CASE: PERM Labor Certification

EMPLOYER: Public School District

BENEFICIARY: Filipino High School General Science Teacher

LOCATION: Casa Grande, AZ

Our client has a current employer that as willing to file an I-140 petition for. Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Geology, a valid Arizona Teaching license, and has worked for his current employer since August 2016. Based on our client’s education and work background, our office determined that he is eligible for EB-3 classification for his I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us in April 2020.

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. Within a week from our retention, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained the PW determination, our office filed the job order on August 19, 2020.  On December 4, 2020, we filed PERM. 

Eventually, on August 18, 2021, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Filipino beneficiary. Our client can file the I-140 petition at any time.

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CASE: I-485/ National Interest Waiver

CLIENT: Korean

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client contacted us about the possibility of doing a National Interest Waiver self-petition. He is a researcher from South Korea in the field of Biomedical Engineering. 

Our client’s significant contributions have placed him at the pinnacle of his field. Throughout his research career, our client has made important and innovative contributions to the field of biomedical engineering and his word successfully demonstrated the development of an oral gene delivery for liver cancer treatment based on gene therapy. He also successfully developed novel Polysaccharide-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles for imaging and gene therapy. Because of his innovative research, our client’s work were highly evaluated by reviewers of various journals and by colleagues and experts in the field.

Upon review of his credentials and qualifications, our office determined that he was definitely qualified for the National Interest Waiver (NIW) category. Being qualified for NIW is beneficial since you would not need an employer nor family member to petition for you for green card purposes. You’d be eligible for a self-petition and unless you are from China or India, in which case you’d still have to wait for priority dates to be current, you would be eligible to apply for adjustment of status (green card) immediately without any lag in priority dates.

As a primer, NIW applicants must have a master’s or higher degree. While we prepared his case, the AAO set the new standards for NIW cases in Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884 (AAO 2016). Under the new standard, the petitioner must demonstrate that the foreign national’s proposed endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance. Next, it must be shown that he or she is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor. Finally, the petitioner seeking the waiver needs to demonstrate that, on balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements. Id. 

Our office prepared a 27-page brief for our client’s NIW filing. Our client also obtained 7 letters of recommendation from his colleagues and internationally-recognized researchers. Our office also included his publication records, presentation records, and conference materials in the NIW application. We demonstrated that our client is one of the few elite researchers who have made significant and substantial contributions to his field of endeavor, that he is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor, and it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the requirements of a job offer and thus of a labor certification for our client. 

Our office filed his I-140(NIW) petition to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center on September 29, 2020. Eventually, on May 28, 2021, the USCIS approved his I-140 petition without any Requests for Evidence.  

When we filed his I-140, he concurrently filed his I-485 adjustment of status application. Eventually, on August 9, 2021, our client and his immediate family members’ adjustment of status applications were approved by the USCIS without any Request for Evidence (RFE). 

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

 APPLICANT: Indian

 LOCATION: Solon, OH

Our client is a computer systems analyst from India. His company was willing to do a third-preference petition (I-140) for him.  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 October 24, 2011.

In October 2020, his priority date became current. He contacted our office and retained us for his and his wife’s I-485 adjustment of status applications. Our office filed the I-485 adjustment of status applications on October 27, 2020. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time.

Eventually, on July 27, 2021, the USCIS approved our client’s adjustment of status application. He is now a green card holder.

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CASE: I-485 Adjustment of Status / I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A
EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center
BENEFICIARY: Filipino
LOCATION: Des Plaines, IL

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

Our client has a nursing degree and has several years of related experience. During the consultation, our firm concluded that his employer can petition him as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. 

We filed the I-140 application on March 18, 2020 via regular processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, his H-1B status approval notices, and other necessary supporting documents.  On July 24, 2020, upon our client’s request, we upgraded his case to premium processing by filing an I-907 application with required fees. On August 11, 2020, the I-140 was approved.

Once his I-140 was approved, he retained our office again for his I-485 adjustment of status application. Our office filed an I-485 adjustment of status application October 13, 2020. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time. Eventually, on July 22, 2021, his green card application was approved without an interview.

