I was selected for cap H1B. I am looking to file for pharmacist position in MD. However, at the moment I do not have a MD state license. I have a PA state license. Will I be able to apply for H1 without the MD state license. I will be able to get the license before October but not by end of June. What other positions can I apply for to get H1 with Pharm D
Currently, if you do not have a license, but it has been applied, the USCIS should approve for a full three years if they send an RFE and the license is approved by that time. Otherwise, they should approve for one year.
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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 an H1-B/ I-140 question for you and your team. Please see below: I came to India in 2019 to get my H1 stamped along with my family and got stuck. I got a 221(g), and RFE during the process but my employer got things sorted out. Then my employer also amended my petition and I re-appeared for visa stamping interview and got stuck again due to an ‘end client’ issue. Then Covid made things worse in 2020. Questions for your team: I have an approved I-140 with my old firm (on Eb-2) with a priority date of Jan 29, 2014. I am not on a US payroll since I came to India (in 2019) & my last approved petition also expired in Jan 2022. If a new firm had to take over my H1-B case can I re-capture the unused time (time stuck in India for almost 3 years) beyond my first 6 years of H1-B with this new firm/petitioner ? If so, can I port my old I-140 (& old priority date) to the new H1 petitioner after coming to US? What is the porting time frame after coming to US? Is Premium processing available for porting old I-140 (& priority date) to the new employer? Since my priority date is current, I wanted to know if my new employer can file for AOS upon my arrival in the US. Your help and feedback on the above matter will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Q. Can I re-capture the unused time (time stuck in India for almost 3 years) beyond my first 6 years of H1-B with this new firm/petitioner?
A. Yes, you can.
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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 had a doubt, I got MS in Cybersecurity at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I had talked to a few of my seniors and my dad's friends who live in the US regarding the job opportunities, they said that you will be having fewer openings compared to other fields or profiles. So I would like to know if I pursue a Software Developer Role or some role that is not related to Cybersecurity, will it be a problem at the time of the H1-B Visa Interview? Can you please guide me as i am feeling i am stuck between these issues?
The H-1B laws require only that your offered job must require the type of major you graduated with. For example, a major in Computer Science or Information Technology may be a fit for the jobs of a Software Develop, Systems Analyst, DBA, Systems Admin, or a Data Architect.
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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.
Hello, I have my current h1 valid till Sep 2022 and my extension has been approved. If my spouse went for h4 stamping in Sep after my current h1 gets expired, Do I need to get my visa stamped first for the extension or only extension I797 will be suffice to get h4 stamping. Thanks, Ashish
US consulates in recent years have not insisted on H-1B visa stamping before they stamp an H-4 visa.
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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.
Discussion Topics:
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.
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.
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.
Published by: Live Mint: April 01, 2023
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/us-h1b-visa-exclusive-ways-to-impro…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Immigration expert Rajiv Khanna cited, there are ways to increase your chances of being selected in the lottery process, such as having multiple employers file for the same employee.
My sister is in India and the prospective groom is a US citizen. They have concerns about how to proceed with marriage and relocation of the girl to US in a timely manner (prefer not to wait more than a year for marriage/ living together post-marriage for personal reasons) Current fiancé visa processing time seems to be 15 months. It was not this long pre-covid, realistically can this processing time reduce this year? If they do marriage in India first, what’s the quickest way for her to come to US and how long would it take She has a valid B1. Can she travel on that to US post-marriage for 5-6 months only without any risk to her green card application? She is trying to get an L1-B visa through her current company. Will that visa approval be affected if they get married in the meanwhile? In short, what is the quickest path for her marriage & relocation to the US right now?
She can travel with a B-1 visa as long as she tells the truth. L-1 and H-1B visas are the quickest paths.
I got my H1B visa approval recently and I have got my stamping date in May. My company is going through a bad phase financially and has had 2 layoffs (might do another layoff in next few months) I go to India for stamping and get laid off before getting my visa stamped (Can I come back to the US with 60 days left? Can I get my visa stamped if my company pays me for another month or so considering that my last day is a month later? Can I get my visa stamped even if my last day has passed)I go to India for stamping and get laid off after getting my visa stamped (can I come to US and do my job search) If I get laid off while in India but have an offer letter from another company (H1B transfer done/ transfer to be done after returning to US)
This is a pertinent question. I don't think you should go for visa stamping if you have been laid off. If you do go, you should make it clear to the consulate that you have been laid off. However, under the law, you have a 60-day grace period during which you intend to apply for another job. I don't think it's going to work like that. I don't remember the details of the regulation off the top of my head, but I think there might be some restrictions against travel.
An offer letter is not good enough just to get the H-1B approval. Then, I don't think there's a problem with traveling.
Discussion Topics:
I'm on H-1B with employer A and am currently in the PERM process(recruitment done). I'm in India right now and would like to know what happens if:
1) PERM approved and i140 filed; (while I'm in India)
2) Receive PERM audit; (while I'm in India)
3) I-140 approved and Post I-140 approval; (while I'm in India)
Do I need to return to the US in any of the above scenarios? Any worst-case scenarios I should keep in mind?
