On April 21, 2016, USCIS began allowing petitioners who filed Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting an extension of status or change of employer to submit an inquiry after their petition has been pending for 210 days or more. This inquiry may be based on the petition being outside of normal processing times.
FAQ: Changing back to F-1 student status after filing for green card; I-94 given for duration shorter than entitled; H-1B amendment when change of cities; Impact of traveling while H-1 extension is pending; Birth certificate non-availability, affidavit; Changing jobs after I-140 approval; STEM OPT extension for consulting or staffing companies; Effect of divorce on an employment-based case and cross-chargeability; Transferring H-1 subject to cap, cap-gap extension; Remedy for denial of I-485 AOS; Sued by employer.
Other: Effect on relative petition if petitioner loses their green card; Revocation of I-140; Porting priority date; Changing jobs H-1 or EAD, converting from EAD to H-1; F-2 out of status converting to H-4; H-4 family traveling while H-1 extension is pending; CAP-GAP extension and drivers license; Effect of relocation to India during green card processing; Visa stamping for H-4 out of status, etc.
USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the numerical limit (the “cap”) of 12,999 workers who may be issued CW-1 visas or otherwise provided with CW-1 status for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. May 5, 2016 was the final receipt date for CW-1 worker petitions requesting an employment start date before October 1, 2016.
As of April 21, 2016, petitioners who filed Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting an extension of stay or change of employer, can submit an inquiry after their petition has been pending for 210 days or more. Petitioners may now submit this inquiry online by selecting “case outside normal processing time.”
FAQs: Eligibility for 1-year H-1B extension under 365-day rule based on PERM filed on November 1, 2023 || Assessing eligibility and strengthening profile for EB2-NIW application without a research background
My PERM was filed on November 1, 2023, and my current visa expires on October 10, 2024. Am I eligible to apply for a one-year extension based on the 356-day rule? If so, is July a good month to apply for a one-year extension?
OR do I need to travel back to my Country and apply for an extension after 1st November 2024?
H-1B extensions beyond 6 years are possible through an approved I-140 or a PERM labor certification pending for 1 year. For PERM-based extensions, you can apply before the 1-year mark, but the extension only becomes effective after a full year. For example, if your PERM was filed on November 1, 2023, and your current H-1B expires in October 2024, you could apply for an extension in July 2024. However, the extension would only be effective from November 1, 2024. You may need to leave the country temporarily if there's a gap between your current H-1B expiration and the extension's effective date.
FAQs: Naturalization eligibility for recent extended absences over six months and less than one year from the U.S. || H-1B Grace Period Related Issues
I have just 50 days left on my H1B grace period, and I need to get an employer to transfer my H1B, or I will be kicked out of the States. My question is, which of the following paths should I choose?
1) I have a Canadian visitor visa, which is for six months, so can I go to Canada if I don't get a job by the grace period?
2) If I don't get an employer should I shift on B1/B2? If I do, how can I come back on H1B? Is there anything else you suggest to keep my H1B active?
1. Sure. If you're not in the US, you can go anywhere. Please review my post on the immigration.com blog and my article in the Economic Times.
2. If you think it will be difficult to find a job for a long time and are okay with returning to school and earning another degree, you should consider CPT an option. If you do not think you'll get a job relatively quickly, you should try the B-1/B-2 option. People have been getting extensions to B-1/B-2.