June 16, 2022, Rajiv in QnA with Yudi on behalf of students and young professionals
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As per I-94, parents are admitted until 8th August 2022 for their B2 visa. We just sent the I-130/I-485 documents to USCIS.
Q1. What happens if there is no receipt generated till 7th August? Do parents have to leave the country?
Q2. If receipt is generated after they have left the country, what happens to the GC process?
Q3. If receipt is generated in time then what is the process to extend their stay or are they automatically eligible to stay till the GC process is completed?
1. Your obligation is complete when the government physically receives your papers with the proper filing fees. After that, if they delay in creating the receipt it's really not your problem. As long as you can show that the papers were sent and received by the government.
2. The answer is No. Let's say that they did leave, then they’re I-130 would still go on but their I-485 would be abandoned and you would have to convert the case to consular processing.
3. They are automatically eligible to stay because once their I-485 is timely filed, they are considered to be an authorized period of stay. They cannot be illegal as long as the I-485 is pending.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I entered USA on AP (EB3 EAD), I have a valid H1B I-797A till May 2024 I have approved EB2 I-140 I also have RFE on my EB3 I-140 (EAD and AP received on EB3 filing)
1) How can I get back on H-1B status without going for stamping?
2) Can I interfile my EB3 485 to EB2 485 with pending EB3 I-140
Since you have already entered and resumed the same job you are still considered to be on H-1B. There is nothing to get back to.
Yes, you can. Although you have traveled on advance parole you should be able to file EB-2 interfiling.
For more information you can also visit my blog:
https://immigration.com/blogs/adjustment-status-transferring-basis-i-48…
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
My EB-2 I-140 was approved in 2014. Like many others, in 2020, I filed for a downgrade from EB-2 to EB-3 with the same employer. The EB-3 I-140 was denied on Ability to Pay grounds. Now, my EB-2 date is current and I have refiled an I-485. Will there be any impact of the denial on my approved EB-2 I-140 and I-485?
I would suggest you sit with your lawyers and figure out if there is a possibility of starting another green card with this employer, while this case is still going on. Because, if you are able to preserve your priority date and get another green card approval through PERM and the employer has the ability to pay wages, then it makes more sense to file another green card through this employer or through any other employer.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I am on an F-1 visa. I just need to know what are the consequences of working without authorization. I have a situation due to a hardship problem during the Covid times, I worked for one and a half months (approximately I don't remember exactly). I had a loan that paid my tuition but during the Covid times the bank from my hometown denied the transfer of funds. So, for that particular period I worked because I did not have a choice. All of my family members were fighting the worst covid situation at that time. There are five people in my family; four were in the hospital for weeks. I was not aware that working without authorization is a serious violation of my status.
In the future when I apply for H-1B or apply for OPT, what kind of consequences do I face? What are my options to get out of this situation? Can we get one pardon from the USCIS for this mistake?
The DSO could assist you in this matter and figure something out. But be prepared to leave the United States and secure a job if possible. Keep applying for an H-1B and if you ever get through the lottery and you get an H-1B approval make sure that you reveal in your visa papers that there was a violation. Be truthful about it. Remember this is not a ground for denying your H-1B. Therefore H-1B is definitely a possibility, but getting back the student status may be difficult.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I have been in the U.S since 2017 and my F1 visa expires this month due to the 5 year validity period.
1. I graduate in December 2022, so is there any risk in renewing my visa this summer? Any chance of rejections?
2. What is the risk involved in renewing my F1 visa in another country besides my country of citizenship? I lived my whole life as a resident in another country without citizenship, but am no longer a resident there, so was wondering if renewing there is fine?
3. Is renewing an F1 visa necessary for OPT? I believe it's not necessary. Is renewing an F1 visa necessary to apply for H-1B and Green card?
1. First of all, unless you are traveling you do not have to renew your visa. If the visa expires while you're still completing your course, it's absolutely no problem.
2. Technically, once your F-1 has been granted, any country should be able to renew it.
3. It is not necessary for both your queries.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Q1. Does it make a PERM and GC case stronger if a job has high minimum job requirements? Because the requirements are very high, it could be easy to prove that no qualified and willing US worker is available for the job.
Q2. If a job has very low minimum job requirements like only a bachelor's degree, does it make a PERM and GC case weaker? Because the requirements are very low, it could be hard to prove that no qualified and willing US worker is available for the job.
