Rule to recapture H-1B unused time (Remainder Option); What if I change professions?

Question details

I did my Masters in chemical engineering in the US and then worked for an environmental firm in NYC, where my H1B was sponsored. I got my H1B in 2019 (Oct 2019 start date), and then I moved to India in Dec 2020, and it’s been almost 2 yrs here in India.

I have approx. 4.5 yrs remaining on my H1B. My questions are below:

1. Am I eligible to use the H1B remainder option for a different employer under a different field under cap exemption? I want to know if I can work in the business domain and not in the chemical field using the H1B remainder option.

2. Say I find an employer in the US in the business domain who is willing to sponsor me directly? Do I need to apply for a new H1B and go through the April lottery? What are the consequences?

3. Lastly, if I plan to do an MBA, which would be my second master's in the US, is it possible to use the H1B remainder option from my first master's and work in the business domain?

 

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FAQ Transcript
  1. Yes, you can.
  1. If you want to work in a different domain that does not stop you from using the remainder option and I see no problem there.
  1. H-1B does not prohibit you from going to school. You could work and go to school at the same time.

USCIS Updates Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants

Release Date 

Effective Dec. 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.

Applying for E-2 Visa with a pending family-based Green Card; who can be the main applicant for an E-2 visa?

Question details

We are looking to apply for an E2 visa being Canadian Citizens born in India. Seeking your advice on a couple of questions- we have pending F3 status immigration with a 2011 priority date, can the primary applicant on the E2 application be my wife, who is also the primary applicant on F3 immigration? Would you recommend going through consular processing or an adjustment of status for my wife, considering we have a pending immigration file?

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FAQ Transcript

In my opinion that can be done because the E-2 visa is kind of a dual intent visa. It allows you to have a green card pending as long as you have no intention to violate U.S immigration laws and you have the intention to go back to your home country if required.

How long does it take from PERM to Green Card, and difference between NIW and PERM Labor Certification?

Question details

1) How long does one have to wait in total if the company applied for PERM (EB2 - MS CS degree), and THEN Concurrently applied for I-140 (premium) and I-485 and the country of birth is UAE?

2) Can the above be done on an F-1 (OPT + STEM OPT) Visa instead of an H-1B? And any potential issues for F-1 in this case?

3) In this scenario, how would it work if the person also submits NIW in parallel with PERM?

 

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FAQ Transcript
  1. I would say an average of a couple of years. 
  2. Yes, it can be. Please go through my blogs and articles on the economic author page for more details on this issue.
  3. It would work  just fine. Your lawyers can organize that. 

Can an H-1B visa holder rent via Airbnb? Is this a violation of status?

Question details

My status changed from F-1 to H-1B status this year on Oct 01, 2022. Since I am now on an H-1B visa, I am planning to buy a house soon, before the end of this year, and my plan is also to rent out other rooms and maybe Airbnb in the future. I researched this is considered passive income and is legal but:

1. I was wondering if I can do the same by opening an LLC. Will this still be considered passive income?

2. Another question, since my status changed from F-1 to H-1 this year, for 2022 taxes, should I still fill out the 1040 NR form or not?

 

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FAQ Transcript

I really cannot tell you that there is a clear guidance from the USCIS on this issue. I would avoid this unless you are the adventurous kind. Just remember one thing: the fact that you were engaged in unauthorized or questionable employment or income generation is less damaging to you than lying about it.

 

PERM issues for a green card for remote jobs - headquarters

Question details

I am currently on an H-1B visa and working remotely. My h1b petition has two addresses, home (VA) and office (PA). The office headquarters is in NJ.

My employer filled PWD in Mar2022 which got approved in Oct 2022. When I reached out to them for the next step, they mentioned that there were some issues with the previously filled PWD, so they had to refiled my PWD in Jul2022.

Based on my discussion, I came to know that they did not mention the main headquarters address, which is in NJ, and put the address of the PA office, which is in my h1b petition. They said because I am a remote employee, they are supposed to put the address of the headquarters.

Q1: Are we supposed to put the headquarters address when we file GC for a remote job?

Q2: Are we supposed to put the headquarters address when we file h1b for the remote job? Or is any office ok?

 

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FAQ Transcript

In my view if this job is remote it should be advertised nationally and you should put either the corporate headquarters or the principal place of business. You should not put an office where you are not going to work as this could be problematic. Make sure you have a conversation with your lawyers. 

 

OPT eligibility requirements, F-1 status for one academic year, and Change of Status or visa stamping from back to H-4

Question details

My spouse is a dentist from India and converted to F-1 from H-4 on Sep 29, 2022. She pursued a few courses for MBA (non-stem) between March 2022 and Jun 2022. Now she is completing the remaining courses of her MBA on F-1 for the next 12 months.

My queries are-

1. Does she need to be on F-1 status for a min 365 days to be eligible for OPT?

2. If we ever need to change to H-4 status again (stamped till Aug 2024), can she travel to India and come back without F-1 stamping? or a COS application from F-1 to H-4 ( that may take 6 months) could be a better option for EAD application.

 

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FAQ Transcript

1. The 365 days requirement is not required.  What you need is one academic year or two if there is a need to change to H-4. 

2. If she has an H-4 stamping already there is no need to go to India. All she has to do is drive to Canada or Mexico and return showing her H-4 visa stamping.

Note: To be eligible to apply for OPT, you must:

  1. Have been in full-time student status for at least one academic year by the requested OPT start date,
  2. Be maintaining F-1 status at the time of applying for OPT, and 
  3. Have not used OPT at the same degree level previously.

 

What happens to H-1B after Green Card approval?

Question details

My last H-1B was recently revoked four months after receiving a Green Card and the company attorney says automatic revocation is a standard practice by USCIS not always followed. But most people I know did not have their H-1B revoked after Green card approval so I am a bit concerned why this happened to my case only.

 

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FAQ Transcript

There is absolutely no need to be concerned. This is by operation of law. But, just to keep matters orderly it is a good policy to send in a revocation notice and that should not be of any concern to you.

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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.

Filing second I140 after 180 days of PERM validity

Question details

I filed my I140 with 180 days after Perm is approved. But after that, the I140 is denied and my Perm is expired. Can I fresh file I140 again the my expired Perm. Thank you.

There may be a typo in your question. If the first I-140 was filed within 180 days of the PERM validity period, the second or subsequent I-140 can be filed outside the 180 days. No problem.

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.