US Work and Immigration Options for Foreign Professionals
US Work and Immigration Options for Foreign Professionals
A discussion with two members of our community
Topics:
I wanted to thank you for the recent consultation I had with Mr. Khanna. I am extremely impressed with the knowledge your team has and the guidance you are able to provide. Thanks also to your fast responses to my queries and how you consistenly exceed expectations.
I had few questions on EB1C filing;
- I am here in the US from 2015. Prior to that I was working as an Manger for the same firm in India.
- I was appointed as a Principal and then promoted as a Solution Manager last year. My role involves tasks during the entire duration of a given project and as part of the project I co-ordinate with the offshore teams assigned on the project for deliverable and to assign other tasks related to the project.<br>
1. As part of EB1C filing is there a mandatory requirement that a manager should be having dedicated team members<br>
2. If 1 is yes then can we consider the offshore team members assigned per project who would be supervised to the level of getting status of tasks, providing clarifications, training them etc.<br>
3. Is there a minimum number of reports required in the US and while I was in India, and if those reports have left the organization is that Ok?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: EB-1C for functional managers - overseas team inclusion
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.
We had great advice from Mr. Rajiv, in a few minutes he would provide a precise answer for our questions . Thank you very much.
Maintaining Green card
By
Rajiv S. Khanna
July 20th, 2012
15.55 Minutes
I wanted to record a video at the request of a community member who is a senior, a parent of a US citizen. They come and they visit. A lot of people are in this situation. When parents come and visit, are they required to continue to stay here for a certain time? How does the naturalization process work? It is a difficult topic because it has many components.
Let me start by giving you an overview of the way maintaining permanent residency in the USA works. Let’s begin with this flow chart. What does the law require if you have a green card? The law requires you to have a permanent home in the USA. There is no artistic definition of what “permanent home” is. If you in fact live in the USA, your permanent home is USA.
I’ll get to the specific questions in a minute. I just want to talk about the law in general.
Your permanent home must be USA. There is no artistic definition of permanent home. The simple question is “Where do you live?” If the answer is, “I live in USA,” you’re okay. That’s the first step. But what about taking a trip outside USA? Is it a one-time trip or infrequent trips or do you go every year for a couple of months or a month? That’s not a problem. But what if you are going every year for five months, frequent trips that you repeat every year? At some point, USCIS can raise a red flag on that. Because the question is, are you really living in USA or are you really living in your home country? If there is a pattern, even though the pattern involves travel of less than six months in a 12-month period, but it’s a pattern that has existed for a long time, a few years, they can raise an objection, and they can ask you where you live.
One thing I want to add. If a green card holder shows up at the US airport, the government has to let them in, even if they are claiming abandonment. Government has to let them in and they can lift the green card and they can say they are taking away your green card, and you have to report to immigration court on a given date, but it’s not like they can you turn you back at the airport.
Going back to what we were talking about, frequent trips or a pattern of trips. What if my trip is less than six months? Usually, there is no problem. Any year you want to go out for five months or 5 ½ months, it’s not a problem for your green card, not a problem for your naturalization, unless there is a pattern. If there is a pattern, then they can start creating issues.
What if the trip is less than a year but more than six months?
That can require an explanation at the airport. There is actually a technical term called “entry.” A green card holder who has been gone less than six months is not really seeking entry. They are not considered to be subject to a bunch of technical requirements that people would be if they were gone for six months or more.
If you are gone for more than one year outside USA without reentry permit, if you don’t have a reentry permit form like I-131 and N-470? These are two forms that help you preserve your green card. N-470 helps you preserve your stay outside USA for naturalization if you are engaged in missionary activity, working for the US government, or involved in advancing international trade on behalf of a US company. It doesn’t apply to many people, especially to parents who are coming or are retired or if they are just coming for a few months in a year. For them, it doesn’t really apply. But a reentry permit protects you, not a hundred percent, but to a certain extent against an allegation by the government that you have completely abandoned your permanent residence. If you are outside USA for more than one year without reentry permit, your green card is gone.
What to do if you have been outside USA for more than one year without reentry permit?
There are only two choices. You can apply for a returning residence visa through the consulate in your home country. It is also called SB-1 visa. There, you have to explain in quite some detail what the genuine reason was for your inability to return to USA within one year. Then it is discretionary upon the consulate whether they are convinced by the genuineness of your response or not. If you have been outside USA for more than one year, your green card is gone. If you can get a returning resident visa (SB-1 visa), then you can come back. Of course, your son or daughter can apply for a green card again. If you unfortunately have a green card through a brother or sister, that will take 13 years again. That’s the way you can get your green card back.
The next question I have been asked a lot. Yesterday, no less than three people asked me the same question.
What if I surrender my green card? Will I easily be able to get certain visas like B-1, B-2 (tourist, business), F-1(student), and J-1 (exchange visitors)?
The answer is we don’t know. On the one hand, the fact that you have given up your green card should be considered the ultimate proof that you don’t want to live in US. But government can sometimes ignore that and consider that to be actually a negative point that you had a green card and maybe you are trying get back into USA. Sometimes you can have a problem getting B, F, or J type visa. Of course, for certain kinds of visas for which immigrant intent or intent to live in USA is not an issue, like H-1, H-4, L-1, L-2 visa, you would not have any problem getting those.