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

 APPLICANT: Filipina

 LOCATION: Champaign, IL

Our client is a rehabilitation aide from the Philippines, who is currently working at a rehabilitation center in Champaign who did an I-140 for her. The priority date is May 1, 2019.

In August 2020, she contacted our office and retained us for an I-485 adjustment of status application for her and her immediate family members (husband and two daughters). Our office filed the I-485 adjustment of status application for our clients on October 1, 2020. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time. Eventually, on July 8, 2021, their green card applications were approved without an interview.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-3 Category) / Schedule A 

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center

BENEFICIARY: Korean Registered Nurse 

LOCATION: Santa Ana, CA

Our client is  Korean registered nurse who currently works as a under an OPT. Her current employer was willing to petition her for a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140) as a registered nurse. 

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 nursing degree and has a California Registered Nurse License. Our firm told her that her current employer can petition her as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on January 29, 2021 and we started on her Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on June 29, 2021 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, and other necessary supporting documents.  Without any issuance of a Request for Evidence (RFE), on July 13, 2021, the I-140 was approved. Now, our client can file an adjustment of status application based on the approved I-140 petition.

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CASE: EB-3 I-140

EMPLOYER: Rehabilitation Center in Katy, TX 

BENEFICIARY: Filipina Patient Guest and Front Desk Service Manager in the Philippines

Our client has a prospective employer that is willing to petition for a third-preference I-140.  Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management and currently works in the Philippines Based on our client’s education and work background, our office determined that she is eligible for EB-3 classification for her I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us on February 14, 2019.

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. Within a week from our retention, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained the PW determination, the job order was filed on June 5, 2019.  On August 15, 2019, we promptly filed PERM. 

However, on January 15, 2020, 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 January 21, 2020.   Eventually, on June 12, 2020, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Filipina 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 beneficiary’s degree, past experience letter, job offer letter, employer’s tax records, and other necessary supporting documents.

The I-140 Petition was filed on December 4, 2020 via regular processing service. Eventually, on July 1, 2021, the I-140 EB3 Petition for our Filipina client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

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CASE: PERM Labor Certification

EMPLOYER: Public School District

BENEFICIARY: Filipina Elementary Special Education Teacher

LOCATION: Mohave Valley, AZ

Our client has a current employer that was willing to do an EB2 Petition.  Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a valid Arizona Teaching license, and has more than 5 years of experience as a Special Education Teacher. Based on our client’s education and work background, our office determined that she is eligible for EB-2 classification for her I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us in May 2020.  

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. Within a week from our retention, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained the PW determination, our office filed the job order on October 15, 2020.  On January 8, 2021, we promptly filed PERM. 

Eventually, on July 6, 2021, the PERM Labor Certification was approved without any audit – an EB2 position for the Filipina beneficiary. Our client can file the I-140 petition at any time. 

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CASE: I-140 (Skilled Worker) / Schedule A 

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center

BENEFICIARY: Kyrgyz

LOCATION: Rockford, IL

Our client’s beneficiary is a registered nurse from Kyrgyzstan and licensed in the state of Illinois. She came to the United States on a F-1 student’s visa.  Her prospective 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 an Associate of nursing degree and has 2 years of work experience as a Registered Nurse. Our firm told her that her prospective employer can petition her as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on November 3, 2020 and started on her Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on June 16, 2021 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, employer’s financial ability to pay letter, and other necessary supporting documents. Eventually, on June 28, 2021, the I-140 was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

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CASE: EB-3 I-140

EMPLOYER: Heavy Equipment Rental Company

BENEFICIARY: Filipino KRB Electronic Test Engineer

LOCATION: Christiansted, VI

Our client has an employer who was willing to file a third-preference immigrant petition (I-140) for him.  Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked for his current employer since September 2017. Based on our client’s education and work background, our office determined that he is eligible for EB-3 classification for his I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us on December 12, 2019. 

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. Within a week from our retention, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained the PW determination, our office filed the job order on April 28, 2020.  On September 24, 2020, we promptly filed PERM. Eventually, on May 7, 2021, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Filipino 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 June 10, 2021 via premium processing service. Eventually, on June 24, 2021, the I-140 EB3 Petition for our Filipino client was approved without any RFE. Now he can file his adjustment of status application.

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