1. Can I Fix Papers for My Mother And My Wife?
Mr. Lee answers:
Whether you can fix papers for your mother and your wife depends upon your personal circumstances of US citizenship, your age (must be over the age of 21 if the US citizen is to sponsor a parent), your financial status, the statuses of your mother and your wife, the bona fides of your marriage, any bars that they may have which would preclude them from immigrating to the country, and how they entered the country. With this information, an immigration lawyer would be able to give an opinion as to your ability to fix papers for your mother and wife.
2. Would I Have Problem Transferring to a New Employer on May 15 2019 If My Current Employer Has Filed My H-1B Application on April 1st 2019?
I am on F-1 OPT status working for a company. My current employer has applied for my H-1B on 1st April 2019. However, I am thinking to change my employer and start with the new employer on May 15 2019. If my H-1B gets selected, would the H-1B application get revoked if I start with the new employer? Also, if H-1B gets selected and I change the employer due to which H-1B application gets revoked, would I have problems transferring my status into new company based on my current EAD OPT status valid until June 2019?
Mr. Lee answers:
If U.S.C.I.S. has selected you for H-1B under employer A, and you then put in papers to change your H-1B selected case to employer B in May, there is every likelihood that your H-1B cap selection would be revoked. Since the selection is not an approval which would change your status, your OPT EAD should still be valid to allow you to work for an employer until June in the field of your major.
3. Travel Back to Home Country After H-1B Max-Out. Can I Travel Back After H-1B Extension Approval (After I-140 Approval)?
I am currently on H-1B visa and my H-1B max-out date is 4th June 2019 (6 years completed). Max-out date is calculated after considering the time out of US during H-1B term. My employer will file my I-140 application in premium processing by 19th May. My spouse is also working on H-1B and currently in US. 1) In a scenario if I stay in US till 4th June 2019 and my employer is unable to submit H-1B extension request based on I-140 approval till 4th June, what are the option available: a) Travel back to home country India on 4th June – Once H-1B extension is submitted and approved while I am in India, will I be able to travel back to US once H-1B extension is approved. b) Are their any rules/restrictions which stops me from traveling back. 2) If I travel back to my home country before (ex:25th May 2019) H-1B max-out date 4th June 2019, does it improve any chances for coming back to US when H-1B extension (applied after I-140 approval) is approved. Thanks
Mr. Lee answers:
One option that you can consider is making an application to H-4 to cover any possible time that you may be out of status. Although your current max out date is June 4, 2019, the regulations allowing a 10 day grace period following the max out date can be used to keep you in legal status for purposes of extension of status or change of status or other permissible non-employment activities such as vacationing prior to departure. Hopefully your I-140 petition will be approved in time with the 10 extra days. If you do decide to travel back to the home country, you are able to return to the US as long as you obtain an H-1B visa from the American consulate or embassy. I do not see that going back to your home country at an earlier date than the maximum period of time that you are allowed would increase your chances of obtaining a visa.