Table of Contents. See also Summary of Contents beginning on page xv.

Table of Contents See also Summary of Contents beginning on page xv. Chapter One Nonimmigrant Visa Overview & Visitor Visas... 1 Gregory J. Eck, Esq., and Valentine A. Brown, Esq. Roadmap... 3 Nonimmigrant Visa Overview... 4 Nonimmigrants v. Immigrants... 4 Factors for Nonimmigrant Intent... 5 Visa Application Process... 5 B-2 Visitor Visas... 8 B-1 Business Visas... 10 B-1 Business Visitor Visas... 10 Business Visitors... 11 Visa Waiver Program... 12 Visa Waiver Countries... 15 Visa Waiver Program Changes... 16 Special Types of B Visas... 16 B-1 in Lieu of H-1B/H-3... 17 B-1 for Academics/Honorarium Payments... 17 B-1 for Members of the Entertainment Profession... 18 B-1 Visitors in Special Circumstances... 18 B-2 Visitors: Special Circumstances... 19 Takeaways... 19 Appendices... 21 Sample Letter to U.S. Consulate or Embassy Regarding Employee Invitation... 23 Sample Letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection... 29 Chapter Two Students and Exchange Visitors... 31 Emily M. Cohen, Esq., and Joan McGinley, M.Ed. F-1 Visa Agenda... 33 Acronyms... 33 F-1 Requirements... 34 Obtaining the I-20... 34 Applying for an F-1 Visa... 35 When to Apply for an F-1 Visa... 35 Documentation Required to Apply for F-1 Visa... 36 xvii

xviii Entry to the U.S... 36 After Entry to the U.S. as F-1... 37 Changing Status to F-1... 37 Maintaining Student Status... 38 Address Reporting... 38 School Transfer... 39 Change of Educational Level... 39 Full-Time Studies... 40 Exceptions to the Full-Course-of-Study Requirement (Reduced Course Load)... 40 F-1 Grace Periods... 41 F-1 Employment Options... 41 On-Campus Employment... 42 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)... 43 Optional Practical Training (OPT)... 44 Application Deadlines Are Critical...45 24-Month STEM OPT Extensions...45 STEM OPT... 46 OPT and Cap Gap Employment... 47 Travel and OPT... 47 Reinstatement... 48 Conditions for Approval of Reinstatement... 49 Reinstatement Pointers... 50 Consequences of a Denial (of a Reinstatement)... 50 Travel to Regain Status... 51 Dependents...52 J-1 Visa Agenda...52 Categories of Exchange Visitor Participation... 53 Categories and Eligibility Requirements for J-1 Exchange Visitors... 53 J-1 College and University Students...54 J-1 Two Year Home Residence Requirement... 55 Fulfilling the Home Residence Requirement...56 Waiver of the Two Year Home Residency Requirement...56 Dependents... 57 J-1 Student Interns... 57 Appendix...59 Student and Exchange Visitor Program Chart... 61 Chapter Three Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA )... 63 Steven J. Larín, Esq. DACA...65 Deferred Action... 66 Background... 66 Eligibility... 67 Filing Process... 69 Evidence in Support of Application... 69 Education Evidence... 70

Renewal... 71 Advance Parole... 71 Delivery of Legal Services... 72 Participation in DACA and Impacts... 72 Success Stories... 73 Quotes... 73 Future of DACA... 74 Appendices... 75 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Toolkit... 77 Instructions for Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals... 111 USCIS Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals... 125 USCIS Form I-765 Worksheet... 133 I-765, Application for Employment Authorization... 135 Chapter Four The E-3, H-1B and TN Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications... 137 Jack Doebley, Esq., and Nicole Simon, Esq. I. E-3 Specialty Occupation (Australian Nationals)... 139 A. Obtaining E-3 Status; Time Limits... 139 B. Numerical Limits on the H-1B Classification... 139 C. E-3D Status for Dependents of the E-3 Employee... 140 II. H-1B Visa Classification for Temporary Workers... 141 A. Position Requirements... 141 B. Employee Requirements... 142 C. Petitioner Requirements... 143 D. The H-1B Petition... 144 1. Form I-129 Main Petition Form... 145 2. The H Classification Supplement... 148 3. The H-1B Data Collection and Filing Fee Exemption Supplement... 148 4. The I-129 Trade Agreement Supplement... 149 E. The Labor Condition Application (LCA)... 150 1. The Employer s Obligations Under the LCA... 151 2. H-1B Dependent Employers and Willful Violators... 154 3. Penalties and Sanctions for LCA Violations... 154 F. Other Obligations of the Petitioner... 155 G. Numerical Limits on the H-1B Classification... 156 H. Time Limits on H-1B Status... 157 I. Portability... 158 J. H-4 Status for Dependents of the H-1B Employee... 159 III. TN NAFTA Professionals... 161 A. Procedures for Canadian Citizens... 161 1. Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker... 161 2. The I-129 Trade Agreement Supplement... 162 B. Procedures for Mexican Citizens... 163 C. Changing or Adding TN Employers... 163 D. Limitations on TN Status... 163 E. TD Status for Dependents of the TN Employee... 164 xix

