Special handling

What is Special Handling? Do I qualify?

Special Handling, or Special Recruitment, involves a faster type of labor certification. With special handling, colleges, universities, or institutions of higher education are allowed to sponsor foreign nationals for a specific position as long as they are the “most qualified applicant.” The general requirements for this type of labor certification application involve a competitive recruitment cycle and selection process, requiring advertisement in a professional journal, as well as a position that must involve some degree of “classroom teaching.” The requirements for “classroom teaching” are broad, but supporting documentation such as curriculum design and course materials can even be used for a more administrative position.

This recruitment process usually takes around 1-2 months, PERM processing around 12 months, and then filling out an I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, takes around an average of 6 months to be approved.

There is an 18-month deadline to file your PERM application so you can qualify for special handling. Through special handling, if you miss that window, the individual must go through a new competition selection process, with an advertisement in a national professional journal for at least 30 calendar days.

If you do not think you meet the general requirements for special handling, you can turn to other forms of employment-based immigration: EB-1 and EB-2. Different forms of employment-based immigration may be based on exceptional ability or national interest—though it will likely be a longer process than special handling.