Question details
I have a question on the new very scary and confusing interoffice memo (May 6, 2009) that the acting associate director of USCIS issued regarding unlawful presence. I am currently on EAD/AP since the expiration of my 6 years of H1-b visa on september 3, 2008 with my I-140 approved and my I-485 (PD-october 2, 2004, EB2) pending. According to the example 2 (page 10) of this memo-, anybody with an expired non-immigrant visa is subject to deportation even though his I-485 was filed properly when that person was in proper non-immigrant status and the petition is still pending. My understanding was that once an AOS is filed, I am authorized to stay here and work on EAD and go in and out of USA on AP until that petition is denied. When did this law change?
That example does not make any sense. It appears to be more a clarification of a concept - NOT practice. Do NOT worry. You are fine. If someone has not already done so, I will write USCIS next week after reviewing the entire 51 page memo carefully. Do NOT lose sleep over this.
My O petition was approved through your help and when I went for O1 Stamping my visa was not issued due to Chennai consulate in patent misunderstanding of the law that being subject to INA Section 212(e) home residency requirement.
Finally Mr Khanna sent the a brief explanation that "It is long settled law that 212(e) does NOT apply to O-1 visas" and i got the O1 stamping. I am convinced that with the current experience of obtaining the O visa with your guidance, and support of Miss Diane Lombardo and Miss Anna Baker I would definitely be a client for my future needs. I am very pleased with the service and the application was very diligently prepared by your staff with communicating with different parties of my sponsor institution. The staff at the sponsor institution were amazed by the pleasant nature of Miss Diane Lombardo. I was very confident by your mails that my visa will successfully stamped. I whole heartedly thank you Mr. Khanna and your team. I would advise my pears to get the best job done right, is to hire Mr. Khanna. I am eagerly looking forward to working with you in the future. Thanks, Raghava Munivenkatappa