PERM Processing Times (as of 03/31/2023)
Processing Queue | Priority Date |
---|---|
Analyst Review | July 2022 |
Audit Review | April 2022 |
Reconsideration Request to the CO | July 2022 |
Processing Queue | Priority Date |
---|---|
Analyst Review | July 2022 |
Audit Review | April 2022 |
Reconsideration Request to the CO | July 2022 |
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.
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
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 After the I-140 is approved, the priority date belongs to the individual even if the I-140 is withdrawn, unless it is revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, or an obvious error.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.
Does it pose a problem if we stay out of the USA for 8 months or more while having permanent residency and returning after that duration? If so, what can be done to remedy this?
The green card remains valid as long as you don't exceed the 12-month mark. Crossing this deadline leads to losing the green card and going through complicated procedures to retrieve it. If you stay outside the US for more than six months, you are subject to close examination by Customs and Border Protection at the airport. However, if your absence is less than six months, you can pass without being questioned extensively. The critical six-month mark should be taken seriously. If you stay outside for more than eight months, expect to be asked questions about the reason for your lengthy absence. Therefore, carrying evidence supporting your reason, such as selling your property or helping a family member, can be useful.