CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status based on Approved I-140 (EB-2)

APPLICANT: Kenyan Non-Profit Housewarming Project Manager

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client is currently working as a Non-Profit Housewarming Project Manager whose current employer was willing to petition him for a second-preference petition (I-140).  Our client has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in a related field and work experience. He has been working for his current employer under an OPT status. Based on our client’s education, professional and work background, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for EB-2 classification for his I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us.

Prior to filing PERM, our firm prepared the prevailing wage request, job order, advertisements, internal job posting, recruitment report, and all other steps which are important pre-PERM filing. Take note that the PERM application could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. On April 2, 2015, the prevailing wage request was filed.  Once we received the Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on August 20, 2015.  On November 20, 2015, we promptly filed PERM.

However, on May 2, 2016, the Department of Labor issued a request for audit. The DOL requested documents from Petitioner to determine whether the recruitment process was done properly. In response to the Audit request, our office prepared the response to Audit brief along with Employer’s declaration, notice of filing, and recruitment documentation on May 11, 2016.  

Eventually, on July 18, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Kenyan beneficiary. We then proceeded with the I-140 Petition filing. We submitted the “ability to pay” letter for the I-140 petition application. We included the job offer letter, employer’s tax records, and other necessary supporting documents. The I-140 Petition was filed on July 28, 2016 via premium processing service. On August 8, 2016, the I-140 EB-2 Petition for our Kenyan client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

Our office filed his I-485 application along with his I-140 petition concurrently. On March 1, 2017, the USCIS approved his I-485 application as well. Now, he is a green card holder.

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CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status based on Approved I-140 (EB-2)
EMPLOYER: Dental Group in Cleveland, OH
BENEFICIARY: Nepali Dentist

Our client is from Nepal, who is currently working in the United States as an associate dentist under an F-1 (OPT) status. Her current employer was willing to do an immigration petition for her, second-preference. Our client has a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in the United States. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that her employer can petition her as an associate dentist. Based on our client’s education, professional and work background, our office determined that she is clearly eligible for EB-2 classification.

Prior to filing PERM, our firm prepared the prevailing wage request, job order, advertisements, internal job posting, recruitment report, and all other steps which are important pre-PERM filing. Take note that PERM could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. On September 15, 2015, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on November 30, 2015.  On February 22, 2016, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on June 14, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Nepalese beneficiary.

We then proceeded with the I-140 Petition filing. We submitted the “ability to pay” letter for the I-140 petition application. We included the job offer letter, employer’s tax records, and other necessary supporting documents. The I-140 Petition was filed on July 11, 2016 via premium processing service. Eventually, on July 21, 2016, the I-140 EB-2 Petition for our Nepalese client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

Our office filed his I-485 application along with his I-140 petition concurrently. However, on January 23, 2017, the USCIS Nebraska Service Center issued Request for Evidence (RFE) and requested our client to submit the updated employment letter. Our office filed the response to RFE on February 15, 2017. On March 3, 2017, the USCIS approved her I-485 application as well. Now, she is a green card holder.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-3)    
EMPLOYER: Clothing Company in Cleveland, OH
BENEFICIARY: Korean Fashion Design / Display Manager

Our client is from South Korea, who is currently in H-4 status. Her prospective employer was willing to do an immigration petition for her, third-preference. Our client has a Bachelor of Fashion Design Degree and used to work as a fashion designer in South Korea. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that her prospective employer can petition her as a Fashion Design and Display Manager. Based on our client’s educational, professional and working backgrounds, our office determined that she is clearly eligible for EB-3 classification.

Prior to filing PERM, our firm prepared the prevailing wage request, job order, advertisements, internal job posting, recruitment report, and all other steps which are important pre-PERM filing. Take note that PERM could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. On February 5, 2016, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on May 5, 2016.  On July 15, 2016, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on October 5, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Korean beneficiary.

We then proceeded with the I-140 Petition filing. We submitted a cover brief with the “ability to pay” argument for the I-140 petition application. We included the job offer letter, employer’s tax records, and other necessary supporting documents. The I-140 Petition was filed on November 9, 2016. Eventually, on February 28, 2017, the I-140 EB-3 Petition for our Korean client was approved. Our client can file her I-485 adjustment application.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Filipina                                                                                                        

LOCATION: Birmingham, AL

Our client is from the Philippines who came to the U.S. on an H-1B visa in October 2009. Since then, she has remained in the United States and worked as a high school teacher in Birmingham, AL.  In July 2016, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office in July 2016 for her green card application.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on July 22, 2016.  Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and work permits all came on time. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients via conference calls. On February 27, 2017, our client was interviewed at the Atlanta, Georgia USCIS office. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office also accompanied our clients as well. Eventually, on the same day of the interview, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: I-485 based on Approved I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A

APPLICANT: Mexican Registered Nurse

LOCATION: Midland, Texas

Our client’s beneficiary is a registered nurse from Mexico licensed in the state of Texas. She came to the United States and currently works in the United States on her TN visa.  Her current employer was willing to petition her for a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140).

