OASP News Release: [05/13/2010]
Contact Name: Lina Garcia
Phone Number: (202) 693-4661
Release Number: 10-0563-NAT
Online advisor clarifies rights and responsibilities under H-1B visa program
USCIS Processing Times information for all service centers updated on May 14, 2010.
USCIS seeks your input on the draft memoranda listed below. These memoranda are drafts of proposed or revised guidance to USCIS Field Offices and Service Centers. They are not intended as guidance for the general public, nor are they intended to create binding legal requirements on the public. Until issued in final form, the draft memoranda do not constitute agency policy in any way or for any purpose.
The Department's Office of Foreign Labor Certification has established a mailbox for questions regarding LCA policies. Those seeking policy guidance should submit a question to LCA.Regulation@dol.gov. Questions will be answered in the form of FAQs. The interested public should continue to direct all general inquiries regarding the H-1B program to the Chicago National Processing Center at LCA.Chicago@dol.gov.
Let me first thank you for guiding hundreds of us with your valuable advice. My sincere thanks to you. I have a question regarding the inter-changeability of EB2 prority dates. I'm an Indian citizen and my wife is a Russian citizen, born in Russia. She will be filing as my dependent on my green card. I read on some online forums that I can user her country's priority date ("current" as of today) for the green card. Is this correct?
Yes, that is correct. This is referred to as "Cross Changeability."
What is time frame to return to the U.S?
A reentry permit gives you the permission to stay outside USA for up to two years at one time.
Is it a problem if a person wins a green card from the lottery but previously have been in USA with a tourist visa and has worked at the same time? The person have paid taxes and had returned in his country while still had a tourist status. But when he applies for the green card and when filling the forms what should he writes -that he has been with a tourist status but have worked? Is it possible that he may not be approved for the green card?
You have to tell the truth. You have paid taxes and returned within the time permitted on the I-94. I see no reason why it should impact your DV application.
I want to know if I can take the Green Card in my future. I am studing in Nursing courses right now, but can i take green card if I finish my Bachelor's degree? Please send me a response.
That is how most students get their employment-based green cards. Once you become an RN, under the current law, it should be relatively easy to apply for your green card. There may be other options as well.
Documents to submit at VFS office:
If you are applying for a regular H or L visa, please submit the following documents 4 business days prior to your appointment date at the VFS office located in Hyderabad.
Parents were in US July 2008, filed for an I-94 extension end Aug 2008 from Dallas, which was submit to VSC and subsequently routed to CSC their port of entry California. Extension was denied end Jan 2009 (guessing since they had extended 2 months the previous visit in year 2007). They left Mar 2nd 2009 (meeting the 30/31 day exit requirement).
Are they ineligible for GC? If so how long? Is there an alternative?
It does not look like they were unlawfully present for over 180 days. So, I don't see why there should be a problem with the green card.
How will i know if they already recived ( i mean is there a way to trck it) my application for the change of status (I-485). i sent that last april 29, 2010....how long do i have to wait for the responds from the uscis....
You can verify delivery (if sent by Fed Ex, UPS, etc.) and also check with your bank if your fees checks were encashed.
What is the period time, apply for i-130 for brother's with family from India.
Over ten years. Check out the Visa Bulletin .
The elaws Advisors are interactive e-tools that provide easy-to-understand information about a number of federal employment laws. Each Advisor simulates the interaction you might have with an employment law expert. It asks questions and provides answers based on responses given.
Both employees and employers can benefit from elaws.
As of May 21, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 19,600 H-1B cap-subject petitions. Also, an additional 8,200 H-1B petitions for advanced degrees professionals have been received.
USCIS reports that as of April 27, 2010, approximately 16,500 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. They have received 6,900 H-1B petitions for advanced degree professionals.
Planning to change my employer. Priority Date: Sept 2014 (EB2). H1: on my 5th Year (Filed for an extension it is currently in process). My plan is to change my employer once my extension is approved but I have the following questions. I am 100% sure my employer is going to withdraw my I-140. How is my H1 transfer going to work?
First of all the moment, your I-140 is approved no matter which category EB-1 or EB-2, the Priority Date is yours to keep that means if you got your green card filed in let's say 2017 and you left this employer after the I-140 approval, they revoked your I-140 and you started another green card in 2020 your Priority Date will be still 2017 because your I-140 was approved. So the moment the I-140 was approved the Priority Date becomes your property and it can be carried across categories, across employers, and across geographical areas. So if you go from a PERM filing in New York to an employer in California and your previous filing was EB-3 next filing is EB2 or even EB-1 you can carry the date of the work petition as long as the I-140 was approved. The moment the I-140 is approved, the Priority Date is yours.
There are limited exceptions unless the I-140 is revoked for fraud, etc., by the USCIS. Even if the employer revokes the I-140 you will keep your Priority Date. In addition to that, if the I-140 gets approved and stays approved for 180 days you will not only carry your Priority Date you will carry your right to extend your H-1 through any employer indefinitely. You will get a second benefit after 180 days and if the lawyer revokes the I-140 you will still get the benefit of both Priority Date and the right to extend your H-1 through any employer. The government has also said if you have an H-4 EAD for your spouse, your I-40 stayed approved for 180 days your wife's or your husband's H-4 EAD is safe even if the old employer revokes the I-140 later on as long as the I-140 stayed approved for 180 days. So if you left but the I-140 stayed approved for 180 days H-4 EAD is safe. That, in a nutshell, is the general law. More
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