CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement / Over 21-year-old dependent child

NATIONALITY: Korean

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client is a citizen of South Korea who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in February 2005.  He came with his father who came on a J-1 Visa for his research program in the United States. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, meaning they had to go back to their home country for two-years before they can apply for permanent residency or some non-immigrant visa such as the H, L, and O visas.

He turned 21 in October 2011.  He plans to file his adjustment of status with NIW petition.  However, because of his two-year foreign residency requirement, our client cannot change his status in the United States without the fulfillment of requirement or the waiver.

Although J-2 dependents cannot independently apply for a waiver, in cases where a J-2 child reaches 21, the Waiver Review Division may consider requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2 dependent.  The Department of State’s policy allows for that process in instances where the J-2 dependent obtains a divorce form the J-1 principal, the J-1 principal dies, or in cases where the J-2 dependent turns 21, which is our client’s case. In fact, our client turned 21 in October 2011.

Our firm was retained to do his J-2 waiver, and on January 18, 2019, the J-2 Waiver application (Form DS-3035 and supporting documents) was filed to the Department of State. We also sent a request to the DOS to be an interested government agency and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client reached the age of 21 and was not a dependent of a J-1 visa holder anymore.  Eventually, on March 22, 2019, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver. On May 7, 2019, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver request.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Filipina                                                                                                   

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client is from the Philippines who came to the U.S. on a H-1B visa to work in the United States in 2016. In August 2017, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office for her green card application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on September 28, 2017. 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 April 15, 2019, our client was interviewed at the Columbus, OH USCIS office. Eventually, on April 23, 2019, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Chinese                                                                                                   

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client is from China who has worked in the United States under an H-1B status. In September 2018, our client married her current U.S. citizen husband.  She retained our office on October 5, 2018 for her green card application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on October 19, 2018. 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 call. On January 23, 2019, our client was interviewed at the Columbus Ohio USCIS office.  Eventually, on January 24, 2019, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: I-485 / National Interest Waiver

CLIENT: Korean

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client contacted us in October 2016 about the possibility of doing a National Interest Waiver self-petition. He is a researcher from South Korea and he is an exceptional researcher and scientist in the field of plant developmental biology research.

Our client’s significant contributions have placed him at the pinnacle of his field. He has pioneered the study of leaf and flower development and provided novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying floral transition from vegetative cells. Specifically, our client characterized bona fide regulators of cell proliferation of aerial lateral organs and floral transition. Because of his innovative experimental research, our client’s research works were highly evaluated by the 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 21-page brief for our client’s NIW filing. Our client also obtained 9 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. His NIW application contained 34 exhibits (Exhibit A to HH).

Our office filed his I-140(NIW) petition to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center on June 1, 2017. Eventually, on March 6, 2018, 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. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time.

Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our client via conference calls. On June 12, 2018, our client was interviewed at Columbus Ohio USCIS office. The interview went well, and on the same day of the interview, his green card application was approved.

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CASE: Marriage-Based Adjustment of Status

NATIONALITY: Indonesian

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our Indonesian client came to the U.S. on a J-1 Visa in May 2016.  She came to the U.S. for an internship, and her J-1 visa made her subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement.  In March 2017 our client married his U.S. Citizen husband and she wanted to apply for permanent residency. However, due to the two-year foreign residency requirement, she had to obtain a waiver first.

After she retained our firm, we prepared and filed a waiver request through a No Objection Statement (NOS) from the Indonesian Embassy in the United States.  Our office contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. to make sure we knew all the requirements needed for their office to issue a no objection statement.  The Embassy requested nine different documents including a statement of reason for the waiver, the applicant’s resume, a copy of her valid Indonesian passport, and a copy of Form DS-3035.

On March 22, 2017, the J-1 Waiver (Form DS-3035) Application was filed to the Department of State.  We also sent a request to the Indonesian Embassy to issue a No Objection Statement and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client would have been eligible to file a marriage based adjustment of status application but for the waiver.