Since she is a registered nurse, she is eligible for “Schedule A” classification. The Department of Labor (DOL) maintains a schedule of occupations in its regulations, Schedule A included, for which the individual permanent labor certification procedure is not required. The schedule of pre-certified occupations is referred to as Schedule A, and is included in DOL regulations at 20 CFR 656.10. Based on an occupation’s inclusion on Schedule A, an employer may file an immigrant visa petition (I-140) directly with the (USCIS) without first going to the DOL for a labor certification. Usually, prior to filing I-140 petitions (EB-2 or EB-3 category), the employer must file a Labor Certification to the Department of Labor. However, for Schedule A cases, the employer does not have to go through the labor certification process. The position of Professional Nurses is included in Schedule A.

Our client has a Bachelor’s of Nursing degree from a U.S. institution and has worked for the sponsor-employer. Our firm told her that her employer can petition her as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on December 2, 2015 and started on her Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on March 23, 2016 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, and other necessary supporting documents.  However, on April 4, 2016, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) and requested our client to submit documents to prove her employer’s “ability to pay” standard. Our client’s employer provided a federal corporate tax record and other documents to demonstrate that they have ability to pay our client’s proffered wage. Our office filed the response to RFE on April 29, 2016. Eventually, the I-140 was approved on May 11, 2016.

In September 2016, her priority date became current. Our office proceeded with our client’s and her husband’s I-485 adjustment of status applications. We prepared and file our clients’ adjustment of status applications along with supporting documents to USCIS on September 7, 2016. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and work permits all came on time.

This case was transferred to the local USCIS office in El Paso, TX and they appeared at the interview for the adjustment of status interview with Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office on February 9, 2017.  The interview went well; eventually, our client’s adjustment application was approved by the USCIS on February 13, 2017.  

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CASE: I-140 (EB-2 Category) / Schedule A / Premium Processing

EMPLOYER: Mental Health Non-Profit Organization

BENEFICIARY: Thai Nurse Practitioner

LOCATION: Ohio

Our client is a certified nurse practitioner. Her prospective employer was willing to petition her for a second-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140). Since she was a certified nurse practitioner, she was eligible for “Schedule A” classification.

The Department of Labor (DOL) maintains a schedule of occupations in its regulations, Schedule A included, for which the individual permanent labor certification procedure is not required. The schedule of pre-certified occupations is referred to as Schedule A, and is included in DOL regulations at 20 CFR 656.10. Based on an occupation’s inclusion on Schedule A, an employer may file an immigrant visa petition (I-140) directly with the (USCIS) without first going to the DOL for a labor certification. Usually, prior to filing I-140 petitions (EB-2 or EB-3 category), the employer must file a Labor Certification to the Department of Labor. However, for Schedule A cases, the employer does not have to go through the labor certification process. The position of Nurse Practitioner is included in Schedule A.

Our client has a Bachelors and Masters degree in nursing and is a certified Nurse Practitioner. Our office was retained on September 12, 2016 and we filed the Prevailing Wage Determination immediately.

We filed the I-140 application on January 23, 2017 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, employment letter, and other necessary supporting documents.

In our cover brief, we included the “ability to pay” argument and why nurse practitioners must fall under the Schedule A designation.  On January 31, 2017, without any Request for Evidence (RFE), the USCIS Nebraska Service Center approved her EB-2 I-140 petition. Since the priority date for Thai national is current for the EB-2 category, she is eligible to file her adjustment of status application now.

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CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status Based on Approved I-140 (EB-2)
EMPLOYER: Sales Leads Provider in Omaha Nebraska
BENEFICIARY: Nepali Senior Software Developer – Web Application

Our client is from Nepal, who is currently working in the United States as a Senior Software Developer under F-1 (OPT) status. His current employer was willing to do an immigration petition for her, second-preference. Our client has a Master of Management Information Systems degree in the United States. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that his employer can petition him as a Senior Software Developer – Web Application. Based on our client’s educational, professional and working backgrounds, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for EB-2 classification.

Prior to filing PERM, our firm prepared the prevailing wage request, job order, advertisements, internal job posting, recruitment report, and all other steps which are important pre-PERM filing. Take note that PERM could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. On September 16, 2015, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on December 10, 2015.  On March 8, 2016, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on June 22, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Nepali beneficiary.

We then proceeded with the I-140 Petition filing. We submitted the “ability to pay” letter for the I-140 petition application. We included the job offer letter, employer’s tax records, and other necessary supporting documents.

