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Visa Bulletin - June 2017
Agency
Green Card
Guestbook Entry for P Gupta, United States
USCIS Adjustment of Status ( I-485 ) Filing Date Charts from the Visa Bulletin
If USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, we will state on this page that you may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart. Otherwise, we will indicate on this page that you must use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when you may file your adjustment of status application.
Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday), May 18,2017
Immigration Law
Green Card
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 18 May 2017:
FAQ: Is it legal to work for a foreign based company in the USA? || Changing employers after I-140 approval; impact on H-1, green card, H-4 EAD, etc. || Physicians (FMG) NIW, AC21 portability, teaching to clinical position || Impact of a misdemeanor under Trump EO || Extending H-1/H-4EAD; working while extension pending || Filing green card through multiple categories or employers and/or family simultaneously || Activities permitted under H-4 EAD.
Other: Losing H-4 status when using EAD under I-485 || Can a child enroll in school under G-4 visa? || Acquiring Canadian nationality || Changing H-1 visa after changing employers during 60 days grace period|| H-1B changing employers while transfer or extension is pending || Taking a 6-month break on H-1, H-1 quota || L-1 to F-1 change of status || Adoption under US laws || Getting paid on 1099 || H-1B amendment when company acquired, etc.
Physicians (FMG) NIW, AC21 portability, Teaching to clinical position
Do the 3 years spent in residency training in an HPSA/MUA area be counted towards the five years required for NIW? The residency training (3 years) and subsequent job (2 years) were on H1B visa in two different HPSA/MUA areas but not processed through NIW route. Can the NIW petition be filed now retrospectively for those years already worked in underserved areas? My current GC sponsoring job is in a University teaching hospital (job designation Assistant Professor) but obviously also involves treating patients. The PERM prevailing wage category was teacher/ Professor but job description included patient care. Can the job be changed to that involving only patient care (no teaching) and still be considered same/ similar? How about a job (with patient care only & no teaching) in a private practice (as opposed to hospital employee)?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Physicians (FMG) NIW, AC21 portability, Teaching to clinical position
Video Transcription
Note: 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.
Filing green card through multiple categories or employers and/or family simultaneously
1. Can we file multiple green cards together? If yes what will be the side effect? <br>
2. My company filed my green card in EB-2 category and I-140 is approved with priority date 2013. I want to give a try with EB1 category personally if I will try in EB-1 and let’s say it is not approved, then will it affect my EB-2 green card?<br>
3. Should job description match in EB-1 and EB-2?<br>
4. What may all possible issues occur?
Video Transcript
Note: 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.
The path for an entrepreneur from STEM OPT or H-1B
I'm on F-1 OPT with a STEM MS Degree. If I put a startup, I will be performing my roles directly related to the degree.
1) To establish employer-employee relations would having a board of directors be sufficient during STEM OPT?
2) If I apply for EB2-NIW and get I-140 approval then can I immediately shift to other non-tech roles within my startup (CTO -> CEO) Or do I have to wait for 6 months before doing that, all the while when I-485 is pending?
3) If I shift immediately and use I-485 EAD instead of F-1 EAD, then can that lead to I-485 being rejected?
Should I wait at least 6 months before using I-485 EAD? Also, if the startup fails, does that discontinue my I-485 process having approved I-140?
There are various visa options for entrepreneurs both inside and outside the USA, between non-immigrant and immigrant visas. Non-immigrant options include B-1 for temporary business visits, the International Entrepreneur Rule for temporary parole, and treaty visas like E-1 and E-2. Immigrant visa options include EB-1 for exceptionally qualified individuals, EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) for those impacting US interests, and EB-5 for investors. Overall, EB-2 NIW offers flexibility in job changes within the same field and may lead to a green card without being tied to a specific job or employer.
FAQ: H-1B visa and entrepreneurship: Launching a business with US citizen brother, Shareholding, Green card
I am currently on an H-1B visa. I am planning to start a business with my brother who is a US citizen and needs some guidance.
1) Until the business is operational and generating revenue, can I just be a partner in the company without doing any work visa application with it?
2) Can I have more than a 50% share in that company? If so, would that impact anyhow my H-1B with the current company?
3) In the future, if I want to file for concurrent or full-time H-1b through the new company, is it difficult to get it approved if my brother and I are the partners of the company?
4) Once I am on an H-1B visa in this new company, can the company file for my green card in the EB-1 or EB-2 category?
5) Does the company need to meet any specific conditions before sponsoring for H-1B and Employee-Based Green Card such as being E-Verified or having at least few citizens before hiring non-citizens?
Owning more than 50% of a company makes obtaining an H-1B visa difficult under current regulations. This is because the H-1B is for employees receiving a base salary, and owning a majority share raises doubts about a genuine employer-employee relationship. While regulations easing this restriction are pending, they haven't been finalized yet.
However, if you're a minority partner with your brother holding the majority and the job aligns with your field, securing an H-1B (concurrent or full-time) may be possible. Unfortunately, getting a green card through this company wouldn't be feasible due to your ownership. Consider exploring the EB-1A green card category, which recognizes individuals with exceptional ability in their field and doesn't require employer sponsorship.
Mr. Khanna is very competent, and is supported by a very prompt and proactive staff. He suggested me one of the best ways, given my situation, to obtain permanent residency (Green Card), and navigated through the various questions from the USCIS expertly. As a legal professional (from a different field of law), and as someone who has dealt with a few other immigration attorneys, I rate him and his practice among the best. Highly recommended!