CASE: PERM Labor Certification
EMPLOYER: Electric Immersion Heater Manufacturer
BENEFICIARY: Indian Management Analyst
LOCATION: Cleveland Ohio

The beneficiary is a management analyst from India, who is currently working at an electric immersion heater manufacturing company in Cleveland Ohio. The company / petitioner was willing to petition him for a green card, in the second-preference category (EB2).  Our client has an MBA degree and has worked for this company since April 2012. He has maintained his status as an H-1B visa holder in the United States.  After talking to our client, our firm advised that his potential employer can petition him as a Management Analyst. It is a Job Zone 4 position, which typically does not merit an EB2 finding by the Department of Labor, but we thought the position was complex enough to merit an argument. Based on our client’s educational, professional and working background as an engineer and management analyst, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for the EB-2 classification for his I-140 petition.

Prior to filing the PERM labor certification application, 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 Labor Certification application could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. Within a week from our retention, the prevailing wage request was filed.  On June 29, 2012, we filed the PERM labor certification application. Two months later, on August 30, 2012, the PERM labor certification was approved – an EB2 position for a Job Zone 4 Position – Management Analyst – without an audit!

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The Cap

H-1B petitions per year are capped at 65,000, with an extra 20,000 for those who are petitioning someone with a U.S. earned master’s or higher degree. These cap numbers only apply to initial H-1B filings. Thus, H-1B extensions and transfers are not subject to the cap. April 1 of each year is the earliest that an H-1B petitioner can file an initial cap-subject filing. A few years ago, this quota was filled on the first day. Applications outnumbered the quota. The US Citizenship and Icemmigration Service (USCIS) resorted to a lottery system. Thus an employer may have filed at the earliest possible time and still got rejected. This year, the quote was filled by July, merely two months from April 1. A lot of people are thus wondering if there is anyway an employer can file an initial H-1B petition without having to wait for April 1, 2013.

Cap-Exempt

Other than extensions and transfers, there are other ways where a petitioner gets exempted from the cap. A beneficiary of employment petitions from an institution of higher education, or related or affiliated nonprofit entities, nonprofit research organizations, or governmental research organizations are not subject to the cap. Thus, for these employers, H-1B petitions could be filed all year round, regardless of whether the cap is closed.

Institution of Higher Education

By law, an institution of higher education is defined as one which: 1) admits students who have completed secondary education; 2) is licensed to provide education beyond secondary school; 3) provides education programs for which the institutions award bachelors’ degrees or provide programs of not less than 2 years that are acceptable for full credit toward bachelors’ degrees; 4) is a public or nonprofit institution; and 5) is accredited or has been granted pre-accreditation status by a recognized accrediting agency. Each of these elements should be met to be cap-exempt.

Primary or Secondary Education Schools

Based on statutory language and legislative history on the definition of “institutions of higher education,” primary or secondary education schools are not within this definition, and if the argument for making these schools cap-exempt is solely based on including them within the definition of an “institution of higher education,” the USCIS will not find the petition cap-exempt.

Related or Affiliated Nonprofit Entity

However, primary or secondary schools can still meet the cap-exempt requirement through the second prong of the exemption category, that of the “related or affiliated nonprofit entity” (with an institution of higher education).

In filing the H-1B cap-exempt petition, the cover letter should demonstrate how the petition is cap-exempt by explaining how the petitioner, beneficiary, line of work, and how they fit the exemption clause and the entities covered. Citing specific language from two important documents on this issue, the 2006 Aytes Memo on H-1B Cap Exemption and the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) 2006 Texas decision (EAC 06 216 52028) is a must in arguing whether the petitioner is cap-exempt, especially if one is using the “related or affiliated” argument.

The AAO case mentioned (2006 EAC 06 216 52028) has been one of the most cited sources for “related or affiliated” cap-exempt based H-1B petitions. This case addressed the issue of whether a Texas nonprofit public school district as the petitioner was cap exempt. The USCIS in Vermont initially denied the case and one of the grounds was that the petition was subject to the cap. After appeal, the AAO granted the H-1B, finding that the school’s Teachertrak program is related or affiliated with an institution of higher education. The AAO provided citable language, stating that in order to demonstrate that the petitioner is an affiliated or related nonprofit entity, it should show one or more of the following: a) shared ownership or control by the same board or federation; b) the petitioner is operated by an institution of higher education; or; c) the petitioner is attached to an institution of higher education as a member, branch, cooperative, or subsidiary. The AAO found that the petitioner in this case met the third prong, that of a member, branch, cooperative, or subsidiary, and thus made a finding that it was related or affiliated with an institution of higher education.