The I-140 Petition was filed on July 26, 2016 via premium processing service. Eventually, on August 6, 2016, the I-140 EB2 Petition for our Nepalese client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

When we filed his I-140, our office concurrently filed an I-485 adjustment of status application for his green card. Eventually, on January 30, 2017, his I-485 adjustment of status application was approved by the USCIS without any RFE. Now, our client is a green card holder.

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CASE: I-485 based on Approved I-140 (EB-3)

APPLICANT: Nepalese

LOCATION: Minnesota

Our client is a chemist from Nepal, who is currently working at an IT consulting company who was willing to petition him for a third-preference petition (I-140).  He has maintained his status as an H-1B visa holder in the United States.  He had an approved I-140 petition which was filed by his current employer and this I-140 petition’s priority date was December 22, 2014.

In June 2016, he contacted our office and retained us for his and his wife’s I-485 adjustment of status applications. Our office filed an I-485 adjustment of status application for our client and his wife on July 19, 2016. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time.

However, on September 30, 2016, the USCIS issued Request for Evidence for our client and his wife’s adjustment of status application. The USCIS requested our clients to submit more evidence to demonstrate their lawful maintenance in the United States after their last admission to the U.S.  Our office prepared and filed the Response to RFE to USCIS on December 13, 2016 along with documentary evidence that our clients provided.

Eventually, on January 12, 2017, the USCIS Nebraska Service Center approved our client’s and his wife’s adjustment of status applications. They are now green card holders.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-2)
EMPLOYER: Dental Group in Cleveland, OH
BENEFICIARY: Korean Dentist

Our client is from South Korea, who is currently working in the United States as an associate dentist under F-1 (OPT) status. His current employer was willing to do an immigration petition for him, second-preference. Our client has a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in the United States. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that his employer can petition him as an associate dentist. Based on our client’s education, professional and work background, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for EB-2 classification.

Prior to filing PERM, our firm prepared the prevailing wage request, job order, advertisements, internal job posting, recruitment report, and all other steps which are important pre-PERM filing. Take note that PERM could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. On October 6, 2015, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on December 17, 2015.  On March 3, 2016, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on June 27, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Korean beneficiary.

We then proceeded with the I-140 Petition filing. We submitted the “ability to pay” letter for the I-140 petition application. We included the job offer letter, employer’s tax records, and other necessary supporting documents. The I-140 Petition was filed on July 22, 2016 via regular processing service. Eventually, on January 25, 2017, the I-140 EB-2 Petition for our Korean client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE). Our client already filed his I-485 adjustment of status application with his I-140 petition concurrently and his green card application will likely be approved soon.  

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CASE: H-1B Visa Petition

PETITIONER: IT Consulting Company in Jacksonville, FL

BENEFICIARY: Indian Systems Analyst in Charlotte, NC

Our client is an IT Consulting Company located in Jacksonville, FL.  They contacted our office in the middle of February last year to seek legal assistance for a possible H-1B petition for their foreign employee.

The beneficiary obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology in Belgium. Beneficiary is currently working in the United States under L-1 status. The proffered position for the Beneficiary is a Systems Analyst which we argued qualifies as a specialty occupation.

Upon retention, our office prepared and eventually filed the H-1B visa petition with various supporting documents on March 31, 2016 via regular processing. This H-1B petition was selected after the lottery.

However, on September 29, 2016, the USCIS issued Request for Evidence (RFE) for our client’s H-1B petition. USCIS requested Petitioner to submit additional evidence to establish that the proffered position to the beneficiary qualified as a “Specialty Occupation”, plus additional questions about the “in-house” nature of the employment. Moreover, the RFE requested our client to prove the Beneficiary’s qualification is sufficient to work as a systems analyst.

We gathered supporting documents from both the Petitioner and Beneficiary and did research on the industry, focusing on similarly sized businesses, to demonstrate that a bachelor’s degree is commonly required for this position. We also provided in-house employment proof.

In the response brief, our office argued that the degree requirement is common to this industry in parallel positions among similar organizations.  We provided evidence that the position of Systems Analyst or Computer Systems Analyst is a common position required by similarly sized IT consulting company.  Also, we provided evidence that Petitioner’s competitors normally require degrees in a specific specialty for closely related positions like that of Systems Analyst.  Moreover, our office asserted that the nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a baccalaureate or higher degree in a specific specialty. Furthermore, we included several professional evaluation letters for Beneficiary’s degree and previous work experience to demonstrate that he is qualified. Other documents pertaining to an in-house project was also submitted.

Our office filed a detailed Response to RFE brief with many exhibits to the USCIS Vermont Service Center on December 19, 2016.  Eventually, our client’s H-1B application was approved on January 12, 2017. Now, the beneficiary can work for the Petitioner until August 2019.

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