Chapter Five E-1/E-2/L-1... 165 Section 1 Intra-Company Transferees The L Visa... 167 Joel Pfeffer, Esq. I. L-1 Temporary Non-Immigrant Status... 169 A. Executive... 169 B. Manager... 169 C. Specialized Knowledge... 169 II. Qualifying Ownership... 169 A. Parent Subsidiary... 170 B. Joint Venture... 170 C. Affiliated Companies... 170 III. Filing Procedures and Supporting Documents... 170 IV. Duration, Quota and Spouses... 170 A. Canadian Citizens... 170 B. Other Nationalities... 170 V. Executive or Manager... 170 VI. Specialized Knowledge Guidance...171 A. Special Knowledge...171 B. Advanced Knowledge...171 C. Factors to Be Considered...171 D. Off-Site Employees... 172 VII. Blanket Petitions... 172 VIII. New Office... 172 Appendices... 175 L-1 Intracompany Transferees... 177 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Policy Memorandum 602-0111, L-1B Adjudications Policy... 191 Section 2 E-1 & E-2 Nonimmigrant Visas... 201 Y. Jessica Choi, Esq. E Visas: Basic Requirements... 203 E-1 and E-2 Visas: Qualifying Treaty?... 204 E-1 Treaty Trader... 204 Basic Requirements... 204 Trade... 205 Substantial Trade... 205 Trade Must Be Principally Between U.S. & Treaty Country... 206 Issues & Pointers... 206 E-2 Treaty Investor... 207 Basic Requirements... 207 Active Investment... 207 Substantial... 208 xx

Real and Operating... 208 Marginality... 209 Issues & Pointers... 209 E Visa Applicants... 210 Executives/Supervisors... 210 Essential Skills... 210 E Visa Application Process... 211 Transitioning to Lawful Permanent Resident Status: Issues... 211 Chapter Six Application for Alien Labor Certification PERM... 213 Richard D. Steel, Esq., and Wendy Castor Hess, Esq. I. Sources of Law... 215 A. Immigration and Nationality Act... 215 B. Regulations... 215 C. Case Law... 215 D. Other... 215 II. Employer Is Responsible for Costs... 216 A. Employer s Responsibility... 216 III. Drafting Labor Certifications See Application at Appendix A... 216 A. Job Description... 216 B. Prevailing Wage Request... 217 C. Live-in Worker... 220 D. Layoffs... 220 E. Qualifying Employment: Permanent Full-Time Position/Employee... 220 F. Bona Fide Job Opportunity... 221 G. Tactical Considerations Related to Employer s Minimum Requirements... 221 1. O*Net Limitations... 221 2. Experience Gained on the Job... 221 3. Establishing Business Necessity... 222 4. Preference Category... 223 5. The Foreign National s Qualifications The Importance of Section K... 223 IV. Recruitment... 224 A. Mandatory Recruitment... 224 B. Additional Recruitment for Professional Cases... 226 C. Results of Recruiting Applicant Review, Timing and Filing... 227 D. Special Recruitment/Handling for Faculty Members and Other Teachers at Institutions of Higher Education... 229 E. PERM Filing Procedure and Document Retention Requirements... 230 V. Determinations... 231 A. Approval... 231 B. Audit... 231 C. Denial... 232 D. Validity... 232 VI. Schedule A Labor Certifications... 232 A. Schedule A... 232 B. Physical Therapists... 233 C. Registered Nurses... 233 xxi

