답답한 취업이민 영주권 문호 어떻게 극복할까?

취업이민 영주권 문호 (Cut-Off Date)가 답답한 흐름을 이어가고 있다.

2022년 6월 국무부의 문호 발표 (Visa Bulletin)에서 3순위 비숙련직 (EB-3 Other Workers) 영주권 문호 (Cut-Off Date)가 2019년 5월 8일로 3년 남짓 후퇴한 것을 기점으로 현재까지 (2024년 7월 문호) 취업이민 대부분 순위에서 큰 진전이 없는 상황이다. 2022년 5월까지는 취업이민 모든 순위가 완전 오픈돼 있었다.

영주권 문호상의 비자발급 가능날짜 (Cut-Off Date: Visa Availablity) 보다 앞선 우선일자 (Priority Date)를 가지고 있는 케이스는 영주권신청 (I-485) 또는 이민비자 신청 (DS-260)이 가능하다. 노동청 허가 (Labor Certification: L/C PERM) 절차를 거쳐야 하는 취업이민 (Employment Based) 케이스에서는 이 노동청 허가 신청서 (ETA 9089)를 접수하는 시점이 우선일자 (Priority Date)가 된다.

2024년 7월 영주권 문호에서 석사학위 이상 2순위 (EB-2 Professions Holding Advanced Degrees)는 2023년 3월 15일 이전까지 오픈된 상태다. 즉, 이 날짜 (Cut-Off Date) 보다 하루 이전에 노동청 허가서 (ETA 9089)를 접수해서 최종적으로 승인된 케이스들은 2024년 7월 1일부터 I-485 영주권 신청서 접수가 가능해진다.

취업이민 2순위는 완전 오픈은 아니지만 케이스 진행 흐름엔 실제 큰 문제는 없다고 봐야한다. 취업이민 1단계 노동청 허가 과정 (Labor Certification: L/C PERM)이 일년 이상 소요되는 현실을 감안할 때, 노동청허가서 (PERM ETA 9089)가 승인되는 시점에는 이민문호가 거의 풀려있기 때문에 대부분 곧바로 영주권 신청 I-485를 접수할 수 있는 상황이 되기 때문이다. 만약 노동청 허가 (LC)가 승인된 시점에 문호가 풀려있지 않더라도 I-140 페티션을 먼저 접수해두고 I-485 영주권 신청서는 몇 개월 후 문호가 열렸을 때 접수할 수 있는 상황은 될 정도다. I-140이 수속중 (Pending) 중이더라도 I-485는 문호만 열리면 접수가 가능하다. 

문제는 3순위 숙련직/전문직 (EB-3 Skilled Workers /Professionals), 3순위 비숙련직 (EB-3 Other Workers), 그리고 4순위 종교이민 (EB-4 Religious Workers) 영주권 문호다. 2024년 7월 현재 3순위 숙련직/전문직 (EB-3 Skilled)은 2021년 12월 1일, 3순위 비숙련직 (EB-3 Unskilled)과 4순위 종교이민 (EB-4)은 2021년 2월 1일 이전까지 오픈된 상태다. 산술적으로 계산해도 현 시점에서 3년 이상 기다려야 한다는 계산이 나오지만 실제 이들 카테고리는 매월 문호발표에서 오랜 기간 진전없이 정체된 경우가 다반사다.

2024 회계연도가 시작되는 2023년 10월에 새로운 비자가 할당되면서 완전 오픈 또는 적어도 큰 진전을 기대했지만 우리의 예상과 달리 문호는 거의 진전이 없었다. 새로 할당된 일년치 비자로도 해결이 안될만큼 미국 이민 신청자가 증가했다는 반증이라고 볼 수 있다.

그렇다면 이 문제를 해결할 수 있는 방법은 없을까?

우선, 이제 막 취업이민 케이스를 시작하고자 한다면 가급적 상위 순위로 진행이 가능한지 검토해봐야 한다.
예를 들면, 학사학위 소지자로서 3순위 전문직 (EB-3 Professionals)으로 신청하려는 케이스라면 신청인이 해당 분야에 5년 이상 경력을 갖추고 있는 경우엔 2순위 (EB-2)로 신청이 가능할 수 있다. 취업이민 2순위는 현재 영주권문호상 이민비자 할당량에 여유가 있기 때문에 대기시간 없이 순조롭게 진행할 수 있는 장점이 있다.