The Indonesian Embassy eventually issued a No Objection Statement for our client, and sent this letter to the State Department’s Waiver Review Division.  On August 7, 2017, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement. The CIS then issued a receipt and an I-612 approval notice on October 20, 2017.

Once we received the I-612 waiver for our client’s J-1 waiver, our firm prepared and filed I-130 petition and I-485 adjustment of status application on November 8, 2017.  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 through conference calls.  On February 27, 2018, our client was interviewed at the Columbus USCIS Field office in Ohio. Eventually, on March 7, 2018, her green card application was approved.

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CASE: I-140 / National Interest Waiver

CLIENT: Korean

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client contacted us in October 2016 about the possibility of doing a National Interest Waiver self-petition. He is a researcher from South Korea and he is an exceptional researcher and scientist in the field of plant developmental biology research.

Our client’s significant contributions have placed him at the pinnacle of his field. He has pioneered the study of leaf and flower development and provided novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying floral transition from vegetative cells. Specifically, our client characterized bona fide regulators of cell proliferation of aerial lateral organs and floral transition. Because of his innovative experimental research, our client’s research works were highly evaluated by the 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 21-page brief for our client’s NIW filing. Our client also obtained 9 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. His NIW application contained 34 exhibits (Exhibit A to HH).

Our office filed his I-140(NIW) petition to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center on June 1, 2017. Eventually, on March 6, 2018, 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. His adjustment of status application will be approved soon as well.

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CASE: PERM Labor Certification    
EMPLOYER: Children’s Mental Health and Child Welfare Agency
BENEFICIARY: Taiwanese Outpatient Services Clinician
LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client is a comprehensive children’s mental health and child welfare agency which was willing to petition for an Outpatient Services Clinician position for a second-preference petition (I-140).  Our client’s employee has a master’s degree in Social Administration and is currently working for them under H-1B status. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that this employer can petition her as an Outpatient Services Clinician.  Second preference petitions for Taiwanese people are current, which means that if a PERM Labor Certification for a second preference position gets approved, the I-140 and I-485 could be filed simultaneously. Based on our client’s prospective employee’s educational, professional and working backgrounds, our office determined that she is clearly eligible for EB-2 classification for her I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us on November 2, 2016.

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 November 8, 2016, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained determined prevailing wage, our office filed the job order on February 16, 2017.  On July 14, 2017, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on December 4, 2017, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Taiwanese beneficiary. Now our client can file the I-140 petition.

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CASE: EB-3 Green Card Approval Based on Approved I-140 (EB-3)

EMPLOYER: Engineering Company

BENEFICIARY: Taiwanese Radio Frequency Identification Engineer

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client is currently working as a Radio Frequency Identification Engineer (RFID) whose current employer was willing to petition him for a third-preference petition (I-140).  Our client has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in a related field and work experience as well. He has been working for his current employer under an H-1B status. Based on our client’s educational, professional and work background, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for EB-3 classification for his I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us in March 2015.

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 foreign degree evaluation report, our office filed the job order on August 31, 2015.  On November 11, 2015, we promptly filed PERM.

However, on April 14, 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 April 29, 2016.  

Eventually, on June 30, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Taiwanese 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 August 22, 2016 via premium processing service. Eventually, on August 31, 2016, the I-140 EB-3 Petition for our Taiwanese client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

Once the I-140 petition was approved, our client retained our office again for his I-485 adjustment of status application. Our office filed an I-485 adjustment of status application for our client on November 7, 2016. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices and fingerprint appointment came on time.

Eventually, on May 3, 2017, the USCIS Nebraska Service Center approved our client’s adjustment of status application. Now, he finally is a green card holder.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-3)

EMPLOYER: Engineering Company

BENEFICIARY: Taiwanese Radio Frequency Identification Engineer

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client is currently working as a Radio Frequency Identification Engineer (RFID) whose current employer willing to petition him for a third-preference petition (I-140).  Our client has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in a related field and working experience. He has been working for his current employer under H-1B status. Based on our client’s educational, professional and working background, our office determined that he is clearly eligible for EB-3 classification for his I-140 petition.  Our client eventually retained us in March 2015.

