Petition Document Requirements:
The petition (Form I-129) should be filed by the U.S. employer with:

• A certified labor condition application from the U.S. Department of Labor;
• Copies of evidence establishing that the alien is nationally or internationally recognized in the field of fashion modeling. The evidence must include at least two of the following types of documentation which show that the person:
  • Has achieved national or international recognition in his or her field as evidenced by major newspaper, trade journals, magazines or other published material;
  • Has performed and will perform services as fashion model for employers with a distinguished reputation;
  • Has received recognition for significant achievements from organizations, critics, fashion houses, modeling agencies or other recognized experts in the field; and
  • Commands a high salary or other substantial remuneration for services, as shown by contracts or other reliable evidence.
• Copies of evidence establishing that the services to be performed require a fashion model of distinguished merit and ability and either:
  • Involve an event or production which has a distinguished reputation; or
  • The services are as participant for an organization or establishment that has a distinguished reputation or record of employing persons of distinguished merit and ability.

GREEN CARD/PERMANENT RESIDENCE

Green Card
A Green Card is a Permanent Visa to the Unites States. A Green Card gives an individual the status of a permanent resident and the legal rights to work in the U.S. Once an individual had obtained a Green Card, he/she may apply for American citizenship.

Benefits of Being a Green Card Holder
A Green Card gives a person a permanent U.S. resident status, which allows him/her freedom to leave and return to the U.S., to seek employment, to study according to his or her wishes. Also, it provides the same rights as an American citizen, while allowing the individual to retain citizenship in his/her native country. With a permanent resident status (Green Card), a person could expand his/her business in America without any problems.

Different Methods for Obtaining a Green Card
There are certain conditions and categories applied by INS for green card, important ones are discussed here. For more information please contact the attorneys at Smith & Garg LLC. There are 5 main ways an individual can obtain permanent residency or a Green Card:

• Sponsorship by an Employer
• Sponsorship by a Family Member in the United States
• The Diversity Visa Lottery Program
• Asylum & Refugee Status
• Investment

EMPLOYER BASED GREEN CARD

An employer can sponsor his employee's Green Card. It is a multi step process, which involves certain document work confined by few rules and regulations. There are few categories for granting permanent residence to the foreign nationals, based on employment skills. The categories are:
EB1, EB2, EB3, EB4, EB5.
Most of the technical workers fall under first 3 categories.

1. EB1: People with extraordinary ability in the science, arts, education, business or athletics, professors, researchers and Ph.D. holders etc. fall under this category. It also includes people working here as managers and executives on international transfer basis (Company transfer L1 holder)
2. EB2: This includes people with extra ability in the field of science, arts or business, and advanced degree professionals (PG. degree holder).
3. EB3: This includes professionals with Bachelor/ Graduate degree, and other skilled workers.

The employment based green card is a 4 step process:

1. Labor Certification Process: must be filed by employer to DOL (Department of Labor)
2. Petition for Immigration, I-140 must be filed by employer
3. Form I-485 Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing:
   
   File I-485 and other supporting documents with INS, for yourself and family within USA. At this time you can also file for EAD (Employment Authorization Document) and AP (Advance Parol or Travel Document) , once you file for I-485, you will be required to do fingerprinting.
   
   In this case Step 2 and 3 can go parallel, known as concurrent filing, however I-485 can't be approved without approval of I-140.
   
   OR
   
   Take consular processing Interview at a US consulate in your Home Country.
4. Get the stamping in your passport and receive the Plastic Card

Call Smith and Garg today at 281.210.0010 or complete our Contact Form and let us assist you with your immigration needs.