Appendices...235 Application for Permanent Employment Certification ETA Form 9089... 237 O*NET OnLine Job Zones...253 Foreign Labor Certification Data Center SVP Information... 257 Employment and Training Administration Prevailing Wage Determination Policy Guidance Nonagricultural Immigration Programs... 259 Application for Prevailing Wage Determination ETA Form 9141... 295 Office of Foreign Labor Certification Memo to Attorneys... 299 Chapter Seven O-1/EB-1/NIW... 303 Section 1 EB-1A, EB-1B, NIW, O-1A... 305 Brian H. Getson, Esq. I. Introduction Employment-Based Permanent Residence While Avoiding PERM Labor Certification... 307 II. III. Evaluating and Processing EB-1A, EB-1B, and NIW Petitions: Kazarian and Preponderance of the Evidence... 307 A. Kazarian and the Two-Step Approach... 307 B. Preponderance of the Evidence... 308 EB-1A Foreign Nationals With Extraordinary Ability in the Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics... 308 A. EB-1A Evidentiary Burden... 309 1. Receipt of Major, Internationally Recognized Award... 309 2. EB-1A Evidence Categories... 309 B. Final Merits Determination... 310 C. O-1 Nonimmigrant Visa for Foreign Nationals with Extraordinary Ability in the Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics... 310 D. EB-1A vs. O-1A... 313 IV. EB-1B Foreign Nationals Who Are Outstanding Researchers and Professors... 314 A. International Recognition as an Outstanding Professor or Researcher in a Specific Academic Field Evidence Categories and Final Merits Determination... 314 1. EB-1B Evidence Categories... 315 2. Final Merits Determination... 315 B. Qualifying Employment Offer... 316 C. Three Years of Experience as a Teacher or Researcher... 316 V. National Interest Waiver... 317 A. The New York State Department of Transportation Three-Part Test... 317 1. Employment in an Area of Substantial Intrinsic Merit... 317 2. Foreign National s Benefit Will Be National in Scope... 318 3. Requiring a PERM Labor Certification Would Adversely Affect the National Interest... 318 VI. Premium Processing... 319 VII. Post-Filing Issues... 319 A. When to File for a Green Card... 319 B. EB-1B Post-Filing Job Change... 320 xxii

Section 2 O/EB-1/NIW/Exceptional Ability Extraordinary, Outstanding, or Merely Exceptional... 321 Elise A. Fialkowski, Esq., and Brian H. Getson, Esq. O-1 Visa: Individuals With Extraordinary Ability or Achievement... 324 Extraordinary Ability (O-1) Visas...325 Criteria O-1A...325 Criteria for O-1B... 326 O-1 Alien of Extraordinary Ability... 327 O-1... 328 The What and Why of EA/OR/NIW... 328 The Preference Categories... 329 Permanent Residency Quotas, Where Are We Now?... 329 How Do You Get to Be EB-1?... 330 EB-1 Outstanding Professor or Researcher... 331 What Is This EB-2?... 332 EB-2-NIW... 332 Today s Focus... 333 USCIS Top 10 for an RFE... 334 Best Practices to Avoid RFEs...335 Appendices... 337 Extraordinary, Outstanding and National Interest Foreign Nationals... 339 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Policy Memorandum... 345 Buletini v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 860 F. Supp. 1222, E.D. Mich. S. 1994 U.S. Dist. Lexis 12259... 369 Kazarian v. US Citizenship and Immigration Services, 596 F.3d 1115, 9th Cir. 2010 U.S. App. Lexis 4648... 381 Chapter Eight Family Immigration... 387 Sondra Miller-Wein, Esq., and Brennan J. Gian-Grasso, Esq. Immediate Relatives and the Preference System... 389 Consular Processing Adjustment of Status Stateside Waivers... 390 Adoption Post-Hague... 390 Stateside Waivers I-601A... 391 Requirements for Stateside Waiver... 392 The Fiancé(e) K-1 Visa Hybrid... 392 Marriage Cases... 393 Special Issues 245i, VWP... 393 Documents for Marriage-Based I-130 Petitions... 394 Bona Fides... 394 I-485 Documentation... 395 Conditional Residence... 395 Changes... 396 xxiii