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 foreign degree evaluation report, our office filed the job order on August 31, 2015.  On November 11, 2015, we promptly filed PERM.

However, on April 14, 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 April 29, 2016.  

Eventually, on June 30, 2016, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB3 position for the Taiwanese 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 August 22, 2016 via premium processing service. Eventually, on August 31, 2016, the I-140 EB-3 Petition for our Taiwanese client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE). Now, our client can file his I-485 adjustment of status application since his priority date is current.  

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CASE: I-129 (O-1B Petition)

CLIENT: Korean

LOCATION: Columbus, OH

Our client contacted us in May 2016 about the possibility of getting an O-1B visa in the United States. She is a renowned solo / collaborative pianist and is currently working with different performing groups and music establishments.  Our client was first place in several national competitions and had a chance to perform in Carnegie Hall in New York, one of the most prestigious musical venues in the world. She also performed in various distinguished musical groups, orchestras and bands.  Upon review of her credentials and qualifications, our office determined that she was qualified for the O-1B visa petition, alien of extraordinary ability in the Arts.

The regulation at 8 C.F.R. Section 214.2(o)(3)(iv) sets forth a multi-part analysis. First, a petitioner can demonstrate the beneficiary’s recognition in the field through evidence that the alien has been nominated for, or the recipient of, significant national or international awards or prizes in the particular field such as an Academy Award, an Emmy, a Grammy, or a Director’s Guild Award. 8 C.F.R. Section 214.2(o)(3)(iv)(A).

If the petitioner does not submit this evidence, then a petitioner must submit sufficient qualifying evidence that satisfies at least three of the six categories of evidence listed below.

1. Performed and will perform services as a lead or starring participant in productions or events which have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by critical reviews, advertisements, publicity releases, publications, contracts or endorsements
2. Achieved national or international recognition for achievements, as shown by critical reviews or other published materials by or about the beneficiary in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines, or other publications
3. Performed and will perform in a lead, starring, or critical role for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by articles in newspapers, trade journals, publications, or testimonials.
4. A record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes, as shown by such indicators as title, rating or standing in the field, box office receipts, motion picture or television ratings and other occupational achievements reported in trade journals, major newspapers or other publications
5. Received significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies or other recognized experts in the field in which the beneficiary is engaged, with the testimonials clearly indicating the author’s authority, expertise and knowledge of the beneficiary’s achievements
6. A high salary or other substantial remuneration for services in relation to others in the field, as shown by contracts or other reliable evidence.

After the review of our client’s credentials and qualifications, we determined that our client meets 4 of the 6 categories, which is more than 3 required as an alien of extraordinary ability in Arts. She performed and will perform services as a lead or starring participant in productions or events which have a distinguished reputation. She achieved national or international recognition for her achievements, as shown by critical reviews or other published materials by or about the beneficiary in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines, or other publication. She performed and will perform in a critical role for distinguished music groups, musicians, and musical establishment, and she has received significant recognition for her musical, scholarly, and performance achievements from various experts in her field of endeavor.

Our office prepared a 21-page brief for our client’s O-1B filing. Our client also obtained 9 letters of recommendation from experts in her field of endeavor. Our office also included her performance records, awards, media coverage, scholarly achievements, and other materials to show that she is an alien of extraordinary ability in piano performance.  Also, our office contacted the American Guild of Musical Artists and obtained a consultation letter (Advisory Opinion Letter) for her case. Lastly, we included her contracts with various employers and itineraries.

Our office filed her I-129 (O-1B) petition to the USCIS California Service Center on June 29, 2016 via regular processing. In August, our client decided to upgrade her case to premium processing, so our office filed premium processing request to USCIS on August 9, 2016.  Eventually, on August 19, 2016, the USCIS California Service Center approved the I-129 petition for our client’s O-1B visa.

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