1. No problem.
2. No problem.
3. No problem.
Do discuss your long-term plans with your lawyers.
1) I-485 Filed under EB 3 Downgrade - More than one year back and pending
2)Independent I140 Approved both in EB2 and EB3 (Not as Amendment)
3) Currently working on H1B Work Authorization
4) I-485 EAD and AP Available but never used (EB3 Category)
Questions: -
1) If you change your job but by transferring your H1B (Change of Employer) and NOT use EAD, would the AC21 still apply (Same or Similar Job constraint) if you want to keep the I-485 alive?2) You said the last call that for Same of Similar Determination - USCIS Looks at all aspects:
a) Do the Job Duties and Actual Job Title need to be a dollar-to-dollar match?
b) Job Location Changes (One City/State to Another) and Job Mode Changes (From Onsite to Hybrid or Fully Remote) - Allowed?
c) Compensation Differentials - Positive or Negative - Any specific considerations/grey areas
1. Absolutely fine. There is no law that states that in order to enjoy job portability you must necessarily use your EAD. In fact, in ninety nine percent of the cases I would advise you to transfer on H-1B simply because if there is a problem with your I-485 we are on solid footing to fight it out, otherwise you would be out of status and unlawfully present if your I-485 is denied. Hence definitely keep your H-1B active.
2. That depends. It doesn't have to be a one-on-one match job location. You can move from one state to another as this is a part of AC21 compensation. The only time you will have a problem is if the compensation is unexplained and it's a huge jump. Always ask an attorney who understands your situation to review your file.
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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.
Hello, this is for my niece, a 28 years Engineering graduate from India, with 4 years of IT development work experience. She got her name in H1b lottery through a small consultancy firm and the consultancy firm is asking us to pay H1b fee to proceed further. But in her case, she have had a F1 student visa denial about 3 years ago and so we are debating if she stands a chance to get H1b or is it more likely to get denied again since she is coming through a smaller consultancy firm. Any advice will be highly appreciated.
The H-1B fees and expenses must be paid by the employer. It is illegal for them to demand any fees from a potential employee.
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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.
FAQs: Impact of job changes on pending I-140 and/or PERM applications for H-1B holder || Recommendation letters for EB-1A applications ||What happens if you stay outside the U.S. for more than 8 months as a permanent resident
As previously announced, on March 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption also known as the master’s cap.
The H-1B electronic registration process, implemented in 2020 beginning with the FY 2021 H-1B cap, has dramatically streamlined processing by reducing paperwork and data exchange, and provides an overall cost savings to petitioning employers and USCIS.
If your company files a new PERM for a different role within the same organization after your initial I-140 is approved, will the initial I-140 still be active?
If your employer revokes your initial I-140 more than 6 months after it is approved and you move to a new role within the same company, is there any risk involved?
Will every organization need to apply for a PERM again in the future if you switch employers? Can you work for an organization that is not ready to start your PERM process, and can you use your previous approved I-140 to extend your H1B for a new employer?
If you lose your job post I-140 approval and don't find a new job within 60 days, can you still apply for jobs while outside the United States? Will your last approved I-140 still be active?
What are the cases or situations in which you can lose your I-140 or priority date (i.e., your approved I-140 is revoked)?
When filing for the permanent labor certification (PERM) application, it is important to file from the corporate headquarters instead of a branch or sub-office, especially for consulting jobs or jobs that can be transferred to different locations. This is because the U.S Department of Labor considers the corporate headquarters to be the job site for transferable jobs. After the I-140 is approved, the priority date belongs to the individual even if the I-140 is withdrawn, unless it is revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, or an obvious error. Additionally, as long as the I-140 stays approved for 180 days, the individual has the right to extend their H-1B beyond six years with any employer, even if the I-140 is revoked. After 180 days, the employer can revoke the I-140, but it does not affect the individual.
Published by: Live Mint: April 03, 2023
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/if-h1b-visa-holders-lose-jobs-can-s…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Immigration expert Rajiv S. Khanna stated regulations aim to provide greater opportunities for skilled foreign workers and their families to settle and contribute to the US economy.
Hello, I have been laid off from Amazon, and I am unemployed since March-20, I got one offer from another company, and they did my immigration assessment, they told me that I do not have enough time and its difficult to ensure that I will not go out of status within this time saying that they have rejected my application. If I just file LCA my unemployment days will stop, or they will have to file my H1B change petition only then will I be able to save my status. Also, will I get 60 days grace period for each H1B petition?
Filing an LCA is not enough. In order to stop the running of the 60-days grace period and to start working, your H-1B transfer petition must be received by the USCIS within the grace period.
The grace period is not a one-shot deal. You will get it whenever you are in the layoff/cessation of employment situation again.