CASE: Immigrant Visa / I-140 (EB-2 Category) / Schedule A

EMPLOYER: Nursing Care Facility

BENEFICIARY: Filipino Nurse Manager in the Philippines

LOCATION: Manila, Philippines

Our client is in the Philippines. His prospective employer-sponsor was willing to petition him for a second-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140). Since he has a registered nurse license and the proffered position for him was a nurse manager at the nursing care facility, the petitioner wanted to try going for a “Schedule A” classification. They also wanted to do EB2 (requiring at least a Masters degree or Bachelors degree + 5 yrs experience).

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 having to file a Labor Certification with the Department of Labor. 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. We argued that the position of Health Services Manager should be classified under Schedule A. We argued that it falls under the broad spectrum of “professional nurse” occupations. We also argued that the job description has excerpts that fall under “professional nurse” and that the description justifies the requirements also of Bachelor’s degree in nursing and five years of related experiences.

Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and 5 years of experience as a registered nurse. He also has a registered nursing license in the state of Texas. Our office was retained and we started on the Prevailing Wage Determination filing and other related matters.

Once the prevailing wage was determined, we filed the I-140 application on March 6, 2017 via premium processing. We included a 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 the nurse manager position falls under a Schedule A and EB2 designation.

Eventually, on March 21, 2017, the USCIS Texas Service Center approved his EB-2 I-140 petition.

After the approval of the I-140 petition, our client retained us again for his immigrant visa processing. Once we were retained, our office filed the immigrant visa packets to the National Visa Center on May 10, 2017, who in turn forwarded the client’s materials to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. An interview notice was set for the client at the U.S. Embassy in Philippines. On December 18, 2017, our client appeared at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. Eventually, on December 27, 2017, the Immigrant Visa was issued for our client.

With the approved Immigrant Visa, our client can come to the United States immediately, and he will get his green card within two months of entry.

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

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center in Houston, TX

BENEFICIARY: Filipino Registered Nurse in the Philippines

LOCATION: Manila, Philippines

Our client’s beneficiary is a registered nurse from the Philippines licensed in the state of Texas. He came to the United States and currently studies in the United States on his F-1 status.  His current employer was willing to petition him 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 nursing degree and has worked for the sponsor-employer. Our firm told him that his employer can petition him as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on July 24, 2014 and started on his Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on November 7, 2014 via regular processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, and other necessary supporting documents.  Eventually, on June 24, 2015, the I-140 was approved without any RFE.  

Once his priority date became current, our client retained our office again for his immigrant visa processing. After his I-140 was approved, he went back to the Philippines and waited for his priority date becomes current. Once we were retained, our office filed the immigrant visa packets to the National Visa Center on July 31, 2017, who in turn forwarded the client’s materials to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. An interview notice was set for the client at the U.S. Embassy in Philippines. On December 7, 2017, our client appeared at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. Eventually, the Immigrant Visa was issued for our client.

With the approved Immigrant Visa, our client can come to the United States immediately, and he will get his green card within two months of entry.

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

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center

BENEFICIARY: Nepalese

LOCATION: Houston, TX

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

Since she 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 in Schedule A.

Our client has a Bachelor of nursing degree 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 June 15, 2016 and started on her Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on October 20, 2016 via premium processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, and other necessary supporting documents. However, on November 4, 2016, the USCIS issued Request for Evidence and asked our client to submit the copy of her bachelor’s degree certificate. Our office filed the response to USCIS on November 7, 2016.  Eventually, on November 15, 2016, the I-140 was approved.

Then, we proceeded with our client’s I-485 adjustment of status application. We prepared and file our client’s adjustment of status application along with supporting documents to USCIS on December 1, 2016. Eventually, our client’s adjustment application was approved by the USCIS on October 20, 2017 without any Request for Evidence.  After a long wait, our client is finally a green card holder.

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CASE: I-751 / Waiver of the Joint Waiver Requirement

APPLICANT: Filipina

LOCATION: Texas

Our client contacted our office in October of 2015 regarding her potential I-751 filing. She came to the United States as an Immigrant Visa holder from the Philippines and her visa was petitioned by her late US Citizen husband. She got her two-year green card in August 2015. Her conditional residency terminated in August 2017.

Unfortunately, her husband passed. Thus, our client could not file the I-751 application jointly with her late husband. Nevertheless, she has a lot of supporting documents to demonstrate that our client entered into the marriage in good faith, but her marriage was ended in an unfortunate way by her husband’s death.

On July 22, 2016, our office filed the I-751 application with various supporting documents to demonstrate our client’s bona fide marriage with her late-husband.  Eventually, the USCIS approved our client’s I-751 application on October 5, 2017 without any RFE or interview. Now, she has her ten-year green card.

