Form I-485

If you have an approved EB-1A and your priority date is current, you can file I-485 without needing a specific job, as long as you intend to continue working in your field. A Compelling Circumstances EAD is not an option since it is only available when dates are not current. Consult your lawyer, but you should be able to proceed with your I-485 filing.

 

If you plan to relocate to India with a green card before obtaining U.S. citizenship, it can significantly complicate the naturalization process. To apply for U.S. citizenship, you must meet physical presence requirements: at least 2.5 years in the U.S. over the last five years and no single absence of a year or more. If you stay outside the U.S. for over six months but less than a year, you may need to provide an explanation.

A re-entry permit (Form I-131) allows you to stay outside the U.S. for up to two years without losing your green card, but it does not help with citizenship requirements. Form N-470 can protect your eligibility in limited cases, such as working for a U.S. company’s foreign branch, but it does not guarantee naturalization.

If you stay abroad for more than a year, you will likely need to restart your five-year residency requirement (or four years and one day if a re-entry permit was used). While re-entry permits can be renewed in certain cases, they do not protect your citizenship timeline.

Best advice: Obtain U.S. citizenship first and then relocate, as naturalized citizens can live abroad indefinitely without affecting their status. Please consult your lawyer regarding this.

You can start the green card process before filing for H-1B, as they are separate. It's advisable to start the green card as early as possible rather than wait. For green card filing involving different locations, you can file either as a transferable job through the company headquarters or for a future job at the intended location. Always consult a lawyer for advice.