Employment authorization given when compelling circumstances exist.
We recently filed an application for an EAD based on compelling circumstances for a client with a serious, debilitating medical concern. The applicant was on an H-1B status.
Recently USCIS announced that when a I-485 application is filed the Candidate has to go through the interview process. Is this applicable to the COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES EAD as well?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Is interview required for compelling circumstances EAD?
Video Transcript
No. Not so far. The government has not indicated that they will be requiring an interview before issuing a Compelling Circumstances EAD. That's only confined to the I-485 applications. More
Note: This is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
The regulations enacted by the USCIS on 17 January 2017 have created a new class of employment authorization - "Compelling Circumstances EAD." This is available to those people whose I-140 is approved and priority dates are not yet current.
I have an approved I-140 (Approved in Feb 2022) which is already 6 months past the approval date & my priority date is August 2020. I am currently on H1B visa where I have already completed my 1st 3 years and currently am on the 1st 3 year extension.
My question is :
1.If for any odd reason I lose my job in the US, and I am not able to find another job within the 60 days grace period, what alternatives do I have within the US and find a job (H4 is not an option for me currently) ? Would joining a consultancy be a safe option to stop accruing unlawful presence OR compelling circumstance EAD ?
2. If I decide that going to India is a better option and want to come back after some time to the US, would I be subject to the H1B lottery at any point in future if my 6 years of H1B is exhausted ? What information or documents are needed to assist for returning back to the US ?
1. B-1/B-2 is another option. Please visit the blog entry on this issue. One might consider refraining from joining a consultancy unless they have a specific project.Compelling Circumstances EAD is not that glamorous, the reason being that it takes a long time to process.
2. You can, of course, stay here while it's being processed, and then it's only given for one year, requiring you to extend it annually if you go to India. B-1/B-2 is reasonably a good option; all you need is a copy of your earlier H-1B approval notice, and that should be enough.
FAQs: EB-1C (International Managers and Executives): Eligibility for H-1B managers in the USA
Release Date
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today released policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for initial and renewal applications for employment authorization documents (EADs) in compelling circumstances based on existing regulatory requirements at 8 CFR 204.5(p).
I had applied for the compelling circumstances EAD as i140 beneficiary when I lost my H1 job past July from info. thru these calls and our discussion. I found a new H1 job eventually in the grace period that H1 got approved later in Dec 2020.
Now after long wait, USCIS sent me biometrics appt. letter to go to ASC for fingerprints for this EAD. My question-
In my opinion withdraw your Compelling Circumstances EAD. I think it's both inappropriate and useless for you as far as I can tell. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, July 08, 2021:
FAQ: I-140 Employment Authorization (EAD) in Compelling Circumstances || Criminal Charges in Immigration - Domestic Violence Laws and Risk in Applying for I-485