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

EMPLOYER: Nursing Care Facility

BENEFICIARY: Filipina Nurse Manager in Winnipeg Canada

LOCATION: Houston, TX

Our client is a Filipina lady who has worked in Canada and the Philippines as a staff nurse. Her prospective employer-sponsor is willing to petition her for a second-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140). Since she has a registered nurse license and the proffered position for her is a nurse manager at the nursing care facility, the petition wanted to try going for a “Schedule A” classification. They also wanted to do EB2 (requiring at least a Masters degree or Bachelors degree + 5 yrs experience).

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 having to file a Labor Certification with the Department of Labor. 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. We argued that the position of Health Services Manager should be classified under Schedule A. We argued that it falls under the broad spectrum of “professional nurse” occupations. We also argued that the job description has excerpts that fall under “professional nurse” and that the description justifies the requirements also of Bachelor’s degree in nursing and five years of related experiences.

Our client has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and more than 5 years of experience as a staff nurse. She also has a registered nursing license in the state of Texas. Our office was retained and we started on the Prevailing Wage Determination filing and other related matters.

Once the prevailing wage was determined, we filed the I-140 application on September 22, 2017 via premium processing. We included a job offer letter, the notice of filing, employment letter, past experience letter, and other necessary supporting documents. In our cover brief, we included the “ability to pay” argument and why the nurse manager position falls under a Schedule A and EB2 designation.

Eventually, on October 6, 2017, the USCIS Texas Service Center approved her EB-2 I-140 petition. Now, with the approved EB-2 I-140 petition (priority date for EB2 Philippines nationals is current), she can file her immigrant visa application.

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CASE: I-140 (EB-2)    
EMPLOYER:  Hydraulic Unit Manufacturing Company in Texas
BENEFICIARY: Filipino Hydraulic Power Unit Design and Installation Project Manager

Our client’s beneficiary is from the Philippines. Our client (the prospective employer) was willing to do an immigration petition for him, second-preference. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Maritime Transportation and has more than 5 years of work experience as a Hydraulic Equipment Installer / Operator. Our firm concluded that his employer can petition him as a Hydraulic Power Unit Design and Installation Project Manager.

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 12, 2016, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on January 10, 2017.  On May 3, 2017, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on August 11, 2017, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 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 September 6, 2017 via premium processing service. Eventually, on September 21, 2017, the I-140 EB-2 Petition for our Filipino client was approved without any Request for Evidence (RFE).

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

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center

BENEFICIARY: Filipino

LOCATION: Houston, TX

Our client’s beneficiary is a registered nurse from the Philippines licensed in the state of Texas. He came to the United States and currently works in the United States on his H-1B status.  His current 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 in Schedule A.

Our client has a nursing degree and has worked for the sponsor-employer. Our firm told him that his employer can petition him as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on April 10, 2014 and started on his Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on June 25, 2014 via regular processing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, and other necessary supporting documents.  However, on February 26, 2015, the USCIS Texas Service Center issued the Request for Evidence (RFE). According to the RFE, the USCIS requested our client to submit his valid Texas nursing license certificate. Our office filed the Response to RFE with our client’s Texas nursing license certificate on April 1, 2015. Eventually, on April 18, 2015, the I-140 was approved.

Then, we proceeded with our client’s I-485 adjustment of status application. We prepared and file our client’s adjustment of status application along with supporting documents to USCIS on April 27, 2015.

However, the priority date of Eb-3 category for the Philippines national backlogged. Our client had to wait until the priority date becomes current. In March 2017, his priority date becomes current. Eventually, our client’s adjustment application was approved by the USCIS on September 1, 2017.  After a long wait, our client is finally a green card holder.

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CASE: I-484 (Adjustment of Status) I-140 Schedule A / Old Priority Date Retention

EMPLOYER: Nursing / Rehabilitation Center

BENEFICIARY: Filipina

LOCATION: Houston, TX

Our client’s beneficiary is a registered nurse from the Philippines licensed in the state of Texas. She came to the United States in 2013 and now she holds an F-1 student status. Her prospective employer was willing to petition her for a third-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140). Our client also has an approved EB-3 I-140 petition with a priority date of March 2012.

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.

Also, under 8 CFR 204.5(e):

“Retention of section 203(b)(1), (2), or (3) priority date. A petition approved on behalf of an alien under sections 203(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Act accords the alien the priority date of the approved petition for any subsequently filed petition for any classification under sections 203(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Act for which the alien may qualify. In the event that the alien is the beneficiary of multiple petitions under sections 203(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Act, the alien shall be entitled to the earliest priority date. A petition revoked under sections 204(e) or 205 of the Act will not confer a priority date, nor will any priority date be established as a result of a denied petition. A priority date is not transferable to another alien.”

