Recording for February 01, 2024 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
FAQ: What is the path for an entrepreneur from STEM OPT or H-1B?
FAQ: What is the path for an entrepreneur from STEM OPT or H-1B?
Currently on an H-4 visa valid until June 2024. I'm seeking your advice as I try to figure something out.
I'm a bit unsure about when to apply for my Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and I am considering the following options:
Option 1: Apply for H4 EAD now (first time - applying separately) since my I-94 is valid until June 2024. If I do this, can I keep working after June 2024 while the H4 extension and H4 EAD are in the approval process if the H4 extension is applied before June 2024?
Option 2: Apply for H4 EAD (first time) + H1B extension + H4 extension using the Premium processing option, probably during June 2024. Will the H4 EAD be approved in 15 days if all three (H4 EAD, H1B extension, H4 extension) are applied together in premium processing? Also, will the H4 EAD have a validity of three years if the H1B and H4 extensions are approved for three years?
Please guide me on which option is simpler and better or any other better solutions.
Handling H-4 and H-4 EAD options can be complex due to inconsistencies in government procedures following a lawsuit settlement. Initially, bundling H-1B premium processing with H-4 and H-4 EAD requests was agreed upon, but subsequent inconsistencies have caused uncertainty for applicants.
In considering options for extending H-4 status, it's crucial to note limitations such as the inability to work beyond the I-94 expiration. Exploring the bundling option cautiously, and attaching a copy of the settlement decision to the application, is recommended.
Overall, careful consideration and documentation are essential in navigating H-4 and H-4 EAD applications amidst uncertainties in government procedures.
I entered the US to complete my Masters on an F-1 visa in 2018, I got my H1B visa approved in Oct 2022. I was planning to go for a green card through the EB2 NIW route. I have a few questions, which are as follows:
1. Suppose that I got EB2 NIW approved and I am waiting in queue for a green card, but I went back to India and worked in India (employer may or may not be related to the US). Can I collect my GC whenever the priority date becomes current?
2. Suppose that I have already applied for an EB2 NIW visa but then I build my profile and want to apply for an EB1 visa, can I do that?
3. When can I start my business/startup during the EB2 NIW application process? or Do I need to wait until the visa is approved to start a business?
4. When can my wife start working on an H4 visa? Is it during the EB2 NIW application process? Does she need to wait until the visa is approved?
With an approved EB-2 NIW, even if you work in India in an unrelated job, you can still collect your green card as long as you intend to work in the field for which you got the NIW when you arrive in the US. Additionally, you can apply for an EB-1 and transfer the priority date from NIW to EB-1. Starting a business during the EB-2 NIW process depends on various factors, but there's no interim visa except for limited options like entrepreneurial parole. However, potential changes in H-1B regulations for entrepreneurs could provide extended H-1B options and the ability to work for your own business. Spouses can start working on H-4 once the NIW is approved and the H-4 EAD application is filed, as the NIW I-140 petition approval doesn't require a visa.
Discussion Topics:
FAQ: H-1B lay off 60 days grace, options including B-1/B-2, approved I-140, Severance pay || Optimizing H-4 EAD options and bundling premium processing for H-1B and H-4 extensions || Implications of visa fraud by an employer on H-1B, L-1, green card, citizenship || Advantages of a National Interest Waiver, transitioning to EB-1, entrepreneurship, and H-4 employment for spouse
Can one do two full-time jobs in IT/Software development when on H4 EAD? Is there any downside to it on any kind of future approvals by USCIS?
As an H-4 EAD visa holder, you have the flexibility to hold multiple full-time IT jobs or work in any field without constraints on location, offering more rights compared to an H-1B holder. H-4 EAD visa holders can also start their businesses, hire employees, and have the freedom to choose when or if they want to work.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, January 04, 2024
FAQ: Holding two full-time IT jobs on H-4 EAD || Transitions From H-1B job loss to B-2 status and impact on future H-1B employment || NIW Criteria || H-1B laid off: grace period, last employment date, health insurance, and legal stay during change of employer
FAQ: Converting from B visa to any other status such as H-1B, etc.
FAQs: H-1B visa transfer before arrival into the USA|| Employee paying for green card and H-1B premium costs || Using an old H-1B visa stamp of a different employer
FAQs: Legal options and factors for a future stay in the USA; not selected in H-1B lottery, Master's Degree, and passport renewal ||Transfer an approved H-1B selected in the lottery to a new employer before October 1
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