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CASE: G4 Son and Daughter I-360 and I-485
CLIENT: Filipino
LOCATION: Arlington Virginia

Our clients (son and daughter of their G4 visa holding mother – employee of an international organization) came to the US on G4 derivative visas in 2004. One came at the age of thirteen, and another at the age of nine. They have resided in Virginia ever since, on valid G4 status, as their mother worked for an international organization on a G4 visa also since 2004. They’ve heard of a process in which a G4 son or daughter can apply for permanent residency after meeting certain age and physical presence requirements, and having been here since 2004 on G4 visas, they consulted with attorneys. They retained our firm in March 2012 for their I-360 Special Immigrant Self-Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Green Card Application (Permanent Residency),

The I-360 sought to classify the self-petitioner as a special immigrant unmarried son or daughter of an international organization employee (their mother on a G4 visa) under INA § 203(b)(4).

INA 101(a)(27)(I)(i) defines such an alien as “an immigrant who is the unmarried son or daughter of an officer or employee, or of a former officer or employee, of an international organization described in paragraph (15)(G)(i), and who:

(I) While maintaining the status of a G4 nonimmigrant, has resided and been physical present in the United States for periods totaling at least one-half of the seven years before the date of application and for a period or periods aggregating at least seven years between the ages of five and 21 years
(II) Applies for adjustment of status no later than his or her twenty-fifth birthday…

The I-360 Self-Petition for G4 Sons and Daughters and their I-485 Adjustment of Status Green Card Applications were filed on March 7, 2012. The I-360 Self-Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application (Green Card / Permanent Resident) showed ample proof of their residency the past seven plus years, including school records for each year. The G4 visas and entry stamps were documented. We also had a letter from the international organization their mother worked at evidencing her employment with them on a G4 visa since 2004. We also emphasized on our brief the ages and dates relevant to the calculations involved in adjudicating these G4 special immigrant green card cases. Forms I-508 and I-566 were also submitted, as is required for G4 visa holders applying for adjustment of status. On July 16, 2012, the I-360 and I-485 were both approved. After spending the past eight years in the United States as G4 visa holders, they finally are now permanent residents of the United States.

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CASE: PERM Labor Certification
EMPLOYER: Hospital
BENEFICIARY: Filipino Doctor
LOCATION: Erie, PA

Our client is a family doctor from the Philippines, who is currently working at a hospital in Erie Pennsylvania who was willing to do an immigration petition him for a second-preference petition (I-140).  Our client has an M.D. degree and is a licensed doctor in the state of Pennsylvania. He has maintained his status as an H-1B visa holder in the United States.  After talking to our client, our firm concluded that his potential employer can petition him as a Family Medicine Physician. Based on our client’s educational, professional and working background as a family doctor, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for the EB-2 classification for his I-140 petition.

Prior to filing PERM labor certification, 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 Labor Certification application could be filed at least 60 days from the job posting date or 30 days from the last ad. Within a week from our retention, the prevailing wage request was filed.  On May 10, 2012, we filed the PERM labor certification application.  Eventually, on July 17, 2012, a little after two months from filing, the PERM labor certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Filipino doctor. Now our client can file the I-140 Petition. He can file the I-485 green card application and I-765 once the priority dates becomes current.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-1C Category: Executives and Managers of Multinational Organizations)
EMPLOYER: Multinational Tire Corporation
BENEFICIARY: Korean
LOCATION: Akron, Ohio

Our client is a vice president of a multinational tire corporation in Ohio.  He is from Korea, and has worked for its parent company for 24 years in positions of increasing responsibility including that of team manager. He came to the United States in July 2011 with an E-2 visa to work for current petitioner company (wholly-owned subsidiary of his previous employer).  He contacted our firm in December 2011, and discussed us his chances of getting a green card.  Based on our client’s educational and professional background and his current position at the worksite, our office determined that he was clearly eligible for the EB-1C classification for his I-140 petition. Our client eventually retained us for his I-140 and subsequent I-485 adjustment of status application on December 15, 2011.

An employer can petition for its foreign employee under INA § 203(b)(1)(C) if it demonstrates the following: (C) Certain multinational executives and managers – An alien is described in this subparagraph if the alien, in the 3 years preceding the time of the alien’s application for classification and admission into the United States under this subparagraph, has been employed for at least 1 year by a firm or corporation or other legal entity or an affiliate or subsidiary thereof and the alien seeks to enter the United States in order to continue to render services to the same employer or to a subsidiary or affiliate thereof in a capacity that is managerial or executive.

