Immigration Law In The Workplace
Rajiv S. Khanna
(Published in The Practical Lawyer, Dec. 2009
A publication of American Law Institute-American Bar Association)
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I hold an H1B Visa, and it is time for an extension. At the same time, I applied for my I-485 a few years ago, and I recently renewed my EAD, which is valid for 5 years. My priority date is June 2013. At this time, I am a bit confused about whether to move on to EAD or if I should continue to extend my H1B. If, for any reason, my H1B extension goes wrong, will I still be able to use my EAD? Thank you always for your support.
You should maintain your H-1B while your I-485 (AOS) is pending. If something goes wrong with your I-485, you could end up without legal status or work authorization, creating complications. Keeping your H-1B (or L-1) active provides a backup. While your spouse can use an EAD, losing their status is less risky than the primary applicant losing theirs.
FAQs: Should I maintain my H-1B during I-485/AOS pendency? || H-1B and I-140: Moving to India & Future Return to the U.S .|| H-1B working remotely from India
FAQs: H-1B visa transfer before arrival into the USA|| Employee paying for green card and H-1B premium costs || Using an old H-1B visa stamp of a different employer
Discussion Topics:
FAQ: H-1B lay off 60 days grace, options including B-1/B-2, approved I-140, Severance pay || Optimizing H-4 EAD options and bundling premium processing for H-1B and H-4 extensions || Implications of visa fraud by an employer on H-1B, L-1, green card, citizenship || Advantages of a National Interest Waiver, transitioning to EB-1, entrepreneurship, and H-4 employment for spouse
Guidance on L Visas and Specialized Knowledge
Reference Document:
STATE 002016, 01/11
1. The following guidance is in response to a request [redacted] for specific guidelines for L visa adjudications, particularly in regard to evaluating claims of "specialized knowledge," and will be useful to all posts. There is a concern about the potential for inconsistent adjudicatory standards at different constituent posts and clear standards would allow for more consistent adjudication.
This memorandum provides guidance regarding implementation of the provisions of Public Law 111-230 that increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. The additional fee applies to petitioners that employ 50 or more employees in the United States with more than 50% of their employees in the United States in H-1B or L-1A or L-1B nonimmigrant status. Petitioners meeting those criteria must submit the additional fee with an H-1B or L-1 petition filed.
Documents to submit at VFS office:
If you are applying for a regular H or L visa, please submit the following documents 4 business days prior to your appointment date at the VFS office located in Hyderabad.
State Dept. issued a visa policy update on an FAM change to clarify that posts may annotate blanket L visas with the name of the actual employer on the I-129-S even if that subsidiary or affiliate employer name is not in PIMS.
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On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which contains provisions to increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. Effective immediately, Public Law 111-230 requires the submission of an additional fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, 2010, and will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2014. |
FAQs: Blacklisted employer, F-1, H-1B, L-1 turned back at the airport || H-1B visa and entrepreneurship: Launching a business with US citizen brother, Shareholding, Green card || National Interest Waiver standards; AI list of critical and emerging technologies focus || OPT EAD errors and typos: Eligibility for resubmission or renewal strategy? || How to calculate time: H-1B grace period; H-4 COS; H-1B transfer delays
FAQs: Removing spouse from green card processing || Multiple green card petitions simultaneously and exploring concurrent filing of EB-2 NIW || What are the consequences of H-1B or green card fraud or misinterpretation? How does it affect my departure, assets and financial matters? || Transitioning from H-1B to I-485 GC EAD: maintaining status and re-employment considerations
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Immigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney Rajiv Khanna
Release Date
08/03/2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced changes to the way USCIS issues receipts for L-1 nonimmigrant intracompany transferees (executives, managers, or specialized knowledge professionals) under a previously approved blanket L petition.
Discussion Topics:
FAQs: H-1B visa cap exemption - How does the 6-year rule work? || Will having EAD cards or petition approvals with gaps in the start and end date cause an issue?|| H-1B visa layoff options - Going to home country and applying for jobs, going through the lottery again, documents required to apply for a new visa to explain missing pay stubs and the contents of the documentation for termination contract sent by the company to the USCIS
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
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is exempting the biometric services fee for Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
Discussion Topics:
Release Date
10/20/2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued policy guidance (PDF, 311.12 KB) in the USCIS Policy Manual clarifying that a sole proprietorship may not file a petition on behalf of its owner because the sole proprietorship does not exist as a distinct legal entity separate and apart from the owner.