Seminar Outline

Speaker bios

Testimonials

REGISTER NOW!

Each call features an hour of analysis, strategy and practice tips, followed by 30 minutes of questions and answers from participants.

SEMINAR OUTLINE

FIRST Phone Session on August 13: Intricacies of the F, J, and M Student Classifications

• Overview of F, J, and M student classifications - maintenance of status, changes in program (extension, transfer, change of level, etc.), and reinstatement
• Players and roles (ICE/SEVP, USCIS, DOS, attorneys, Designated School Officials, and Responsible Officers)
• Institutional responsibilities
• What you need to know about SEVIS and SEVIS reporting (an overview and update)
• The two-year home residence requirement for some Js
• Dissecting "duration of status" and overstay/unlawful presence issues for Fs, Js, and Ms
• Effect of lawful permanent residency process on status and eligibility for benefits

SECOND Phone Session on September 10: F, J, and M Student Employment

• F-1 employment-processes and parameters
• Employment based on severe economic hardship, employment with an international organization, and special student relief
• On-campus employment
• Curricular practical training, including institutional policies and practices
• Optional practical training (When is it available, and what is a "higher level" of study?, Appropriate employment, STEM extension of optional practical training, "Cap-gap" extension of status and work authorization, Requirements of employers, DSOs, and students, pitfalls (such as unemployment), and unresolved issues and anticipated developments)
• J-1 employment-processes and parameters
• Employment based on unforeseen economic circumstances and special student relief
• On-campus employment
• Academic training, including special issues concerning post-doctoral employment
• M-1 employment-processes and parameters
• General prohibition
• Post-completion practical training

THIRD Phone Session on October 15: F, J, and M Student Visa and Status Acquisition and Travel

• Restrictions on study for Bs and F-2s, and study as a secondary activity for those in non- student classifications
• SEVIS, travel, visa acquisition, and change of status, including recent developments concerning SEVIS fee payments
• Change of status to/from F, M, or J
• Process, documents, and strategy/timing issues
• Grace periods and change of status
• Two year home residence requirement and change of status
• Travel, the necessary documents and "authorizations"
• Visa acquisition
• Timing, documents, plans, and overcoming INA 214(b)
• Recent DOS cables, adjudications, and indications from consular officials
• Security checks and delays
• Third-country-national visa processing in Canada and Mexico (including INA 222(g))
• Optional practical training, travel, and visa acquisition
• Travel while awaiting the employment authorization document
• Travel while engaged in OPT, including employment requirement
• Travel during cap-gap extension and STEM extension
• Travel while engaged in OPT with an approved future change of status to H-1B
• Travel to re-establish status (as an alternative to reinstatement)
• Travel and "automatic extension of visa validity"

Citations for Session 1        Citations for Session 2        Citations for Session 3       

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Steve Springer (Discussion Leader) is an immigration attorney with David Ware and Associates. He earned his law degree in 1986, and represents clients in immigration matters throughout the U.S. After working for several years as a litigator, he earned a graduate degree in cultural studies, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Poland, for nearly a decade managed immigration services for several major research universities, and managed his own immigration law practice. He has held a variety of NAFSA (International Educators Association) and serves on the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Students and Scholars Committee. He is a frequent speaker at the meetings of professional associations including NAFSA, AILA, the College and University Personnel Association, and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

Jenny Bowen has worked at the Office of International Services at Indiana University since September 1996. She earned her Bachelor’s (Germanic Studies, Political Science) and Master’s (West European Studies) degrees at Indiana University. Jenny is active in NAFSA: Association of International Educators, serving in various regional and national roles. She’s currently the chair of the International Student Subcommittee and a member of the International Student and Scholar Regulatory Practice Committee.

Parker Emerson is the Associate Director of the Yale Office of International Students and Scholars. There he oversees the employment based visa processes (temporary and permanent) and services to international scholars. Prior to joining Yale Mr. Emerson was a leading member of the Harvard International Office for almost 20 years working with all non-immigrant visas and developing programs to support an international population of over 6,000 international students and scholars. Mr. Emerson has also been an adjunct faculty member of Lesley University, teaching in the masters degree program on Intercultural Relations. He has worked with NAFSA: Association of International Educators for over two decades, serving on leadership teams and earning awards for his contributions to the field. In addition Mr. Emerson has conducted trainings and presentations for professional associations including AACRAO, AILA, ICC, NPA and the SRA. Since chairing the State Department sponsored Country Culture Workshop on Cuba, Mr. Emerson has remained an active member in student and faculty exchanges between the US and Cuba.

Liz Goss is partner in Tocci, Goss and Lee, PC. She specializes in the representation of physicians, researchers, trainees, and students in the higher education, healthcare and the biopharma/biotech fields securing their temporary and permanent visas. She is nationally recognized for his expertise in representing professors, scientists, and artists under the extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher, and national interest waiver immigrant visa categories. She also has extensive experience representing multinational corporations and entrepreneurial ventures in a wide array of immigration matters. Ms. Goss is an immigration practitioner with in-depth experience providing strategic immigration advice on a variety of complex business related issues. Ms. Goss is actively involved in the field of Human Rights having worked with the Prosecutor’s office, the International Criminal Tribunal in Rwanda. Ms. Goss is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Association of International Educators (NAFSA). She has provided her expertise at immigration seminars and lectures as a guest of NAFSA; the American Immigration Lawyers Association; ILW.COM and the Massachusetts Bar Association (MCLE). She is a former chapter editor of the NAFSA Advisor’s Manuel as well as a contributor to a number of AILA and MCLE publications.

Elizabeth James concentrates her practice in the areas of business visas and employment-based immigration for universities and multi-national corporations. She works with employers to obtain temporary and permanent work visas on behalf of graduates, new hires, and transferring employees. Ms. James also advises companies on employee documentation requirements and I-9 compliance issues. Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Ms. James was an international student and scholar advisor at several large universities, specializing in F-1 and J-1 visa issues, including compliance with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Ms. James is an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and has served as a trainer and presenter at the regional and national level on regulatory issues impacting international education.

Craig Peterson is an immigration attorney in Dorsey & Whitney, LLP. Mr. Peterson focuses on business-related immigration matters, including both immigrant and non-immigrant filings. He routinely prepares H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, P and other nonimmigrant visa applications. Mr. Peterson also frequently assists employers in retaining valuable foreign talent through permanent labor certification, immigrant petitions and adjustment of status on behalf of foreign workers. He works with all types of employers. Prior to joining Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Mr. Peterson worked with a major research university on immigration issues affecting the institution, its academic departments and research units, its foreign students, staff and faculty. As a result, his background is particularly well suited to working through thorny immigration issues affecting managers and professionals working with high technology and producing intellectual property.

Greg Simkiss is the Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services at Georgia Tech. He establishes the policies and procedures for the 2,800 F-1 students on the campus and is responsible for other services provided to the F1 students such as tax workshops. He has been advising international students for 9 years and has presented at the state, regional and national levels. He recently finished writing a training workshop for international student advisors at universities, F-1 Intermediate Advising, for NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

FINANCIAL AID POLICY:

50% discount to attorneys working for a non-profit organization
50% discount to any attorney employed by any government agency
50% discount to an attorney that is unemployed

To avail of this discount, please contact webmaster@ilw.com.

REGISTER NOW

Disclaimer: participation in this seminar does not create an attorney-client relationship with the speakers

                         Follow @ilwcom

Share this page   |   Bookmark this page

The leading immigration law publisher - over 50000 pages of free information!
© Copyright 1995- American Immigration LLC, ILW.COM