According to the INA §101(a)(44), 8 U.S.C. §1101(a)(44) and 8 C.F.R §204.5(j)(2), “executive capacity” means an assignment in an organization in which the employee primarily: (1) Directs the management of the organization or a component or function; (2) Establishes goals and policies; (3) Exercise wide latitude in discretionary decision making; and (4) Receives only general supervision or direction from higher level executives, board of directors or stockholders.

Also, above the mentioned statutes define “managerial capacity” as an assignment with the organization in which the employee personally: (1) Manages the organization, department, subdivision, function or component; (2) Supervises and controls the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees, or manages an essential function within the organization or department or subdivision of the organization; (3) Has authority to hire and fire or recommend personnel actions (if another directly supervises employees), or if no direct supervision, functions at a senior level; and (4) Exercises discretion over day-to-day operations of the activity or function.

After our office was retained, we prepared a thorough cover letter and obtained all necessary supporting documents from our client and the petitioning company. In our brief, we clearly demonstrated that our client met the requirements set forth in the INA §203(b)(1)(C).  First, the prospective U.S. employer (Petitioner-Company) has been doing business for at least 1 year.  Second, the prospective employer (Petitioner) in the United States is the same employer or a subsidiary or affiliate of the firm or corporation or other legal entity by which the alien was employed abroad.  Third, if the worker is already employed in the United States, he or she was employed outside the United States for at least 1 year in the 3 years preceding admission as a non-immigrant in an executive or managerial capacity by the petitioner or by its parent branch, subsidiary, or affiliate. Last, the alien is to be employed in the United States in a managerial or executive capacity.

In this case, the Petitioner-company has been doing business for 21 years in the United States. In addition, Petitioner-Company is the wholly-owned subsidiary of its Korean parent company where our client was employed for 24 years. Moreover, our client was employed outside the U.S. for at least 1 year in the 3 years preceding admission as a non-immigrant in an Executive or Managerial Capacity by the Petitioner’s parent company in South Korea.  Our client served as a team manager and later became general manager for the parent company.  He personally supervised and controlled the work of other researchers and engineers for new types and models of tire developments, and was primarily responsible for the company’s various new tires.  Lastly, our client is to be employed in the United States as a vice president / technical manager for the petitioner.

On the application package, we included a detailed job offer letter, employment verification letter from our client’s previous employer (parent company), an organization chart, and a dispatch order.  Also, we included evidence regarding the relationship between the Petitioner-Company and its Parent company in South Korea.  The evidence included a copy of the certificate of ownership, a copy of the articles of incorporation, a copy the business registration certificate, a copy of the approval for overseas investment, a copy of the annual report and consolidated financial statements.  The I-140 Petition was filed on March 15, 2012.  On June 1, 2012, the I-140 was approved with no Requests for Evidence.  Now, our client can file the I-485 adjustment of status application based on the approved I-140 petition.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A
EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center
BENEFICIARY: Filipina
LOCATION: Des Plaines

Our client is a registered nurse, who is currently working at a large nursing and rehabilitation facility in Des Plaines, Illinois. Her employer was willing to petition her for a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140). Since she was a registered nurse, 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 Professional Nurses is included in Schedule A.

Our client has a nursing degree and has more than 4 years related experience. Our office was retained on January 31, 2012 and we started on the Prevailing Wage Determination filing and other related matters.

We filed the I-140 application on March 29, 2012 via regular processing. We included the job offer letter, employment verification letters from our client’s previous employers, the notice of filing, her H-1B status approval notices, and other necessary supporting documents.  On May 5, 2012, upon our client’s request, we upgraded her processing to premium processing by filing an I-907 application with the required fees. However, the Nebraska Service Center issued Notice of Intent to Deny on May 17, 2012. The USCIS NSC argued about Petitioner’s normal recruiting procedures.  On May 23, 2012, our office filed a Response to Notice of Intent to Deny and argued that Petitioner has no in-house media and their normal procedures do not include the use of in-house media for the recruitment of similar positions. Also, Petitioner did place the notice of filing in accordance with the regulations and that was submitted at the I-140 filing.  On May 30, 2012, the I-140 was approved. Now, our client can file I-485 adjustment
of status application based on the approved I-140 petition when her priority date becomes current. She also will be eligible for a 3-year extension of her H-1B even if she is on her 6th year on H-1B.