다음으로, 이미 진행되고 있는 케이스가 있다면 순위를 높여 케이스를 하나 더 진행하는 방법이 있다.
예를 들면, 3순위 비숙련직 (EB-3 Other Workers)으로 진행하고 있거나 이미 I-140까지 승인을 받아놓고도 영주권 문호의 후퇴로 인해 I-485를 접수하지 못하고 오랜 기간 대기시간이 예상된다면 3순위 숙련직 (EB-3 Skilled Workers)으로 케이스를 하나 더 진행하는 방법이 있다. 부족한 경력 등 자격요건 때문에 낮은 순위, 특히 비숙련직으로 첫 케이스를 진행할 수밖에 없었다면, 첫 케이스가 진행되는 동안 2년 이상 경력이나 학위 취득 등 충분한 자격요건이 갖춰진 경우 새로운 취업이민 케이스를 진행할 수 있다. [자격요건은 노동청 허가서 (ETA 9089) 접수 시점 기준으로 갖춰지면 됨]

물론 1단계 노동청 허가 (Labor Certification: PERM)부터 새로 시작해야 하지만, 처음 진행했던 케이스의 우선일자 (Priority Date: 노동청허가서 접수일)를 인정받아 I-485를 접수할 수 있기 때문에 답답한 영주권 문호를 기다리는 것 보다는 훨씬 빠른 시간에 영주권 신청서 (I-485) 접수기회가 올 수 있다는 장점이 있다. 동일한 회사 (Petitioning Employer)가 아니어도 되고,  동일한 직종이 아니어도 가능하다. (**아래 Retention of Priority Date 규정 참고)

이 경우 두번째 케이스의 노동청 허가 (PERM) 승인을 받은 시점에 영주권 문호상으로 유리한 케이스로 선택해 영주권 신청서 (I-485) 하나를 접수하면 된다. 1단계 노동청허가 (LC)와 2단계 이민 페티션 I-140은 신청자 한명에 대해 동일 회사 또는 다른 회사에서 복수 접수가 가능하며 어떤 케이스든 영주권 신청을 빠르게 할 수 있는 케이스로 선택해 I-485 하나를 접수하면 된다.

특히, 자녀의 나이가 21살에 가까워져 Age-Out 될 위기에 놓인 신청자라면 반드시 고려해볼 방법이라고 할 수 있다.

 

케빈장 법무사

- 스마트이주공사 (Smart Korean Consulting)

 

 

Visa Bulletin	1순위 (EB-1)	2순위 (EB-2)	3순위 숙련 (EB-3 Skilled)	3순위 비숙련 (EB-3 Other)	4순위 종교
2022년 5월	오픈	오픈	오픈	오픈	오픈
6월	오픈	오픈	오픈	2019.05.08	오픈
7월	오픈	오픈	오픈	2019.05.08	오픈
8월	오픈	오픈	오픈	2019.05.08	오픈
9월	오픈	오픈	오픈	2019.05.08	오픈
10월	오픈	오픈	오픈	2020.06.01	오픈
11월	오픈	오픈	오픈	2020.06.01	오픈
12월	오픈	2022.11.01	오픈	2020.06.01	2022.06.22
2023년 1월	오픈	2022.11.01	오픈	2020.06.01	2022.06.22
2월	오픈	2022.11.01	오픈	2020.01.01	2022.06.22
3월	오픈	2022.11.01	오픈	2020.01.01	2022.02.01
4월	오픈	2022.07.01	오픈	2020.01.01	2018.09.01
5월	오픈	2022.02.15	2022.06.01	2020.01.01	2018.09.01
6월	오픈	2022.02.15	2022.06.01	2020.01.01	2018.09.01
7월	오픈	2022.02.15	2022.02.01	2020.01.01	2018.09.01
8월	2023.08.01	2022.04.01	2020.05.01	2020.05.01	2018.09.01
9월	2023.08.01	2022.07.01	2020.05.01	2020.05.01	2018.09.01
10월	오픈	2022.07.08	2021.12.01	2020.08.01	2019.01.01
11월	오픈	2022.07.15	2021.12.01	2020.08.01	2019.01.01
12월	오픈	2022.07.15	2021.12.01	2020.08.01	2019.01.01
2024년 1월	오픈	2022.11.01	2022.08.01	2020.09.01	2019.05.15
2월	오픈	2022.11.15	2022.09.01	2020.09.01	2019.05.15
3월	오픈	2022.11.22	2022.09.08	2020.09.08	2019.12.01
4월	오픈	2023.01.15	2022.11.22	2020.10.08	2020.11.01
5월	오픈	2023.01.15	2022.11.22	2020.10.08	2020.11.01
6월	오픈	2023.01.15	2022.11.22	2020.10.08	2020.11.01
7월	오픈	2023.03.15	2021.12.01	2021.01.01	2021.01.01

 

 

 

[8 CFR 204.5 (e)]

§ 204.5 Petitions for employment-based immigrants.

