Immigration Law for Paralegals. by MARIA ISABEL CASABLANCA, ESQ. GLORIA ROA BODIN, ESQ.

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1 Immigration Law for Paralegals by MARIA ISABEL CASABLANCA, ESQ. GLORIA ROA BODIN, ESQ. Carolina Academic Press Durham, North Carolina 2005

2 Copyright 2005 Maria I. Casablanca and Gloria Roa Bodin All Rights Reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Casablanca, Marisa Isabel. Immigration for paralegals : basic immigration law for paralegals, legal assistants, and law office personnel / by Marisa Isabel Casablanca, Gloria Roa Bodin. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN (alk. paper) 1. Emigration and immigration law--united States. 2. Legal assistants--united States. I. Bodin, Gloria Roa. II. Title. KF C dc Carolina Academic Press 700 Kent St. Durham, NC Telephone (919) Fax (919) Printed in the United States of America

3 This book is dedicated to my mother, Berta Muller de Casablanca, who always wanted me to be a writer and to the memory of my father, Carlos Roberto Casablanca, who taught me to respect and be generous with those less fortunate. This book is also dedicated to my siblings, Marta Casablanca and Jose Casablanca, whose faith in me has never waivered and to my fiancé Mauricio Lopez-Aldazabal, Esq., who supported me with encouragement and his brilliant legal mind. Maria I. Casablanca, Esq. This book is dedicated to my father, Clement Roa, and mother, Josefina Roa Morales, who as immigrants nurtured my ambition to achieve the American Dream. I am grateful to my husband, Eric A. Bodin, for his love, support and encouragement. Gloria Roa Bodin, Esq.

5 Contents CHAPTER 1 Meeting with the Client 3 I. Interview Techniques 3 II. Interviewing Tips 3 III. Procedure for Opening a File 4 IV. Procedure for the Tickler System 4 Appendix 5 CHAPTER 2 Visitors For Business (B-1) and Pleasure (B-2) 19 I. Introduction 19 II. General Requirements 19 A. List of Permissible Activities of B-1 (Visitors For Business) 19 B. List of Permissible Activities of B-2 (Visitors For Pleasure) 20 C. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) 20 III. Conditions of Admission 20 A. Consular Process for B1/B2 Visas 21 B. Extensions for B1/B2 Visas 21 Appendix 21 CHAPTER 3 Temporary Visas for Working 31 I. Introduction 31 II. The H Visa- Temporary Worker 31 A. The H1-B Visa Specialty Occupation-Professional Visa and Fashion Models 31 B. The H2A Visa Agricultural Worker 32 C. The H-2B Visa Unskilled Foreign Worker 32 D. The H-3- Trainee Visa 32 E. The TN Status 33 III. The E Visa 33 A. The E-1 Treaty Trader Visas 34 B. The E-2 Investor Visa 34 IV. The L Visa 35 A. The L-1A Visa Intracompany Transferee 35 B. The L1-B Visa Specialized Knowledge Employee 37 C. The J Visa Exchange Trainee 38 Appendix 38 CHAPTER 4 Temporary Visas for Studying 69 I. Introduction 69 II. The F-1 Visa 69 III. The J Visa 70 v

6 vi Contents IV. The M Visa 70 Appendix 71 CHAPTER 5 Temporary Visas for Particular Occupations O, P, Q, and R Visas 79 I. Introduction 79 II. O Visa for Extraordinary Ability Artists/Entertainers, Business People, Scientists, Educators, and Athletes 79 A. The O-1 Science, Education, Business and Athletics 79 B. Artists 79 C. Star in Motion Pictures and Television 79 D. O-2 Support Staff of Artists and Athletes 80 E. Peer Group Consultation 80 F. Self-Employment 81 III. The P Visas 81 A. P-1 Athlete and Athletic Team and Entertainment Group 81 B. P-2 Artist and Entertainer Reciprocal Exchange 81 C. P-3 Artist and Entertainer Integral to Performance 81 D. Peer Group Consultation 82 IV. The Q-1 Visa 83 V. The R-1 Visa 83 Appendix 84 CHAPTER 6 Family Based Residency and Visas 107 I. Introduction 107 II. The Quota System for Residency 107 III. Categories of Family Based Residency 107 A. Immediate Relative Spouses and Minor Children of U.S. Citizens 107 B. First Preference Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens 107 C. Second Preference Family of Lawful Permanent Residents-F2A and F2B 108 D. Third Preference Married Sons or Daughters of U.S. Citizens 108 E. Fourth Preference Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens 108 IV. Processing Residency 108 A. The Petition Process 108 B. Adjustment of Status 109 C. Consular Processing 109 D. Preparing Forms I-864 and I-864(a) Affidavit of Support 110 V. Conditional Residence 110 VI. The K-1 Visa 111 A. Evidence required 111 B. Application for Residency 111 VII. The K-3 Visa 111 A. Evidence Required 112 B. Application for Residency 112 VIII. The V Visa 112 A. Evidence Required 112 B. Application for Residency 112 Appendix 112

