The Benefits of Obama’s Executive Order for Employment-Based Workers & Entrepreneurs

Amongst the details of President Obama’s executive order to improve the U.S. immigration system, we expect to see improvements affecting employment-based immigrants and entrepreneurs.  These improvements may include:

1. The ability for employment-based immigrants to apply for adjustment of status (“green cards”) before an immigrant visa number is available for them under the annual immigrant visa quota;
2. Increases in the employment authorization periods for STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) graduates;
3. Improvements to the PERM labor certification program for possibly “premium processing” and more modern recruitment methods and media;
4. Employment authorization for H-4 spouses of H-1B holders;
5. Guidance on L-1B specialized knowledge professionals;
6. Guidance on the National Interest Waiver (NIW) program by entrepreneurs, inventors, and innovators;
7. Parole opportunities and work authorization for entrepreneurs and inventors