That’s what I wanted to cover in the way of the general law. Now I want to show what USCIS says about this. I extracted this from the USCIS website. USCIS says if you do anything which makes you removable, for example, if you commit a crime, etc., which is not a problem for us. But then they talk about abandoning permanent residence. If you move to another country intending to live there permanently, one of the things that USCIS looks for, not just in case of parents, in case of any immigrant who is outside USA, if you leave your job and get another job outside USA, that is a sure indication that you have abandoned your permanent residence in USA. Also, if your family is living in your home country and not USA, then USCIS can consider that also to be evidence that you have abandoned your permanent residence in the USA. If you remain outside the USA for more than one year, I’ve already covered that.
If you fail to file an income tax return while living outside US for any period or you declare yourself a non-immigrant on your tax returns, you will lose your green card. But what if you are not required to file tax returns? That’s one of the questions the gentleman who sent me an email asked me. Am I required to file an income tax return? I don’t know where that observation from USCIS comes from, because, the way I see it, if IRS does not require you to file a tax return, you shouldn’t be filing one. There is not a problem. I looked up at the IRS publication P-4588. The part that I highlighted. If you have a US green card, if you are a lawful permanent resident, even if you are a US green card holder for only one day in that year, you have to file income taxes, except when your gross income from worldwide sources is less than the amount that requires a tax return to be filed. If your income is below a certain level, I do not see why you should be required to file a tax return. In my view, the information on USCIS website is a little misleading. It does not provide for those cases where a tax return is just not required to be filed. That’s the way I see it, but I’m no tax expert. I would readily admit that. In my view, it is not required.
Now, going through the questions that our respected community member has.
Can the green card holder travel to their native country for 160 to 170 days?
As I said, as long as you are maintaining your permanent home in USA. The question is what is a permanent home for somebody who lives a few months here and few months in the home country? Difficult for me to say. Maybe a separate bedroom for you in your children’s house, if you’re living with a child, maybe your bank account, or if you have your driver’s license. Anything that a person who is living in USA permanently would do will strengthen your case. If you have a pattern of going back to your home country for a few months every year and it is 160-170 days, which is just short of 180, it appears to USCIS that maybe you are not really seriously maintaining your green card. That’s what I would be worried about. However, if you have other indications that you are actually living permanently in USA. Again, this is not a term of art. There isn’t anything here that I can say that is very scientific or artistic or esoteric that I can explain to people. It is just common sense. Whatever a normal person does. By normal, I mean you, for example. What would you do, sir, if you were living in USA? What kind of amenities would you create for yourself? Would you rent your own house? Buy your own house? Whatever it is that you would normally do. If you follow that through, I think you have a fairly good chance of surviving any challenge by the government that you have abandoned your green card. By the way, for naturalization also, if the green card has been abandoned at any point in time, there can be no naturalization.
Question #2. 99 percent of parents are dependent on their children. Is it necessary to file income tax returns?
In my view, no. If IRS doesn’t require you to file tax returns, I don’t see how USCIS can. In my view, you should not have to file tax returns, if, under the rules of IRS, you’re not required to.
May you file no taxable income? I don’t know how to do that. You have to ask your CPA.
Will it affect for filing the naturalization process? I haven’t done extensive research on this issue of tax returns, but, just from what I saw in a couple of minutes of review, it didn’t appear to me that a tax return should be required. If you want to be even more sure, what you can do is contact your Congressman’s office here in USA and just tell them to find out the answer for you definitively.
I am unaware of the source of this requirement. I don’t see where USCIS says you’ve got to file taxes. What if the law doesn’t require you to?
So, go to your Congressman’s office. They might be able to confirm.
I don’t want to spend a whole lot of time trying to resolve this issue, which is, in my view, a marginal issue.
Third question--Can they continue to hold green card for seven to eight years and, in the ninth year, file for naturalization?
The answer is yes. As long as you meet the requirements for naturalization and you have not abandoned your green card, you are okay.
That’s pretty much all I have to add to this. You folks with follow-up questions, go ahead and send us emails or join our community conference calls. We’ll take it up there.
Thank you, everybody.
This video is available on immigration.com at Requirements for Naturalization in USA (Forms I-131/N-470)
It has been a great experience with Mr. Khanna's office. The law office executives and Managers are highly helpful, meticulous, providing assistance even to the simplest query.I would always recommend their service for any immigration assistance.
I have been interacting Mr. Khanna and his office for my Green Card processing. They have my taken case as though this is one single case that they are handling and giving all the attention it needs. I am confident with this team, I will eventually get my Green Card and am thankful for the team.
What is Returning Resident Visas (SB-1)?
About Returning Resident Visas (SB-1)
I have been dealing with Mr. Khanna and the team for the last several years. I always felt that everytime you encounter with team, there is continous improvement in handling cases professionally. He is very through with the law and more importantly pragmatic. He giudes the clients in the right way. A great firm to work with, as he has dedicated staff and his services are always praiseworthy.
