident Status

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

2
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

3
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)

4
Permanent Residency Quotas

• Annual Limit on Permanent Residency
• Per Country Limit 7
• Allocated by
• Priority Date place in line
• Preference Category

5
Permanent Residency Quotas

• Employment Based Preferences
• First Preference (EB-1)
• Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher,
  Multinational Executive
• Second Preference (EB-2)
• Natl Interest Waivers, Advanced Degreed
  Professionals, Bachelors plus 5 years exp.
• Third Preference (EB-3)
• Skilled Worker (2 years experience), Bachelors
  Degree

6
Permanent Residency Quotas, Where Are We Now?

• November 2007

7
Permanent Residency Quotas,Where are We Now?

• Visa Bulletin
• www.travel.state.gov (search visa bulletin)
• Listserve_at_calist.state.gov
• Subject Visa Bulletin
• Text Subscribe Visa-Bulletin First Name/Last
  Name
• (Subscribe Visa-Bulletin Sally Doe)
• New Bulletin posted every month, mid-month

8
Permanent Residency Quotas,Where are We Now?

• Oversubscribed versus Available
• Available if
• Visa Bulletin indicates C current
• Priority date earlier than posted date
• Current Situation (November 2007)
• EB-3
• China - Sept 1, 2001
• India - April 22, 2001
• Mexico April 22, 2001
• All Other August 1, 2002

9
Permanent Residency Quotas,Where are We Now?

• Current Situation
• EB-2
• China January 1, 2006
• India April 1, 2004
• all other Current
• EB-1
• Current

10
How Do I Apply?

• Family
• Investment
• Asylum
• Employment

11
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?

12
Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency
Self-Petitions

• Extraordinary Ability (I-140, filing fee 475)
• EB-1
• Standards
• Documentation
• Reference letters
• National Interest Waiver (I-140, filing fee 475)
• EB-2
• Standards

13
Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency
Employer-Sponsored

• Outstanding Researcher (I-140, filing fee 475)
• EB-1
• Standards
• Documentation
• Reference letters
• ALL OTHERS PERM

14
Employment Based (EB) Permanent Residency
Employer-Sponsored

• Labor Certification Application (PERM)
• Employer Sponsored
• Employer MUST Pay Costs
• Recruitment
• Prevailing wage
• Timing
• First of 3 steps
• No filing fee for this step

15
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 1010, includes
• Employment authorization (I-765)
• Advance parole (I-131)

16
Permanent Resident StatusAdjustment of Status
(I-485)

• Adjustment portability
• H-1B Extensions
• One Year
• Three years
• Spouses

17
Issues Relating to NIV Status During Permanent
Residency Process

• Travel
• Extensions of Status
• Dependents
• Eligibility for OPT

18
Contact Information

• Suzanne B. Seltzer, Esq.
• Telephone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email sseltzer_at_klaskolaw.com