Rajiv's Article - A complete guide for Green Card holders stuck outside the US because of Covid-19

Published by: The Economic Times - Date: November 02, 2021

Synopsis
Many green card holders have been constrained to stay outside the USA continuously for one year and more. Under normal circumstances, that is considered to be an abandonment of the permanent resident status, your green card. What can you do about this now?

For more on this article please see the attachment below.

EB-2/EB-3 Options in PERM Filing and EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade and upgrade

Question details

Q: 1.  If the Priority date is current in EB-3 then my I-140 and I-485 can be filed EB3 (Lower it) but you said that after EB-3 will come then I should file I-140 in EB-2. Not sure about the whole concept, if possible can you elaborate in more detail?

2. Can I-140 be filed in EB-2 and EB-3 together? Or I-140 can be filed in EB-3 first once it gets approval in EB-3 and then need to file in EB-2 or vice versa.

3. My company attorney told me that once I downgrade to EB3 then I can't upgrade to EB2.

 

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

A: 1. You can always downgrade if you start your case in a higher category, but if you file your case in the lower category it's not possible to upgrade without refiling.

2. The answer is yes, although I like to do it separately for several reasons, most of all to avoid confusion, but now the government is well aware of these downgrades and I think you could file both of them together as two separate filings.

3. They must be saying something different as that is not true. If your PERM was filed as an EB-2 and I-140 was approved as an EB-3 you can always go back to EB-2 by filing another I-140 under EB-2. 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.

Is there a problem listing one location in a PERM application while living and working remotely in a different location?

Question details

Was just wondering if there could be any issues with my prospective PERM application if I am living and working remotely in Minneapolis (consistent with my H-1Blocation) and my employer in Dallas files the PERM application using Dallas as the work location. I am open to eventually relocating to Dallas, so just wondering if this could cause any delays or RFEs for the PERM. Do you think it would be a better option to file an H-1B amendment with Dallas as the work location, and then go through with the PERM or it doesn't matter?

 

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FAQ Transcript

It is not a problem as long as these two scenarios are followed. First of all you could be working in location X and the PERM is filed for location Y as long as you have the intention to join the location Y you can file even though you are currently working at location X. 

The interesting thing is once the I-485 is filed and the I-140 is approved after 180 days of the I-485 you can choose to be wherever you want to be because you are allowed to port your green card. The only requirement is when you start the PERM.  File the I-140 and the I- 485. Your intention throughout was to work at location Y but after 180 days if the intention changes it is absolutely no problem.

The second scenario which is very common is when you have consulting jobs and you could be moving from a month to a year with no predictability where you are going to be, it is normally recommended and legally allowed to file the PERM application as though your job is located in the corporate headquarters or principal place of business. 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.

Can GC-EAD holders start a business and what impact accrues on the pending I-485?

Question details

Q: 1.Can I run my second W2 on my own company? Keeping my primary W2 with the same employer who filed the GC?

2.If I start a business on GC-EAD, if they call for a GC interview what type of question do they ask related to business?

3.If I-485 is denied, can we  come back to H-1B again and do we have to refile I-485 again?

 

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

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.

Reentering the U.S. on Visitor Visa

Question details

My parents have been here on visitor's visas since the beginning of August. If they are here for the entire six months, can they come back again within six months of leaving the U.S.?

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

The CBP (Customs and Border Protection) may find this pattern an unacceptable use of the visitor's visa. Generalizing for the sake of making a point, if in any twelve months your parents have spent more than six months in the United States, the CBP can hold that it appears your parents are living in the United States and visiting their home country instead of the other way around. 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.

Guestbook Entry for A Pachchigar, United States

Name
A Pachchigar
Country
United States
State
FL
Comment

We are very thankful for Rajiv Khanna and team for handling my tough H1B renewal case. This was my 4th Extension that was denied before we approached Mr. Khanna to take over the case. Ms. Kalpana Panuganti was very thorough with case details and responded to any of our queries promptly. We were updated on our case in a very transparent manner and Kalpana always responded to emails/calls immediately while working on RFE response. Their insight and attention to detail in regards to our case was commendable. We would highly recommend Law Office of Rajiv S. Khanna PC for any immigration related matter.

USCIS Issues Updated and Comprehensive Guidance on T Visa Adjudications

Release Date 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing updated and comprehensive guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on adjudicating applications for T nonimmigrant status (or T visas) submitted by victims of human trafficking, including clarifying how applicants establish eligibility.