Chapter Nine Ethics... 397 Prof. Fernando Chang-Muy xxiv I. Hypotheticals... 399 II. Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct... 403 Chapter Ten A Brief Primer on Admissibility and Deportability... 405 Jonah Eaton, Esq., and Katelyn M. Hufe, Esq. I. Admissibility... 408 II. Grounds of Deportability... 410 III. Removal Proceedings... 412 Chapter Eleven Asylum and Other Related Humanitarian Relief... 413 Submitted by Ayodele Gansallo, Esq. Key Terms and Acronyms... 415 Chapter Objectives... 415 I. Overview and Sources of Law for Asylum... 416 A. Sources of Law... 416 B. Definitions... 417 1. Persecution... 418 2. Agents of Persecution... 421 3. Past Persecution... 421 4. Well-Founded Fear of Future Persecution... 423 C. The Enumerated Grounds... 424 1. Race... 425 2. Religion... 425 3. Nationality... 426 4. Membership in a Particular Social Group... 426 5. Political Opinion... 429 D. Standard of Proof and Credibility... 430 E. Bars to Asylum Eligibility... 431 1. One-Year Deadline... 432 2. Persecutors... 433 3. Convicted of an Aggravated Felony or Particularly Serious Crime... 434 4. Firm Resettlement... 434 5. Safe Third Country... 435 6. Terrorism and Danger to U.S. Security... 436 7. Multiple Asylum Applications... 436 F. Denial, Revocation, or Termination of Asylum... 436 II. Asylum Procedure... 437 A. Building the Asylum Case... 437 B. Compiling the Affirmative Asylum Request... 450 C. Defensive Asylum Claims... 455 D. Frivolous Asylum Applications... 460 E. Asylum Applicants and Employment Authorization... 462

III. Credible and Reasonable Fear Interviews... 463 IV. Benefits of Asylum Grant... 464 V. Withholding of Removal... 465 VI. Convention Against Torture... 466 Appendix... 469 Representing Asylum Seekers... 471 Chapter Twelve Defensive Applications in Immigration Court... 495 Elaine Y. Cheung, Esq., and Anna Paciorek, Esq. I. Defensive Applications for LPRs...497 II. Defensive Applications for Non-LPRs...497 III. Intake Questions to Formulate Defenses to Removal Proceedings... 498 A. Basic Biographic Information... 498 B. Marital Status... 498 C. How Many Children Do You Have in the World?... 498 D. Do You Have Any Current Immigration Status?... 498 E. If No Status, How Many Times Have You Entered or Attempted to Enter the United States?... 498 F. Have You Ever Been Arrested?... 499 G. Have You Been the Victim of a Crime in the U.S.... 499 H. Has Anyone Filed a Visa Petition or Labor Certification on Your Behalf?... 499 I. Do You Fear Return to Your Home Country?... 499 J. If Entered the U.S. as a Minor and Currently Under Age 18... 499 Chapter Thirteen Crimmigration: The Impact of Criminal Activity on Immigration Status... 501 Wayne Sachs, Esq., and Rosina C. Stambaugh, Esq. I. Immigration Conviction... 503 A. What Is It for Immigration Purposes?... 503 B. Effects on Status... 503 II. Advisals: Padilla v. Kentucky... 503 III. Major Consequences of Convictions... 503 A. Inadmissibility v. Deportability... 503 B. Deportation-INA 237a(2)(A-E): Immigration Prosecutions... 503 C. Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT)... 504 D. Aggravated Felony Offenses... 504 E. No Discretion-Certainty of Deportation... 504 F. Mandatory Detention... 504 IV. Other Effects of Criminal Convictions... 504 A. Limit or Bar Path to Citizenship... 504 B. Restriction on Right to Travel... 504 xxv

Appendix... 505 Crimmigration: The Impact of Criminal Activity on Immigration Status... 507 Chapter Fourteen Administrative & Judicial Review... 517 Christopher M. Casazza, Esq. I. Significant and Recent BIA Decisions... 519 A. Bond... 519 B. Material Support Bar... 519 C. Good Moral Character/Fraud... 519 D. Hearing Procedures... 520 E. Relief... 522 F. Criminal...523 II. Published Third Circuit Decisions Since September 2014... 526 A. Stop-time Rule, Cancellation of Removal, Defective NTA... 526 B. Padilla/Ineffective Assistance... 526 C. Habeas Corpus... 527 D. CIMT, Removal, PA Terrorist Threats... 527 E. CIMT, Stop-Time Rule... 528 F. Conviction w/o Penalty... 529 G. Hypothetical Felony, Expedited Removal of AF... 530 H. Court-Martial, Removal, Conviction... 530 I. Conditional LPR, 212(h) Waiver...532 J. Asylum, Social Group, Domestic Violence...532 K. Asylum, Material Support...533 L. Withholding of Removal, Social Group, One Central Reason... 534 M. Naturalization & Obtaining LPR Status via Fraud... 534 N. Removal, Jurisdiction, NIV Waiver... 535 O. Religious Special Immigrant, Lawful Employment... 535 P. K-4 AOS... 536 III. Significant and Recent SCOTUS Decisions... 536 A. Crime of Violence Analysis... 536 B. Modified Categorical Approach... 538 C. Categorical Approach & Drug Possession/Paraphernalia... 539 xxvi