Dear all
I came to the USA from New Delhi, India with a Master's in Microbiology in 1992 - to pursue a Ph.D. in Biochemistry / Molecular biology specializing in protein engineering. In 2000, started a post doc- 7 months at Brigham and Women's hospital - did not get along with the indian jerk of a boss so changed to the main Harvard medical School quad under a fantastic caucasian post doc mentor and a very good friend, a very liberal democrat (Go John Kerry).
FAQs: Volunteering on a non-profit board committee while on H-1B or H-4 visa: Implications for visa stamping and green card process
AC21, Adjustment of Status laid off related questions, including the following and more:
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Question: When applying for new jobs, do I need to ask for a new H-1B, or can I work using my current EAD and change employer?
Answer: You can go ahead and join with the EAD but keep the future plan of reactivating your H-1B.
Question: Like H-1B after termination, is there a 60-day rule? Does that rule apply to me also, even though I have an EAD?
U nonimmigrants applying to become lawful permanent residents must now file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, only at the Nebraska Service Center and not at the Vermont Service Center.
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS
P.O. Box 87426
Lincoln, NE 68501-7526
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
P.O. Box 87426
Lincoln, NE 68501-7526
Discussion Topics - March 23, 2023
FAQs: Handling H-1B visa and layoff : What happens if I get laid off before or after stamping my visa in India? || Marriage and relocation to the U.S. : Quickest path for prospective fiancé of U.S Citizen living in India || AC21 AOS portability: Pending AOS I-140 withdrawn before 180 days || What to do if one is in India during the PERM and I-140 process ||
Release Date
03/31/2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is removing the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days before an individual applies for an underlying immigration benefit, including Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The requirement had been subject to a temporary waiver since Dec. 9, 2021.
FAQs: Do Canadian citizens need US visas? Canadian citizenship and F-1 Exploring permanent work and stay options in the U.S. for Canadian Permanent Resident Preparing for birth certificate issues in USCIS applications: Affidavits, DNA tests, and timing considerations H-1B approved after the lottery, can we change employers? Multiple employers in H-1B lotteries Paystub requirement for H-1B transfer eligibility: Is it mandatory? Delays in marriage-based immigrant visa processing: Expedite options and travel issues
Discussion Topics:
FAQ‘s:
Others:
FAQ: Explaining PERM Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) and its elements || Recapturing H-1B unused time (Remainder Option); Changing H-1B field; USCIS’s stand on combining degree and work experience || H-4 EAD visa holders opening an LLC in the U.S. and employing their H-1B holding spouse on concurrent H-1B || Gap in status, for instance, H-1B and H-4 status issues || Eligibility for EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)
I-485 Pending Inventory has been updated for the month of January 2014. The “Pending Employment-Based Form I-485 Report,” displays the total number of pending adjustment of status applications, per preference classification. The report shows how many pending adjustment of status (green card) applications in each preference classification have priority dates in a given month and year.
I started the self-NIW application while working with employer A, but for some reason, I could not file the petition. Later I got laid off from employer A and now I'm working with employer B.
I want to restart the NIW application. Questions:
1. Since I got laid off with employer A, will that be a challenge/red flag in my petition?
2. It's only been one month with employee B. Shall I wait some time at company B to restart my NIW application? or doesn't it matter?
Answer 1. Being laid off is not a challenge/red flag.
Answer 2. There's no reason it should be. You don't need to wait to restart the application. You can file it even though you've only been with employer B for a month.
Discussion Topics:
FAQ’s: EAD delayed - options || Benefits of National Interest Waiver
Two general questions,
1. What are the benefits of filing an EB2 NIW for a person whose I-140 has already been approved by an employer in the same category apart from NIW, not depending on your employer? Also, can you get your I140 approved priority date to your NIW?
2. Is it possible to renew the H-1B visa stamp before expiration? For example, if my H1B expires on November 1st and I apply for a visa stamp in October with approved extension I797, Would I be able to renew it?
While an approved I-140 with an employer offers some benefits, an EB-2 NIW grants portability - you can keep your green card across job changes in your field. It also allows extending your H-1B past the 6-year limit and enables your spouse to work and travel with you. For those with backlogged priority dates (e.g., India), NIW can help with I-130 petitions in specific situations. If your I-140 is approved already, the main advantage of NIW becomes self-sponsorship. Finally, you can renew your H-1B visa stamp before expiry, though consulate lead times (like four months) might apply.