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MSM PERMANENT RESIDENCY PROVISIONAL INSTITUTIONAL POLICY
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Permanent Residency Applications Sponsored by Morehouse School of Medicine Morehouse School of Medicine will sponsor employment-based immigrant petitions only at the request of the employing department, and only for individuals appointed to full-time faculty (Series I and II), academic non-faculty at Research Associate classification or higher, or non-academic professional positions of a permanent nature and requiring an advanced degree or its equivalent. Appointment to a faculty or permanent professional position requiring an advanced degree or its equivalent at Morehouse School of Medicine is an indication that the individual's skills are essential to the function of the institution and reflects an institutional intention to employ the individual indefinitely, and that the position is not time-limited by grants or other funding. The OIPS will file the following employment-based immigrant petitions (see below): Employment-based First Preference Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, Employment-based First Preference Outstanding Researchers/Professors, and Employment-based Second Preference Advanced Degree Professionals with Labor Certification under Reduction in Recruitment or Special Handling provisions. The OIPS manager is responsible for determining whether an individual may be sponsored by Morehouse School of Medicine under these guidelines, and if so under which category. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the appropriate dean or director. Exceptional cases must demonstrate unusual or extraordinary circumstances to warrant sponsorship. Filing fees are the responsibility of either the sponsoring department or the beneficiary, as determined between them (note that filing fees are considered business expenses and, if paid by the beneficiary, their subtraction from the wage cannot bring the beneficiary’s salary below prevailing wage rate for that position). Alternatives for Individuals Who Cannot be Sponsored under the MSM Policy For certain categories of immigrant petitions, individuals do not need employer sponsorship. The petitions may be approved based upon the individual petitioner’s qualifications and accomplishments. The petitioners must establish that they have made significant contributions to the field of specialization, are easily employed in the field, and/or their contributions to the field in the U.S. will be of significant benefit to the nation as a whole. Individuals who wish to "self-petition" in an immigrant category that does not require a full-time, permanent offer of employment are strongly encouraged to seek the services of a professional attorney who is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law. Use of Outside Attorneys Since employment-based immigrant petitions require Morehouse School of Medicine to act as petitioner, OIPS has been designated as the office with exclusive authority in filing these petitions; individuals or departments are not normally allowed to use an outside attorney for employment-based petitions. OIPS does recognize, however, that under unusual or extraordinary circumstances an outside attorney may be required to file an employment-based immigrant petition on behalf of Morehouse School of Medicine. OIPS will determine whether a particular case warrants use of an outside attorney. Unusual or extraordinary circumstances will typically mean a complex case requiring an unusual amount of time to prepare. When an outside attorney is used, OIPS will review and sign the petition and Form G-28 on behalf of the School to ensure compliance with all Morehouse School of Medicine sponsorship guidelines. All fees for such a case are the responsibility of either the employing department or the beneficiary of the immigrant petition, as determined between them (note that legal fees are considered business expenses and, if paid by the beneficiary, their subtraction from the wage cannot bring the beneficiary’s salary below prevailing wage rate for that position). |