As mentioned above, our client’s approved I-140 petition was not denied, was actually approved, and was never revoked at any point. Thus, by virtue of 8 CFR 204.5(e), this succeeding I-140 Petition by our client’s prospective employer for our client is entitled to the previous priority date.

Our client has a nursing degree and has several years of related experience. Our firm told her that her potential employer can petition her as a Registered Nurse under the schedule A category. Our office was retained on November 17, 2014 and started on her Prevailing Wage Request.

We filed the I-140 application on April 29, 2015 via regular processing. We also concurrently filed her I-485 adjustment of status since EB-3 priority date for our client was current at the time of her I-485 filing. We included the job offer letter, the notice of filing, her previous I-140 approval notice, and other necessary supporting documents. Later, on May 13, 2015, our client upgraded her I-140 processing from regular to premium processing.   

However, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) for our client’s degree evaluation document. Our office filed Response to RFE on May 29, 2015. Eventually, on June 2, 2015, the I-140 was approved and it retained our client’s old priority date.  

Then, we proceeded with our client’s I-485 adjustment of status application. We prepared and file our client’s adjustment of status application along with supporting documents to USCIS on April 28, 2015.

However, the priority date of Eb-3 category for the Philippines national backlogged. Our client had to wait until the priority date becomes current. In March 2017, her priority date becomes current. Eventually, our client’s adjustment application was approved by the USCIS on August 15, 2017.  After a long wait, our client is finally a green card holder.

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CASE: PERM Labor Certification    
EMPLOYER:  Hydraulic Unit Manufacturing Company in Texas
BENEFICIARY: Filipino Hydraulic Power Unit Design and Installation Project Manager

Our client is from the Philippines. His prospective employer was willing to do an immigration petition for him, second-preference. Our client has a Bachelor’s degree in Maritime Transportation and has more than 5 years of work experience as a Hydraulic Equipment Installer / Operator. After talking to our client, our firm concluded that his employer can petition him as a Hydraulic Power Unit Design and Installation Project Manager. Based on our client’s educational, professional and work background, our office determined that he is 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 12, 2016, the prevailing wage request was filed.  After we obtained Prevailing Wage determination, our office filed the job order on January 10, 2017.  On May 3, 2017, we promptly filed PERM.  Eventually, on August 11, 2017, the PERM Labor Certification was approved – an EB2 position for the Filipino beneficiary. Now our client can file the I-140 petition.

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CASE: Immigrant Visa / I-140 (EB-2 Category) / Schedule A

EMPLOYER: Nursing Care Facility

BENEFICIARY: Filipino

LOCATION: Beneficiary: Philippines / Petitioner: Houston, TX

Our client is from the Philippines. His prospective employer-sponsor was willing to petition him for a second-preference employment immigrant visa petition (I-140). Since he has a registered nurse license and the proffered position for him is a nurse manager at the nursing care facility, the petitioner wanted to try going for a “Schedule A” classification. They also wanted to do EB2 (requiring at least a Masters degree or Bachelors degree + 5 yrs experience).

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 having to file a Labor Certification with the Department of Labor. 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. We argued that the position of Health Services Manager should be classified under Schedule A. We argued that it falls under the broad spectrum of “professional nurse” occupations. We also argued that the job description has excerpts that fall under “professional nurse” and that the description justifies the requirements also of Bachelor’s degree in nursing and five years of related experiences.

Our client has a Master’s Degree in Nursing degree. He also has a registered nursing license in the state of Texas. Our office was retained and we started on the Prevailing Wage Determination filing and other related matters.

Once the prevailing wage was determined, we filed the I-140 application on February 26, 2016 via premium processing. We included a 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 the nurse manager position falls under a Schedule A and EB2 designation.

However, on March 10, 2016, the USCIS Texas Service Center issued Request for Evidence (RFE) and requested our client to submit his prospective employer’s most recent tax return record and his degree evaluation report. Our office prepared the response and filed the Response to RFE on March 14, 2016. Eventually, on March 25, 2016, the USCIS Texas Service Center approved his EB-2 I-140 petition.

Once his I-140 was approved, our client retained our office again for his immigrant visa processing. Once we were retained, our office filed the immigrant visa packets to the National Visa Center on May 5, 2016, who in turn forwarded the client’s materials to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. An interview notice was set for the client at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. His interview was scheduled in October 2016 initially; however, due to his health, the interview was re-scheduled. On June 28, 2017, our client appeared at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. The interview went well, and the Embassy approved and issued his immigrant visa.

With the approved Immigrant Visa, our client can come to the United States immediately, and he will get his green card within two months of entry.

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