Can Student Visa Holders Apply for a Green Card?
This article was submitted to and published in The Economic Times.
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08 July 2021: Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
Discussion Topics, Thursday, July 08, 2021:
FAQ: I-140 Employment Authorization (EAD) in Compelling Circumstances || Criminal Charges in Immigration - Domestic Violence Laws and Risk in Applying for I-485
I-140 Employment Authorization (EAD) in Compelling Circumstances
Question details
I had applied for the compelling circumstances EAD as i140 beneficiary when I lost my H1 job past July from info. thru these calls and our discussion. I found a new H1 job eventually in the grace period that H1 got approved later in Dec 2020.
Now after long wait, USCIS sent me biometrics appt. letter to go to ASC for fingerprints for this EAD. My question-
- Since it appears USCIS wants to proceed with this compelling EAD despite the fact they have approved H1 in Dec. itself, should I go for biometrics to get this EAD?
- If yes, is it fine to work elsewhere using that EAD(may be part time) while maintaining my H1 status thru current H1 job, or I got to pick one of the two? leaving my current H1 job will make me ineligible for i485 filing (in case my priority date may become current in another year) as that EAD is no H1 status right?
- Or should I not go for this EAD/biometrics at this point at all? do I need to inform USCIS anything?
FAQ Transcript
In my opinion withdraw your Compelling Circumstances EAD. I think it's both inappropriate and useless for you as far as I can tell. 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.
22 July 2021: Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Green Card
Discussion Topics, Thursday, July 22, 2021:
I-140, Education Foreign Degree Equivalence
The applicant completed a three-year Diploma in Computer Engineering from an accredited institution in India (Government Polytechnic Mumbai). The applicant was then directly admitted to the second year Bachelor of Engineering (B.E) program at an advanced level and completed the four-year degree B.E. program.
We provided several items of evidence that indicated that the applicant had attained the foreign equivalent of a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from an accredited U.S. college or university.
The I-140 was approved.
Profession/Occupation
Green Card
I-140 Petition Through Premium Processing
Question details
Should I file my I-140 petition through regular processing or premium processing?
Currently USCIS is accepting premium processing for certain I-140 categories. In addition to the regular filing fee, there is an additional $1,225.00 filing fee to upgrade to premium processing. If an I-140 is filed with premium processing, USCIS will issue a determination or an RFE within 15 calendar days.
Typically, these are some of the reasons when an I-140 should be filed through premium processing:
1) When an I-140 approval is needed to extend H-1 beyond the 6 years. Please see Rajiv’s blog entry for more information:
Green Card through Consular Processing with Approved I-140
Question details
Question 1. I have done MS from US and worked on H-1 for 5 years. Started GC process, I-140 approved with Priority date May 2011. Came to India for H-1 stamping and it was denied twice. If I apply for my H-1 and if I don't get H-1, then can my employer continue processing my GC through Consular Processing when I am in India. Also is there any law stating that my employer can not keep the I-140 when my H-1 has been expired & if it so then for how long can my employer keep my I-140 active?
Question 2. If my employer revoke my I-140 & if I come to US on any other visa, then Can I process my GC and port the PD ?
Answer 1. As long as the job offer exists and the employer is capable of paying the wages, the green card process can go on, even though you are not in USA. You should discuss this matter in detail with your lawyers to better understand the implications. Also, I-140's do not expire.
Answer 2. PD can be ported even if the 140 is revoked by employer. I have a video on this issue