Penn Outside Legal Counsel Program
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There is a fee schedule that applies to PR requests and O-1 requests.
In an effort to serve the University more efficiently and effectively, ISSS and the Office of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel (OGC) are introducing a new policy under which outside immigration counsel will be available to process certain employment-based PR and O-1 petitions.
ISSS strives to maintain a level of service that is efficient and is of high quality. ISSS will also continue to provide regular education and training on immigration matters to hiring units. Because the volume of immigration applications has increased in recent years, ISSS and the OGC have concluded that it would be beneficial to provide Penn departments with options for handling certain employment-based PR and O-1 applications.
So that we may continue to meet departmental expectations and maintain excellent quality of service, ISSS and OGC have selected the following firms (in alphabetical order) to provide certain types of immigration services as a complement to the services of ISSS:
Please note: only the above-mentioned firms will be able to represent Penn in certain immigration proceedings, unless determined otherwise by ISSS or OGC.
The retained outside immigration counsel will be able to assist the Penn departments including the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) with the following types of immigration cases:
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PR applications which are not processed by ISSS staff or cannot be processed by ISSS staff due to time constraints or unusual circumstances
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O-1 Person of Extraordinary Ability petitions
ISSS will continue to process permanent residency applications for teaching faculty members.
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In addition, ISSS will be your first stop for any PR and O-1 requests that will be filed on behalf of Penn. This includes those cases handled by outside immigration counsel in an effort to maintain the quality and accuracy of applications.
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Since ISSS has expertise in immigration and related institutional matters, ISSS will screen the applications prepared by the authorized outside immigration counsel to make sure that each application accurately represents the University.
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Please note that only ISSS is authorized to sign any immigration-related applications representing the University.
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Applications and Petitions |
Fees |
Effective Jan 01, 2025 |
|
Labor Certification Application - Special Handling |
$2050 |
$2440 |
|
Labor Certification Application – Reselection Special Handling |
$2800 |
$3350 |
|
Labor Certification Application |
$3200 |
$3900 |
|
I-140 Immigration Petition (without Certified Labor Certification)
|
$7000 |
$8400 |
|
I-140 Immigrant Petition based on Certified Labor Certification |
$2150 |
$2600 |
|
I-485 Adjustment of Status (Fee includes a prep call for the interview)
|
$2200 $1200 for spouse $800 per child $750 to attend interview (in Philadelphia) |
$2600 $1440 for spouse $985 per child |
|
O-1 Petition |
$7000 |
$8400 |
|
O-1 Extension |
$3200 |
$3850 |
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Substantive Request for Evidence (RFE) (non-substantive RFEs will be handled without charge) |
$1500 (In cases of substantial RFEs, fees may be higher and will be discussed prior to being retained) |
$2200 |
Notes:
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100% payment of legal fees prior to commencement of work
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Fees may be quoted higher in individual cases which present unusual issues or difficulties. This will also apply to RFEs. They will obtain your agreement before proceeding with any matter which would be subject to additional fees.
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Some cases involve more than one type of filing. The law firm will send an invoice to OGC prior to commencing each filing. Upon review of the invoice, OGC will then forward them to the hiring department.
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Government filing fees, administrative costs, and/or recruitment costs are not included in the above flat legal fees.
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Should you decide to change law firms after work has begun, the initially assigned attorney will charge the department for his/her work to date. The charge will be $1,500 or the hourly rate, whichever is lower.
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PR Cases: The hiring department will continue to be responsible for paying the legal fees and any costs associated with the Labor Certification Application and the I-140 Immigrant Petition. The department may pass the fees associated with I-140s (not the fees associated with Labor Certifications per federal regulations) on to the foreign national if there is mutual agreement.
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Such an agreement would still require that the hiring department pay the legal and filing fees first up front and be reimbursed later. The foreign national is responsible for his/her own I-485 or Consular visa related costs unless the department is willing to cover the cost.
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O-1 Cases: It is encouraged that the hiring department pay the legal and filing fees for O-1 petitions. However, in the absence of federal regulations governing O-1 fees, they may be passed on to the foreign national employee if there is mutual agreement prior to commencing the O-1 employment. Such an agreement would still require that the hiring department pay the legal and filing fees first and be reimbursed later. Pursuant to University Policy, only OGC is authorized to engage outside legal counsel for Penn.
In alphabetical order:
|
Law Firm |
Background |
Language Skills |
|---|---|---|
|
Jenkintown Plaza Suite 380 Jenkintown, PA 19046 Phone: 215-885-3600 |
For over 25 years, Goldblum & Pollins (formerly Goldblum & Hess) has been devoted exclusively to the practice of employment-based immigration law. Founder Jane Goldblum and members of her exceptional team are consistently recognized by who’s who of corporate immigration lawyers, superlawyers.com, and bestlawyers.com, among others. In 2013 Jane was selected as Best Lawyers® 2013 Lawyer of the Year (Immigration-Philadelphia). Jane, who offers free consultations and guidance to the foreign students and employees of the Firm’s clients, is authorized immigration counsel to over 25 of our nation’s preeminent universities, colleges, research and medical institutions. Importantly, Goldblum & Pollins has an extraordinary team of attorneys and paralegals—including attorney and Partner Karen Pollins, and attorneys Maria Elias and Kristen Dennis—with extensive experience handling the most challenging EB-1A Petitions for the Extraordinary Alien, EB-1B Outstanding Researcher/Professor Petitions, National Interest Waiver Petitions, J-1 Waivers, O-1 Petitions and, of course, Special Recruitment/PERM applications. Goldblum & Pollins is a certified women's business enterprise |
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Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP 1601 Market Street Suite 2600 Phone: 215-825-8600 |
Klasko Immigration Law Partners, formerly Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP is the largest Philadelphia-based immigration firm, with 5 attorneys handling extraordinary, outstanding and national interest exclusively. It is one of 6 top tier immigration firms and "strongest in the country in university, research and medical sectors" (Chambers Global Guide to Lawyers). They represent over 10 hospitals and receive referrals from over 25 universities. Ron Klasko has worked on immigration matters with Penn community for 25 years. |
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Why was the Outside Immigration Counsel Program initiated?