1. Absolutely. At the same time you cannot lie.
2. Definitely. Your HR would be a good source for this kind of information. Hence, in principle what you are saying is absolutely correct, but also remember that these papers are filed under penalty of perjury so one has to be meticulously truthful.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
1. Can I have multiple employers i.e. jobs in the first year of OPT and also after getting STEM OPT extension?
2. Can all my employers start my green process simultaneously?
3. If H-1B COS is approved through one employer i.e. switched from OPT to H-1B, can I still continue other jobs and GC process with them? If not, is there a way to continue all jobs?
4. Does it make a green card case stronger if the sponsoring employer is a big renowned company like Microsoft or Amazon? Also, what about if the company is small?
5. Does OPT, STEM, and H-1B allow you to do a job that allows remote work from within the U.S. regardless of the pandemic? Is such a job eligible for H-1B and green card sponsorship?
1. Yes. STEM OPT people can also have more than one concurrent job, but they have to work with their DSO's to make sure the paperwork is filed properly.
2. Yes, as long as there is a good faith intention to join any one of these employers who can get your green card.
3. Yes, you can. You can have multiple H-1B approvals living together in the same space.
4. It does not impact the speed of the green card. What is most important is the company's financial solvency.
5. Remote work is possible for both OPT STEM, H-1B and Green Card jobs.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Three months after the I-140 approval, I moved from the location of employment given in my PERM application. I will stay with the same company for 180 days after the I-140 approval. To keep all benefits of an approved I-140 after I change employers, what do I have to do? What is the impact of the change of location? Do I have to prove my intention to keep the job permanently? Will the USCIS revoke the I-140 because of the change of location or if I change employers?
The moment your I-140 is approved your priority date is yours to keep. It can only be revoked if there is fraud, misrepresentation or some gross error in your paperwork. You can leave this employer and go somewhere else. You will have to start the green card all over again but you keep that date.
On the other hand, if the I-140 stays approved for 180 days without withdrawal or revocation you also have the right to keep extending your H-1B beyond six years with any employer until your priority date becomes current, when you are supposed to have filed the I-485. Your wife also has the right to keep extending her H-4EAD based upon your H-1B extensions. The I-140 upon approval immediately gives you the priority date to keep forever. That priority date can be transferred across visa categories and job categories. Once the I-140 is approved and stays approved for 180 days you have the right to extend your H-1B through any employer beyond six years, even if you left the employer 10 days after filing the I-140. Therefore you don't have to maintain the job for 180 days. Your I-140 must remain unrevoked for 180 days.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I have a question regarding the AC21 180 days rule. My I-485 Green Card was approved under EB2 category in March 2022. I changed my employer in October 2021 but my new employer filed AC21 I-485j only in February 2022 when my PD got current. When can I change jobs if I get a better offer? Do I need to work for 180 days with this employer since I-485j filing date?
In total, I have worked for 9 months for this employer (5 months before filing AC21 and 4 months after GC approval).
There is no limit on how many times you can change employers on AC21 portability and there is no requirement that you must work for an employer for 180 days.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
In order to expedite the PERM process, is it possible to do recruitment in parallel with PWD?
Do the job order notice or job order which is filed with the local employment commission in the State. That is the only thing you can do and that could save you a few weeks time.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
1. Is H-1B visa stamping required?
2. Can an H-1B visa be obtained while remaining in the US?
3. Can an H-1B visa be rejected?
1. The answer is No. It is only required if you travel outside.
2. It is a good idea to check with the consulate and they will respond through emails.
3. Absolutely.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I have a question about Interfiling my GC case. My Priority Date (Aug 2014) is current in the June Visa Bulletin. I'm planning to go to India this month and return back next month. While coming back I will use my AP for POE and also My wife is already using EAD and AP.
1) Can I interfile if I use AP for entering the USA?
2) Can I go back to EB3 if the EB2 date is retrogressive?
1. The answer is yes. USCIS has made it clear that even if you have used the advanced parole the center will still allow you to do your interfiling as long as the dates for final action dates are current. Please refer the blog for more information: https://immigration.com/blogs
2. According to the USCIS you may only do so once. Although I don't know why I think it's improper enforcement of law and procedure but that's what the USCIS has said. Therefore, it is still possible, but you cannot interfile. However, in my view you can always file another I-485 to also activate the EB-3 from which you have already taken out the pre-existing I-485. Hence, I do not see any problem with filing a second I-485.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Release Date
Effective Dec. 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.
