1. I Am a Deported Lawful Permanent Resident. Can I Reapply Back to the U.S.?
I had lived in the United States for 33 years. I was deported in 2013 for a crime of moral turpitude (credit card frauds). I have United States citizen parents and a lot of family members in the U.S. Before I was deported I was a LPR. My two part question is how long is my bar from the United States. It’s been five years. I would like to start the process of reentering the United States as a visitor only. What can I do now?
Mr. Lee answers:
There is no expiration date on persons who have been deported for crimes except as related to prostitution offenses. You would have to have an immigration lawyer go over your entire situation to decide whether and how you could again become a resident of the US. Insofar as your question of visiting the country, you would apply for a visa at the American consulate or embassy if not a Canadian national, and indicate that you would also wish to file for a waiver to enter the US as a visitor. The consulate or embassy would deny the visa application as a matter of course, but inform you whether it would agree to accepting a waiver application and if so, tell you the specific procedure involved. Ultimately the consulate or embassy if recommending a waiver would forward the application to the admissibility review office of U.S.C.I.S. which would make a decision. If the decision is favorable, the consulate or embassy would then issue the visa.
2. Can a Green Card Holder Get Possibly Deported Because of a Minor Offense?
Mr. Lee answers:
Generally speaking, a green card holder would not be deportable because of a minor offense. That being said, there are many offenses which in the minds of individuals are minor, but which are considered major under the immigration laws. With Mr. Trump’s Executive Order on interior enforcement of the immigration laws, it is right to be worried about the effect of crimes since that appears to be a prime target of his order. If you wish a definitive answer on which minor offense you are concerned with (if you are concerned about a particular one), you should visit an immigration lawyer with all the circumstances of the case to obtain a formal opinion.
3. Do I Need to Refile LCA / I-129 for My H-1B ?
I am now working with a new employer and wants to go back to my old employer and my H-1B with old employer is still valid till May 2019. My old employer has not cancelled my H-1B. He wants me to start working from this Monday. Before I start working with my old employer Do I need to refile I-129. I am under the impression I just can start working but I am not sure. Please suggest.
Mr. Lee answers:
Our opinion is that you would not require further paperwork to resume H-1B work with an employer which has not notified U.S.C.I.S. of the cancellation of your H-1B petition. I note that employers who do not terminate H-1B’s with U.S.C.I.S. upon the separation of the employee do face liability from such employees suing them for wages after they have been separated on the grounds of no proper notification and no termination of H-1B status. The Labor Department has upheld a number of cases on these points for the H-1B holder.
