Discussion Topics, Thursday, 28 July 2016:
FAQ: Criminal record, affect on naturalization, other risks; Criteria for EB-1C, international managers and executives, impact of receiving benefits; Tourist/Visitors/B-2 visa denial 214(b); How long is an I-140 approval valid; Legalizing status; Change of work location after filing for naturalization N-400 - 90-day rule for domicile; Gap required on a B visa revisit.
Other: Student (M-1) Visa stamping, changing to F-1; N-600; Conflicting I-94 on H-1 extension and amendment; 221(g) on H-1 visa; Priority date transfer after I-140; J-2 EAD processing; Protecting H-1 holder's share in company, green card processing; H-1B transfer salary and reporting company; H-1B changing employers, etc.; spouse of green card holder issues; When to file I-140/AOS after PERM approval; Correcting records with CBP; Overstay on B visa alleged; etc.
On July 1, 2016, as part of a workload transfer from the California and Vermont service centers, the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) began accepting certain Form I-129 H-1B and H-1B1 (Chile/Singapore Free Trade) petitions. The NSC also began accepting Form I-539 and Form I-765 applications for certain H-4 nonimmigrants that are concurrently filed with a Form I-129.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 11 August 2016:
FAQ: Canadian citizen (or any person) getting married to a US green card holder; Consequences of denial of an H-1 transfer petition; When is an H-1B amendment necessary; Applying for green card for parents; Getting H-1 transfer while an amendment/extension is pending.
Other: Accompanying student minor, son to live in the USA on B-1/B-2 visa; Reentry permit applying for US citizenship; Parents moving to the USA healthcare and other issues; effect on priority date if I-140 employee remains outside the USA, etc; Affidavit of Support I-864 co-sponsor; Green card holder applying for spouse - Final Action dates on visa bulletin; H-1B extension if old I-140 is revoked, etc; Applying for H-1 through a new company, etc.; How to prove country of birth, etc.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 8 September 2016:
FAQ: Am I exempt from H-1 quota if visa was not stamped? Does AC21 permit promotions and higher salary for same or similar job? N-400 naturalization/citizenship delays; Applying for parents green card, I-130, I-485, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc; Continuing work outside USA despite approval of L-1A;
Other: Quota impact of revocation of H-1; Green card filing and impact of Trivalley university; Travel on H-1 with just a few days left; Change jobs after green card approval; Transferring H-1B quota jobs; Surrendering reentry permit; Filing FOIA request to get H-1 and I-140/PERM papers; Cross chargeability - how to prove country of birth; Applying for H-1B and traveling on visa in an old passport; H-1B extension more than 6 months before expiration; H-1B visa stamping; etc.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 22 September 2016:
FAQ: Effect of divorce on employment-based immigration; Can a student on F-1 visa apply for a green card?
Other: Changing jobs after I-140 approval; Gap in H-1 traveling outside USA with I-485 AOS pending; H-1 staying in India and receiving US pay; L-1/H-1 helping parents apply for tourist/visitors visa - medical treatment; Rent/lease problems effect on naturalization/citizenship; Re-entering USA with just a few days remaining on H-1 visa/extension applied; Green card times; Reopening and denial of an H-4/EAD; Working on EAD; H-4 volunteering to gain CPA experience; H-1 visa stamping; H-1 cap exemption; H-1 visa stamping - job titles and salary conflict; I-94 problems; Changing jobs after I-140 approval; H-1B visa stamping; Status problems for a nurse
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 6 October 2016:
FAQ: Issues regarding changing jobs while on H-1:-- Is there a minimum time gap necessary to transfer H-1 from one job to another, change jobs| timing of resigning and joining; Errors in visa and passport; Name spellings different in various documents; Arrival departure records from-to Canada; Liquidated damages clause in H-1 employment contract; Applying for EB-1 if EB-2 is in process; Changing careers on H-1
Other: Indian passport for child born in USA; Priority dates movement; Work visa or status for students; Correcting errors in I-140 approval; Changing from B (visitors visa, tourist visa, business visa) to student status; Minimum days needed on passport expiration for visa entry; Processing through NVC; H-1B extension beyond 6 years; Visa dates movement, changing jobs on H-1, priority date transfer, approval of I-140; Adoption and immigration; Name discrepancy when applying for parents visa; Changing jobs, filing I-485, precautions for priority date transfer, etc
We discussed these (and other) issues of US immigration:
FAQ: Can a J-2 holder get a HRR 212(e) waiver without J-1?
Other: Retaining green card while in Canada; Starting my company, violation of status; I-140 revocation; Unused H-1B for quota exemption; H1B to H4 COS without latest Paystubs; EAD renewal separated from spouse; H-4 EAD approved in error; Effect of salary reduction; H-1 transfer, OPT travel; Visa Waiver apply for AOS; Retaining priority date; Visa stamping for H-1B amendment; Arrest without conviction; Reentry permit, etc.
Topics for Discussion:
FAQ: J-2 or J-1 with 212(e) HRR converting to F-1 student; FAQ: For PERM is formal certificate required or completion of degree is enough; Correcting dates on I-94; Travel while H-1 extension pending – change in I-94#; Changing employers - what immigration documents should I keep; FAQ: Maternity leave on H-1, FMLA and status.
Other: Multiple I-140 approvals; I-140 denial; Cap-gap extension; Effect of change in citizenship on H-1; PERM/AC21 and multiple I-485 filing; Family-based green card change in category; Child turning 21 – CSPA and derivative non-immigrant status loss; L-1A visa and EB-1C filing; Filing I-485 for spouse; PERM more than 50% different job; Cross chargeability; I-130 fraud by spouse; Maternity leave on H-1; AOS filing; F-2 COS; H-1quota, etc.
Topics for Discussion, Thursday, 29 October 2015:
FAQ: Withdrawing one pending petition (H-4) when another is (F-1) approved; Writ of Mandamus against delay; Investment property while on H-1 (Buying and renting out a house); Starting my own company while on H-1; Priority date loss upon revocation of I-140; Consequences of getting laid off on H-1; etc.
Other: TN/TD Visa; I-14- approved, company acquired; Job termination AC21; Cross chargeability evidence (Iraq); Applying for H-1 from OPT and travel; H-1 transfer while an extension is pending,I-140 revocation and priority date; Minor son on tourist visa, parent on green card; PERM denial and probability of success; Naturalization delay; etc.
FAQ: Green card pending conversion to and from H-4 EAD – H-1; Filing green card while in F-1 status; New company sponsoring H-1; (flip flop again) revocation of I-140 by an employer does NOT revoke priority date; Green card through future employer; Pros and cons of H-4 EAD; Obtaining copies of approval notice and other documents through FOIA; Physician filing green card; Applying for green card and while visiting the USA; Risk and rewards in EB-5 investments in regional centers.
Other: New STEM OPT extension regulations; substituting petitioners in a family-based case; Resetting H-1 6 years clock; CSPA; Authorized period of stay when H-1 transfer is pending; F-1 visa stamping on OPT.