Interfiling - Job change after I-140 approval with priority date current and issues with H-1B transfer and H-1B extensions

Question details

I am on H-1B visa with employer A. Have approved I-140 with priority date as Oct 2015 under EB-2. Looks like EB-2 can hit 2015 by the end of this year. With that in mind, Below are my questions:

1) Suggestions on switching employers when PD is nearing anytime soon. If I switch to employer B, what if my PD becomes current before employer B I-140 is approved? How long can I wait after my priority date becomes current to file I-485 with employer B I-140?

2) Will there be any issues for H-1B transfer and further H-1B extensions with employer B when the new PERM/I-140 is still under process?

 

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

If you have changed employers priority date with the old employer becomes current you could go back and join them, if you have a good explanation why you left them in the first place.

 

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.

Left while Extension pending. B-1/B-2 visa inspection at the airport by the CBP and repercussions

Question details

We live in Delaware. We had extended my parent's B2 Visa twice in the past. Once in 2016 and it was approved. Second time in 2018, but they went back to India before the decision on extension. For the second extension, we got a letter from USCIS stating, "Since they left the country, USCIS is not approving the extension, However they can travel again"

Again in 2019, they came and left the US in 6 months.

This year, they came last week on Jan 31 2022, but CBP in Philadelphia airport took them for inspection at the port of entry. After a long wait time, CBP came back and told them that they had overstayed and they had canceled their B2 Visa. CBP gave a letter that they can stay for three months and leave the country before April 30.

Though we followed the process defined, we are really not sure why they canceled the visa.

With this situation, Can you please advise what is our option,

1. Can we appeal for visa reinstatement?

2. Can we go back to the country and apply for a B2 Visa again in May ? Or should we wait for some time before applying again?

 

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

I think you should bring this up to your congressman's office. Maybe you can even tell them what you heard from me that this is an inappropriate application of 222(g), within the Department of State standard operating procedures that's called FAM (Foreign Affairs Manual) it clearly says if you leave while the application is pending you are not subject to 222(g).

 

 

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.

Rajiv's Comments in the News - US to process more green cards this year under employment based categories - CNBC TV18

Published by: CNBC TV18: February 23, 2022

Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:

“The USCIS wants to approve as many green cards as they can as there has been a huge spillover from the family quota. This has not happened in the past in such large numbers,” Economic times quoted Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Attorney of Immigration.com.

For more on this news please see the attachment.

Interfiling when downgrade I-140 petition is filed as amendment

Question details

I filed a EB-3 to EB-2 downgrade concurrent I-140 and I-485 in October 2020, where I-140 is filed as an Amendment petition and NOT as a NEW Petition. This I-140 Downgrade and I-485 petition is still PENDING. I am maintaining my H1B status and work with the same employer who filed my original I-140 EB2 application, I-140 EB3 Amendment petition and I-485. Am I eligible to interfile?

As far as I can tell, you are eligible.

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.

Approved I-140 in May 2009

Question details

Hello Rajiv, My I-140 was approved in May 2009 and unfortunately I lost my job and left US in October 2009. I intend to return back to US once I find good job. If my employer or myself file another I-140 could my priority date be retained from my original approved I-140. I see that current priority date for India is 2012 but obviously my priority date originally was in 2009. In this case can my priority become current as soon as I file my I-140. I will really appreciate your insight in such case.

Prior to January 17, 2017, the rules about priority date retention were uncertain. If your earlier I-I40 was not withdrawn or revoked, you should be able to keep your priority date.

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.

Success in filing an I-129F (a K-1 Petition for Alien Fiancé(e))

We successfully assisted our client, a U.S. citizen,  in filing an I-129F (a K-1 Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) for his fiancée. The petitioner and beneficiary intended to marry within 90 days of the beneficiary entering the U.S. The evidence provided to prove their intent to marry, that they had met in-person, and were engaged included, but was not limited to: affidavits, copies of photographs of the couple and their families, flight tickets, hotel reservations, screenshots of videos, zoom meetings, and text messages. The petition was approved.
 

Status
The petition was approved.

Nonimmigrant Visas

Success in responding to a denial of an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, that was denied due to USCIS error

We assisted our client, a U.S. citizen, in filing an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for his wife. Approximately 8 months after filing the petition we received notice that the case had been transferred to another USCIS service center. Three months later we received a denial notice giving the reason for denial as no record of a response to a Request for Evidence (RFE). The denial notice stated that the RFE was issued on a date that was a few weeks prior to the notice of the case transfer.

Status
The passport photos requested in the RFE were provided and we requested the adjudication be expedited due to clear USCIS error. The petition was approved as was an I-485 subsequent petition for the beneficiary.

Agency

Green Card

Immigration Law

Citizenship and Naturalization

Rajiv's Comments in the News - US to process more employment green cards this fiscal year

Published by: The Economic Times: February 21, 2022

Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:

“This would be tremendously beneficial to people who have been waiting for many, many years. We are hoping a lot of people can get their green cards under the EB2 category if they move fast,” said Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Attorney at Immigration.com.

For more on this news please see the attachment.

USCIS Urges Eligible Applicants to Switch Employment-Based Categories

Release Date 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services encourages eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status application to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced degrees or with exceptional ability) employment-based preference categories, because there is an exceptionally high number of employment-based immigrant visas available in these categories during this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022).

Feb 17, 2022, Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)

Immigration.com

Discussion Topics, February 17,  2022

FAQ's: Left while Extension pending. B-1/B-2 visa inspection at the airport by the CBP and repercussions || Interfiling || Interfiling and AC21 Portability || Interfiling, Returning to Old Employer