Answer 1: Employees cannot legally pay for green card expenses, H-1B fees, or premium processing associated with PERM. For the green card process, the employer must cover all costs. In the case of the I-140 stage, the employer should pay, especially if the employee is on H-1B. However, for the I-485 stage, the employee can pay.
Regarding H-1B, the employer should generally cover all expenses, except for premium processing. If premium processing is for the employee's benefit and the employer opts not to pay, the employee can choose to cover the cost. If premium processing is for the employer's convenience, the employer must pay.
In summary:
Green Card (PERM): Employer must pay; employee cannot.
I-140 stage: Employer should pay, especially for H-1B holders.
I-485 stage: Employee can pay.
H-1B expenses: Employer should pay, except for premium processing.
Premium processing: Employee can pay if for their benefit; otherwise, employer must pay.
Answer 2: Additionally, an employee with an old H-1B stamp from a previous employer can use it for a different employer. There's no need for new visa stamping if there's a new approval notice. Traveling on the old stamp with the new approval is permissible.
While the process of application to adjustment of status for my mother-in-law was in progress, (sponsored by my husband, a US citizen), my FIL and MIL came to India for a personal reason and there my FIL got into a medical emergency. My mother-in-law's finger print got rejected and they wanted conduct certificate for last 5 years wherever she lived. Now she is not in a position to travel to US until my FIL health gets stable, but we didn't know how to get the conduct certificate from US without her. That's where Mr. Khanna suggested I contact a congressman of our district and explain him the situation so that he will be able to solve the issue by talking to Immigration officers. This was definitely a helpful suggestion. I am yet to contact the congressman. Will let you know the results soon. Thank you very much for Khanna and his team for doing this great service free of cost.