Form I-140

The H-1B remainder option: Calculating recapture of H-1B unused time

Question details

I had a quick question for you. I worked in the US from 2009 to 2012 on an H-1B visa, left the US in 2012, then came back on a new H-1B visa to work in the US from 2014 to 2017, and then left the US again in 2017. So overall, I didn’t use 3 years on both my H-1B visas. Recently I came to the US on an H-1B visa in mid-2022 using the unused 3 years on my most recent H-1B visa issued in 2014. This H-1B visa expires in mid-2025.

(a) Do I need to leave the US for one year after mid-2025 to be eligible for a new H-1B visa, or am I eligible to apply for a new H-1B visa after mid-2025?

(b) Is it possible for me to recapture unused 3 years on my previous H-1B visa issued in 2009 after my current H-1B status expires in mid-2025?

(c) Is the only way for me to extend my H-1B visa status in the US after mid-2025 is to file for PERM ETA 9089 (pending over a year) or have an approved I-140?

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

Yes, you need to leave the United States because you have a total of six years. You are using the remainder left on that six years. You should have your ETA 9089 (PERM labor certification) pending for over a year, or have an approved I-140. There is no other way to extend this H-1B.

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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Recording of August 18, 2022 Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna

Immigration.com

Agency

Discussion Topics, Aug 18, 2022

FAQs: Change of employers after H-1B is approved and before October 1; the number of pay stubs required; revocation of H-1B before October 1 || I-140 was approved and then revoked in 2011. Can I keep my priority date and also apply for I-485? What is the deadline for filing I-485? || Impact of alternate wage survey for H-1B LCA; the success rates of H-1B extensions; AC21 rule when the company is bought by a successor-in-interest

Frequently asked questions answered in The Economic Times NRI Helpdesk by Rajiv : What are the risks involved in renewing F1 visa in another country?

Published by: The Economic Times: August 01, 2022

Question: I have been in the U.S since 2017, and my F1 visa expires this month due to the 5 year validity period.

Answer: First of all, unless you are traveling, you do not have to renew your visa. If the visa expires while you're still completing your course, it's absolutely no problem.

Read more by clicking the link below or the pdf attachment.

https://bit.ly/3Q8z7Hx

 

Recording of July 07, 2022, Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)

Nonimmigrant Visas

Immigration Law

Discussion Topics:

FAQs: Experience & education requirements for a PERM/labor certification-based green card || Continuing work or reverting to STEM OPT during H-1B Change of Status || For PERM, can I use my master's degree completed after I joined?

How can we keep the immigration benefits of an approved I-140 (priority date and the right to extend H-1B beyond six years through any employer)?

Question details

Three months after the I-140 approval, I moved from the location of employment given in my PERM application. I will stay with the same company for 180 days after the I-140 approval. To keep all benefits of an approved I-140 after I change employers, what do I have to do? What is the impact of the change of location? Do I have to prove my intention to keep the job permanently? Will the USCIS revoke the I-140 because of the change of location or if I change employers?

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

The moment your I-140 is approved your priority date is yours to keep. It can only be revoked if there is fraud, misrepresentation or some gross error in your paperwork. You can leave this employer and go somewhere else. You will have to start the green card all over again but you keep that date.
On the other hand, if the I-140 stays approved for 180 days without withdrawal or revocation you also have the right to keep extending your H-1B beyond six years with any employer until your priority date becomes current, when you are supposed to have filed the I-485. Your wife also has the right to keep extending her H-4EAD based upon your H-1B extensions. The I-140 upon approval immediately gives you the priority date to keep forever. That priority date can be transferred across visa categories and job categories. Once the I-140 is approved and stays approved for 180 days you have the right to extend your H-1B through any employer beyond six years, even if you left the employer 10 days after filing the I-140. Therefore you don't have to maintain the job for 180 days. Your I-140 must remain unrevoked for 180 days.

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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Denial of downgrade I-140 on the basis of the employer's ability to pay; impact on approved EB-2 and pending I-485?

Question details

My EB-2 I-140 was approved in 2014. Like many others, in 2020, I filed for a downgrade from EB-2 to EB-3 with the same employer. The EB-3 I-140 was denied on Ability to Pay grounds. Now, my EB-2 date is current and I have refiled an I-485. Will there be any impact of the denial on my approved EB-2 I-140 and I-485?

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FAQ Transcript

I would suggest you sit with your lawyers and figure out if there is a possibility of starting another green card with this employer, while this case is still going on. Because, if you are able to preserve your priority date and get another green card approval through PERM and the employer has the ability to pay wages, then it makes more sense to file another green card through this employer or through any other employer.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Interfiling - The downgraded EB-3 I-140 amendment is still pending?

Question details

Hello Rajivji, Following up on the above question: if the downgraded EB3 140 amendment petition is not yet approved, could we then interfile with the previously approved EB2 140? Since the EB3 140 filed as an amendment is not yet approved, is the previously approved EB2 140 still active and valid? If so, can we use it for interfiling? What is the right thing to do? Please advise. Appreciate your guidance!

I see no problem with interfiling as long as the 140 amendment is not approved (it should have been filed as a "new petition"). You need your lawyers' review and the final decision, but legally, I see no issue.

FAQ Transcript

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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Using old I-140/H-1B for new employer while relocated to India

Question details

I have an H1-B/ I-140 question for you and your team. Please see below: I came to India in 2019 to get my H1 stamped along with my family and got stuck. I got a 221(g), and RFE during the process but my employer got things sorted out. Then my employer also amended my petition and I re-appeared for visa stamping interview and got stuck again due to an ‘end client’ issue. Then Covid made things worse in 2020. Questions for your team: I have an approved I-140 with my old firm (on Eb-2) with a priority date of Jan 29, 2014. I am not on a US payroll since I came to India (in 2019) & my last approved petition also expired in Jan 2022. If a new firm had to take over my H1-B case can I re-capture the unused time (time stuck in India for almost 3 years) beyond my first 6 years of H1-B with this new firm/petitioner ? If so, can I port my old I-140 (& old priority date) to the new H1 petitioner after coming to US? What is the porting time frame after coming to US? Is Premium processing available for porting old I-140 (& priority date) to the new employer? Since my priority date is current, I wanted to know if my new employer can file for AOS upon my arrival in the US. Your help and feedback on the above matter will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Q. Can I re-capture the unused time (time stuck in India for almost 3 years) beyond my first 6 years of H1-B with this new firm/petitioner?
A. Yes, you can.

FAQ Transcript

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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.