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CASE: EB-2 I-140 / I-485
PETITIONER: International Trading Company
BENEFICIARY: Vietnamese
LOCATION: San Diego, CA

Our Vietnamese client from San Diego contacted our office in December 2011. She had an approved PERM Labor Certification and she would like to retain us for her I-140/I-485 application. Her current employer is located in San Diego and they wish to file an I-140 petition for her as a market research analyst. Our client had questions regarding possible issues they may face, the employer’s “ability to pay” issue in particular.

Once retained, our office prepared her I-140 petition and I-485 adjustment of status application. One of the main requirements for the I-140 is that the petitioning company must show that it has the ability to pay the proffered wage for the beneficiary’s position. Despite the negative taxable income, we provided all schedules of Petitioner’s tax return and argued that their net current assets were over and above the proffered wage. We provided the calculation on the cover letter, cited a CIS internal memo on the “ability to pay” issue, and attached the tax return schedule that showed the net current assets. We also prepared our client’s I-485 application and explained that the priority date for EB-2 Vietnam (“Other Countries”) is current.

Our office simultaneously filed the I-140 / I-485 applications on January 26, 2012 and on April 19, 2012, the I-140 petition for our client was approved with no Requests for Evidence.  Once the I-140 petition was approved, her I-485 adjustment of status application was subsequently approved by the USCIS on May 24, 2012.  While we were waiting for I-485 approval, our client informed us that he needed to travel abroad.  Thus, we filed an I-131 advance parole application on February 10, 2012.  The I-131 advance parole document was also approved by the USCIS Nebraska Service Center on May 24, 2012 as well.

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CASE: Employment-Based Adjustment of Status / Derivative Beneficiary
CLIENT: Filipino
LOCATION: Des Plaines, IL

Our client came to the United States in 2007 with an H-4 visa as a dependent of his H-1B visa holding wife from the Philippines.  His wife was working as a registered nurse in the United States. His wife’s previous employer filed an I-140 petition under the EB-3 classification on her behalf.  The petition was later approved, and our client’s priority date was sometime in August, 2001.  Through our legal assistance, our client’s wife obtained her green card in March 2012.

In February 2012, our client sought legal assistance from our office regarding his adjustment of status application.  Based on our client’s wife’s approved I-140, our client was eligible to file for adjustment of status.  Our firm prepared and filed the I-485 Adjustment of Status Application and I-765 Employment Authorization Documentation on February 20, 2012.  Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment all came on time.  On May 16, 2012, the USCIS Nebraska Service Center approved our client’s adjustment of status application.  After a long wait, our client finally became a green card holder.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A
EMPLOYER: Hospital
BENEFICIARY: Canadian
LOCATION: New York, NY

Our client is a registered nurse, who is currently working at a large hospital in New York City. Her employer was willing to petition her for a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140). Since she was a registered nurse, 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 Professional Nurses is included on Schedule A.

Our client has a nursing degree and has more than 5 years related experience. Her employer filed an I-140 petition for her before; however, it was denied due to the prevailing wage issue.  After talking to our client, our firm concluded that her potential employer can petition her again as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category.

We filed the I-140 application on September 9, 2011 via regular processing. We included the job offer letter, employment verification letters from our client’s previous employers, the notice of filing, her TN status approval notices, and other necessary supporting documents. On May 14, 2012, the I-140 was approved.  Now, our client can file I-485 adjustment of status application based on the approved I-140 petition when her priority date becomes current.

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CASE: EB-2 I-140
PETITIONER: International Trading Company
BENEFICIARY: Vietnamese
LOCATION: San Diego, CA

Our Vietnamese client from San Diego contacted our office in December 2011. She had an approved PERM Labor Certification and she would like to retain us for her I-140/I-485 application. Her current employer is located in San Diego and they wish to file an I-140 petition for her as a market research analyst. Our client had questions regarding possible issues they may face, the employer’s “ability to pay” issue in particular.

Once retained, our office prepared her I-140 petition and I-485 adjustment of status application. One of the main requirements for the I-140 is that the petitioning company must show that it has the ability to pay the proffered wage for the beneficiary’s position. Despite the negative taxable income, we provided all schedules of Petitioner’s tax return and argued that their net current assets were over and above the proffered wage. We provided the calculation on the cover letter, cited a CIS internal memo on the “ability to pay” issue, and attached the tax return schedule that showed the net current assets. We also prepared our client’s I-485 application and explained that the priority date for EB-2 Vietnam (“Other Countries”) is current.

Our office simultaneously filed the I-140 / I-485 applications on January 26, 2012 and on April 19, 2012, the I-140 petition for our client was approved with no Requests for Evidence.

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