Immigration practice is complex, and the immigration laws themselves are extremely intricate and undergo changes on a daily basis. USCIS keeps us on our toes by constantly changing the forms, not to mention the filing locations, and processes. Despite the Paperwork Reduction Act, even the most basic forms are now multiple pages, leaving more room for error. Our first session will discuss not only problem forms but the use of narrative to provide a framework to make challenging concepts more readily understood to the reviewing officer. The key to a successful petition is effectively communicating complex facts, the theory of the case, and legal eligibility. The question for us then is what can we do to make it clearer – to make the most successful points stand out?
The second panel will discuss the conflicts between and among agency interpretations, as well as those questions to which no agency seems to have an answer. The panel will focus on those age old questions as well as new ones.
Some areas of discussion may include:
• Blanket Ls: CBP vs. DOS vs. USCIS
• Employment Authorization for spouses of Hs, Ls and Es: USCIS vs. CBP vs. Verification vs. SSA
• LCAs & SOC O*NET/ETA Form-9089 & I-140: USCIS vs. DOL including 3 year foreign degrees and
degree equivalencies
• Last Action Rule/H-1B Portability: USCIS vs. CBP vs. Verification
Lawyers have a 4% to 17% chance of being sued for malpractice. Even if the suit is frivolous, and even if you carry malpractice insurance, defending yourself against such allegations can be disruptive to your practice and law office. Learn how to avoid such lawsuits, and become aware of new problem areas in EB5 and cyber liability when moving your information to the cloud.
Further, Government agencies have vast amounts of information available, ranging from client bankruptcy and voter registration records to criminal records and Internet activity. Our panel will help practitioners work with clients to identify and obtain problematic information and resolve issues proactively with strategies on how to deal with derogatory information that arises during the course of representation and also familiarize attorneys with the data mining capabilities of the government.
Lastly, after 10 years in place, the ever-evolving PERM process can trip up even an experienced practitioner from time to time. The panelists in this session will review the PERM process from beginning to end, focusing on quirks of the process.
Each year this conference explores in-depth areas of immigration practice that have undergone critical changes.
Preliminary Program Agenda: |
9:00 |
Form Over Substance – A Roundtable on the Ever Changing USICS Forms -
Drafting a Successful Petition the First Time |
10:30 |
Break |
10:45 |
Interagency Challenges – Ever Changing Employment Issues |
12:15 |
Luncheon with featured speaker - Risk Management for your Practice |
1:45 |
Who’s Watching? – What the Government Knows About Your Client |
3:30 |
Happy Anniversary! 10 Years Later the PERM Process Can Still Surprise |
5:00 |
Adjourn |
NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 7.9 hours of total CLE credit.
Credits |
NJ CLE: This program has been approved for 7.9 credits (50 minute hour) |
PA CLE: 6.5 substantive credits pending ($28 fee – separate check payable to NJICLE must be submitted at the end of the program) |
NY CLE (n/t): 8.0 professional practice credits |
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Door Registration: $240