7 Contents vii CHAPTER 7 Employment Based and Investor Immigrant Preferences 145 I. Introduction 145 II. First Preference EB-1 Priority Workers 145 A. Extraordinary Ability in the Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics 145 B. Outstanding Professors and Researchers 146 C. International Executives and Managers 146 III. Second Preference EB-2 Professionals with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability 147 IV. Third Preference EB-3 Labor Certification Skilled Workers, Professionals and Other Workers 148 A. Types of Labor Certification 148 B. Recruitment Process 149 C. Department of Labor Process 149 D. Job Description Requirements 150 V. Evidence Required for Categories EB 1, 2, and A. Forms Required 151 B. Documents Required 151 VI. Fourth Preference EB 4 Special Immigrants Religious Worker 151 A. Forms Required 151 B. Documents Required 152 VII. Fifth Preference EB-5 Investors 152 A. Employment Creation Visa 152 B. Summary of Statutory Requirements 152 C. Forms Required 153 D. Documents Required 153 Appendix 153 CHAPTER 8 Claiming Asylum or Protection in the United States 171 I. Legal Standard for Asylum/Refugee Protection 171 A. International Definition of Refugee 171 B. Definition of Persecution 171 C. Well-Founded Fear Test 171 II. Other Relief 172 A. Withholding Standard 172 B. Convention Against Torture (CAT) 172 C. Bars to Eligibility for Asylum 172 D. Bar for Failure to File Within One-Year Of Entry 173 III. Procedure for Filing Asylum Application 174 IV. Required Documents 174 V. Filing Documents with Government Agencies 175 VI. Status of Family Members, Adjustment of Status, Work Authorization, and Travel Permit 176 A. Derivative Status 176 B. Aged Out or Reaching 21 Years of Age after Filing Application 176 C. Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residency 176 D. Obtaining Work Authorization 177 E. Permission to Travel 177 F. Unlawful Presence 177 Appendix 177

8 viii Contents CHAPTER 9 Seeking Relief through Appeals (AAO, IJ and BIA) 195 I. Introduction 195 II. Appeals before the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) 195 III. The Immigration Court 195 IV. The Board of Immigration Appeals 196 Appendix 196 CHAPTER 10 Citizenship in the United States 219 I. Introduction 219 A. Statutory Requirements 219 B. Bars to Naturalization 219 C. Filing for Naturalization 220 Appendix 220 Chapter 11 Dealing with Post 9/11 Issues 223 A. The Effects of the IIRAIRA 233 B. Call-In Registration 233 C. Department of Homeland Security 233 D. U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indication Technology System 234 E. Visa Issuance at U. S. Consular Posts Abroad 234 F. Changes Regarding Student Visas 235 G. Changes Regarding Individuals Who Have Committed Crimes 236 H. Notification Regarding Change of Address 236 Glossary And Acronyms 237 Keywords 243

9 Authors Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without the assistance of certain exemplary individuals. We would like to thank Natalie Sanchez, Ricardo Rocha, Luis F. Negron Cacho, Esq., Rowan Mac Donnell, Walter I. Infante, and Ruben Marquez for their top-notch technical processing. We would also like to thank Marysol Velez and Robert Mogle, Esq. for their excellent proof reading and verification of cited authorities. A special thanks to Professor Dennis Ross for his professional editing and review, as well as Bob Conrow, Acquisitions Editor, and the staff at Carolina Academic Press, for their outstanding support and assistance. ix

Immigration Law for Paralegals

Immigration Law for Paralegals FOURTH EDITION by MARIA ISABEL CASABLANCA, ESQ. GLORIA ROA BODIN, ESQ. Carolina Academic Press Durham, North Carolina Copyright 2015 Maria I. Casablanca and Gloria Roa Bodin