(a) General. A petition to classify an alien under section 203(b)(1), 203(b)(2), or 203(b)(3) of the Act must be filed on Form I-140, Petition for Immigrant Worker. A petition to classify an alien under section 203(b)(4) (as it relates to special immigrants under section 101(a)(27)(C)) must be filed on kForm I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow, or Special Immigrant. A separate Form I-140 or I-360 must be filed for each beneficiary, accompanied by the applicable fee. A petition is considered properly filed if it is:

(1) Accepted for processing under the provisions of part 103;

(2) Accompanied by any required individual labor certification, application for Schedule A designation, or evidence that the alien's occupation qualifies as a shortage occupation within the Department of Labor's Labor Market Information Pilot Program; and

(3) Accompanied by any other required supporting documentation.

(b) Jurisdiction. Form I-140 or I-360 must be filed in accordance with the instructions on the form.

(c) Filing petition. Any United States employer desiring and intending to employ an alien may file a petition for classification of the alien under section 203(b)(1)(B), 203(b)(1)(C), 203(b)(2), or 203(b)(3) of the Act. An alien, or any person in the alien's behalf, may file a petition for classification under section 203(b)(1)(A) or 203(b)(4) of the Act (as it relates to special immigrants under section 101(a)(27)(C) of the Act).

(d) Priority date. The priority date of any petition filed for classification under section 203(b) of the Act which is accompanied by an individual labor certification from the Department of Labor shall be the date the labor certification application was accepted for processing by any office of the Department of Labor. The priority date of any petition filed for a classification under section 203(b) of the Act which does not require a labor certification from the Department of Labor shall be the date the completed, signed petition (including all initial evidence and the correct fee) is properly filed with USCIS. The priority date of any petition filed for classification under section 203(b) of the Act which is accompanied by an application for Schedule A designation shall be the date the completed, signed petition (including all initial evidence and the correct fee) is properly filed with USCIS. The priority date of an alien who filed for classification as a special immigrant under section 203(b)(4) of the Act prior to October 1, 1991, and who is the beneficiary of an approved petition for special immigrant status after October 1, 1991, shall be the date the alien applied for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status.

(e) Retention of section 203(b)(1), (2), or (3) priority date.

(1) 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 section 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 approved petitions under section 203(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Act, the alien shall be entitled to the earliest priority date.

(2) The priority date of a petition may not be retained under paragraph (e)(1) of this section if at any time USCIS revokes the approval of the petition because of:

(i) Fraud, or a willful misrepresentation of a material fact;

(ii) Revocation by the Department of Labor of the approved permanent labor certification that accompanied the petition;

(iii) Invalidation by USCIS or the Department of State of the permanent labor certification that accompanied the petition; or

(iv) A determination by USCIS that petition approval was based on a material error.

(3) A denied petition will not establish a priority date.

(4) A priority date is not transferable to another alien.

(5) A petition filed under section 204(a)(1)(F) of the Act for an alien shall remain valid with respect to a new employment offer as determined by USCIS under section 204(j) of the Act and 8 CFR 245.25. An alien will continue to be afforded the priority date of such petition, if the requirements of paragraph (e) of this section are met.

(f) Maintaining the priority date of a third or sixth preference petition filed prior to October 1, 1991. Any petition filed before October 1, 1991, and approved on any date, to accord status under section 203(a)(3) or 203(a)(6) of the Act, as in effect before October 1, 1991, shall be deemed a petition approved to accord status under section 203(b)(2) or within the appropriate classification under section 203(b)(3), respectively, of the Act as in effect on or after October 1, 1991, provided that the alien applies for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status within the two years following notification that an immigrant visa is immediately available for his or her use.

 

Smart Korean Consulting

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