In recent years, the volume of immigration applications that ISSS receives has significantly increased. To maintain excellent quality service and still meet departmental expectations, ISSS and OGC concluded that it would be beneficial to provide Penn departments with options for handling employment-based PR and O-1 applications.
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Who selected the attorneys on the list?
Potential firms were identified and interviewed by representatives from OGC and ISSS. Firms were selected after a thorough review based on several considerations, including their familiarity with higher education institutions, successful past experiences representing universities and/or Penn, foreign language skills of staff/diversity of staff, ability to handle a significant workload, ability to work as a team with members of the Penn community, familiarity with issues frequently occurring in Penn's immigration cases, and responsiveness and accessibility.
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Why must the University, rather than the foreign national, retain the law firm?
In employment-based immigration petitions, the employer is the petitioner. The foreign national is the intended beneficiary. It is the University that is actually filing the petition with the federal government. The University therefore must ensure that its filings are accurate and consistent with internal policies and procedures.
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Can a foreign national prepare and file an employer-sponsored immigrant petition?
No. A foreign national is not authorized to represent Penn legal matters. All employer-sponsored immigration petitions must be prepared and filed by either ISSS or one of the three retained immigration counsel.
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Who is responsible for paying the legal fees?
PR: The hiring department will continue to be responsible for paying the legal fees and any costs associated with the Labor Certification Application and the I-140 Immigrant Petition as they belong to the University. The department might pass the fees associated with I-140s (not the fees associated with Labor Certifications per federal regulations) on to the foreign national if there is mutual agreement. Such an agreement would still require the hiring department to pay the legal and filing fees first and be reimbursed later. The foreign national is responsible for his/her own I-485 or Consular visa related costs unless the department is willing to cover the cost. The payment arrangements made between the employing unit and foreign nationals for petitions filed before August 15, 2008 are still valid.
O-1: Since the petition belongs to the employer, it is encouraged that the hiring department would pay for the legal and filing fees for O-1 petitions. However, in the absence of federal regulations governing the O-1 fees, the fees may be passed onto the foreign national employee if there is mutual agreement prior to commencing the O-1 employment. Such an agreement would still require the hiring department to pay the legal and filing fees first and be reimbursed later.
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Could the foreign national's salary be reduced to cover the legal fees and costs?
No. The University may not require the foreign national employee to assume or share in the costs associated with preparing and filing employer-sponsored immigration petitions for several reasons. First, when an employer files permanent resident petition it assumes certain obligations including the payment of a certain wage. Federal regulations strictly prohibit the University from deducting from a foreign national's salary its business expenses (including legal fees or costs) associated with filing the petition. Second, legal fees and costs associated with the immigration petitions are a normal and routine part of the recruitment and retention process, just like relocation reimbursement, assistance in finding employment for traveling partners, or costs associated with starting a lab/research program/office. Finally, it is important for the University to establish the primary attorney-client relationship by assuming full responsibility for the legal fees and costs. The department must bear the legal and costs and may not be reimbursed.
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Can the department reduce the amount of research, professional development, or other support funds to cover the legal fees and costs?
No. You cannot treat foreign nationals less favorably than similarly situated US citizens or permanent residents. Foreign nationals are entitled to the same benefits and conditions of employment that the University provides to their colleagues employed in the same or similar capacities. It is inappropriate to deduct the employer's costs associated with its immigration petition from funds that the employee is otherwise entitled to receive or is normally given. Reduction of benefits or negatively altering working conditions can lead to allegations of discriminatory or unfair treatment.
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How will the department be notified of legal fees and invoices?
OGC will review outside immigration counsel's invoices and forward them to the hiring unit. The hiring departments are required to pay the attorney fees within 30 days from the date of notice from OGC.
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Who should the department contact if it has concerns about or experiences problems with an attorney?
If you have questions or concerns with the immigration process (i.e., legal requirements, processing times, etc.), contact Rudie Altamirano, ISSS Director at 215-573-6332.
If you have questions or concerns with the quality of legal services or billing, contact Sean Burke, Associate General Counsel in OGC or call 215-746-5254 or 215-746-5200.
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If I have general questions about immigration law, can I call any of the attorneys on the retained immigration counsel list?
No. General immigration questions should be directed first to ISSS at 215-898-4661. You should only contact an attorney on the retained immigration counsel list about a specific matter they have been retained to handle for you. You may contact an attorney on the retained outside immigration counsel list to ask questions about their services (i.e., his or her experience handling similar cases, the amount of time it typically takes him or her to complete this type of case, the firm's language skills, etc.).