Question: My sister has been on F-1 status, currently on OPT and I want to file for her EB5 visa. I will fund her 75% of my money with cash that I earned from W2 and may get an equity loan if needed (total 800K). She wants to open an IT consulting company in Rural Area while on OPT. I have the following questions.
1. Is an IT consulting company a valid investment in terms of USCIS because one attorney mentioned it is not?
2. Does the count of hiring U.S. residents begin after the company is founded or after an I-526 application is filed?
3. How long will it take to get a conditional green card? How about non-conditional?
4. Is it a good idea to file now while on OPT-EAD or wait until she gets H-1B? She has another 2.5 years remaining on OPT.
5. Is it okay to use AP/EAD after she gets it while OPT-EAD? Can she still apply for H-1B after I-1485 is filed?
1. Not only should there be an investment that investment should be needed to set up that business.
2. When you file your first set of forms (Form I-526) at that time you provide a business plan and you tell the government that once the I-526 is approved within two years or soon thereafter you will be able to create ten American jobs. You have about four years to create American jobs.
3. You can actually look those times up.
4.This is also complicated because if she gets her H-1B she's allowed to work only for the H1B employer. This should be planned in detail with a lawyer. At least theoretically this is feasible
5. She can still apply for an H-1B after I-485 is filed. It is theoretically possible, at least at the USCIS level but at the consulate level it is a different story.
My priority date is April'14 in EB2. My current employer filed an AOS (I-485, I-765 & I-131) using a prior employer I-140 petition. My EAD (I-765)/AP (I-131) was approved a few weeks ago. My current employer didn't submit I-485J while submitting I-485 application. My current employer PERM was submitted a few months ago.
Questions:
1) Is it safe to use the EAD/AP (or) would you recommend staying in H1B until I-485 is approved?
2) Will this filing be considered to be fraud/misrepresentation (or) Would you recommend withdrawing my I-485 application?
Release Date
Federal Register Notice Published Today Announces Nationwide Trial
I had filed for my parent's green card in July' 2022. It is concurrent filing.
The I-130 filed by me shows processing times of 4 weeks and 6 months for my dad & mom respectively.
The Advance Parole shows processing time of 11.5 months and I-485 (Minneapolis-St. Paul field office) is almost 2 years.
Their I-94 is expiring on the 30th Nov. What is the process to withdraw the application so that they can return back to India legally before 30th Nov?
Also wanted to know:
Will I need to withdraw the I-130 petitions that I had filed for them ?
Will this impact their existing B-2 (visitor) visa? Will it still be valid?
1. There is no need to withdraw the application, but if you want to withdraw you will have to send a letter. Even if they leave without getting an advance parole the I-485 is deemed to be abandoned but the I-130 can still go on. You will have to call USCIS to open a customer service request and convert the I-130 to consular processing. Even though the I-485 is abandoned the I-130 is put in the consular processing queue.
2. If they leave before November 30th their visitor visa should not be affected.
I did my Masters in chemical engineering in the US and then worked for an environmental firm in NYC, where my H1B was sponsored. I got my H1B in 2019 (Oct 2019 start date), and then I moved to India in Dec 2020, and it’s been almost 2 yrs here in India.
I have approx. 4.5 yrs remaining on my H1B. My questions are below:
1. Am I eligible to use the H1B remainder option for a different employer under a different field under cap exemption? I want to know if I can work in the business domain and not in the chemical field using the H1B remainder option.
2. Say I find an employer in the US in the business domain who is willing to sponsor me directly? Do I need to apply for a new H1B and go through the April lottery? What are the consequences?
3. Lastly, if I plan to do an MBA, which would be my second master's in the US, is it possible to use the H1B remainder option from my first master's and work in the business domain?
I did my Masters in chemical engineering in the US and then worked for an environmental firm in NYC, where my H1B was sponsored. I got my H1B in 2019 (Oct 2019 start date), and then I moved to India in Dec 2020, and it’s been almost 2 yrs here in India.
I have approx. 4.5 yrs remaining on my H1B. My questions are below:
1. Am I eligible to use the H1B remainder option for a different employer under a different field under cap exemption? I want to know if I can work in the business domain and not in the chemical field using the H1B remainder option.
2. Say I find an employer in the US in the business domain who is willing to sponsor me directly? Do I need to apply for a new H1B and go through the April lottery? What are the consequences?
3. Lastly, if I plan to do an MBA, which would be my second master's in the US, is it possible to use the H1B remainder option from my first master's and work in the business domain?
Number 73
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.