Rajiv and his team are simply awesome. Rajiv knows the subject matter and is very thorough with all the rules and regulations. I was impressed with the humility, simplicity and honesty.
I was assisted by DIane Lombardo a colleague and team member of Rajiv, who was diligent, detailed, prompt and persistent. Diane is highly focussed, paid attention to minute details and analytical. Diane always responded to calls and emails within 2 hours, and referred the matter to Rajiv, whenever required for specialist advice. A great team indeed. Anna Baker also was involved in the coordination and I did see that Anna made extra efforts to ensure all documentations are perfect.
I highly recommend Rajiv and team for all immigration related work.
It has been a great experience working with Diane in filling my greencard , She is very professional and lighting fast in responding to all of my questions. Overall it was a great working with this firm Thanks Vinnan
I am back once again in the client feedback forum to express my appreciation and thanks to Rajiv and Savita for their brilliant and extra ordinary work they did for my I-140 (EB1 Multination Company Manager/Executive) My case needed all their brilliance and ability because I dont work for a well known company and my company is a small business with operations in 2 countries. Off late I have been getting irritated with a few of my friends if they hire any other lawyer other than Rajiv and I am now very much convinced that I am right. I sincerely thank Rajiv, Savita and everyone at their offices for their excellent and efficient services.
Have been dealing with Mr. Rajiv Khanna and his team for the last several years. Exceptional professional service! A quick grasp of any complex situation and defintely he provides a solution that is pragmatic. A very rare and talented attorney who protects the rights but has empathy, at heart for his clients.
Mr. Khanna and his team take care of their clients. I've used their services in the past for my H1-B filing 10 years ago. And now when I emailed them with a question about Re-entry permit/N-470, Mr. Khanna made himself available to talk on the phone directly to help me out. I am really impressed with their service.
Both my L1A visa related work and my EB1C related work is done by Rajiv's Law office. My experience with them was simply awesome. They know the process well and they 1st understand the profile and about company and guide us accordingly. I think they are really a subject matter expert in this. Also I appreciate the response time, Anna worked on my L1A and Diane worked on my GC application and both were kind, pateient and prompt in responding any query. They patiently asnwered all my queries during the process. I got my GC in 2 month's time after filing and it was quick. You get personalize service during the process and which is very important since you are sure about what you are submitting to the department. Overall it was very plesant experience working with Rajiv's office and will definately recommend this office for all future immigrants. Good luck Rajiv and his team.
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)
Discussion Topics
FAQ: Effect of typos on immigration documents || Concerns about EB-1C Green Card Portability || Who is required to pay for an EB-1C Green Card? || Can too many parking tickets affect Green Card or Citizenship process? ||
How does EB-1C portability work?
I also have a question about the EB1C portability of the priority date. Say, If I have I-140 approved under EB1C and have a particular priority date. For some reason, if I need to or want to change employers and I do not qualify for EB1C with other employers. My new employer can file I-140 under EB-2, or I can file EB-2 NIW myself. I have both options. The question is whether I can use the priority date of the earlier approved I-140 petition under EB1C to the new employer's EB-2 petition and file AOS.
Sure. EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 all of them can be ported.
Who pays for the I-140 filing fee? Employer or Employee? Do federal regulations mandate payment by the employer? Who pays the attorney fees for the I-140 form per federal regulations? Is it mandatory to be paid by the employer? Who pays for the I-1485 filing fee per federal regulations? Employer or Employee? Any federal mandate I need to know? Who pays for I-485 attorney fees per federal regulations? Is anything mandated in federal regulations?
Generally speaking for L-1/EB-1C there are no requirements of any kind that say that the employer has to pay. The employee can pay for I-140 and I-485.
My PD - July 2014 EB2. I have a pending 485 and got EAD and AP.
I’m a manager in my current company and manage teams in India and the US.
I would like to know how to upgrade to EB1 as International Manager.
Is it required that I work outside the US for one year?
If I visit India and work for 3-4 months, can the accumulated time over 2-3 years be used for upgrading to EB1?
I would also like to know if we can renew EAD from India and keep the current 485 processes on track.
Yes, you can upgrade.
No, you cannot you cannot renew EAD from India.
FAQ: Entering the U.S. on a visitor visa while green card is pending |Qualifying for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) | Spouse visa through H-1, L-1, or O-1 | Any special visas for UK, EU, Singapore, Dubai or Australia || Qualifying for EB-1C green card by working abroad for a year | Expected processing times for EB-1C for an L-1A visa holder from India || Consequences of employer withdrawing I-485 Supplement J || Layoff while on an H-1B visa - what if I cannot find a job in 60 days?
Mr. Khanna and his staff is fabulous and extremely accountable! I recently had one on one conference call with Mr. Khanna and his assistant Rena and I was so much impressed with Mr. Khanna professonalism and knowledge. If I have to recommend any lawyer in future to any person; Mr. Khanna and his staff will be my first choice. God Bless Mr. Khanna and Team! Muhammed Nadeem Ibrahim