US Immigration Questions

If you experience a layoff while on H-1B status, you receive a 60-day grace period. If you secure a new H-1B approval and face another layoff, you'll receive a fresh 60-day grace period. This applies to H-1B transfers and extensions. As for obtaining a B-1/B-2 visa for job searching after a layoff, while there's no official measure of difficulty, the approval rates appear to be consistently positive, with no reported denials.

To ensure compliance and maintain proper documentation, I recommend gathering your proof of employment with the sponsoring employer when your green card was approved. It's important to request written confirmation from your new employer showing they were prepared to file Supplement J before your transition. Keep any prepared  Form I-485 Supplement J documentation, even if it wasn't filed due to the timing of your green card approval. Additionally, maintain detailed job descriptions from both positions to demonstrate they were "same or similar" positions as required by immigration law. Store all these documents securely for the long term, as you may need them during the naturalization process to verify compliance. This documentation will help protect you and demonstrate that you followed proper procedures during your employment transition, even though the green card approval occurred before Form I-485 Supplement J could be filed.

The USCIS is currently focusing on two main aspects when evaluating NIW petitions:

1. National Importance of Your Work:

They want to see how your specific work benefits the entire country, not just your immediate sphere of influence.

Example: For a neurosurgeon, saving lives locally isn't enough; they want to see a broader national impact.

2. Comparative Contribution:

USCIS is looking at how your work stands out from others in your field.

They want to see that your contribution is not just significant but also distinguishable from your peers' work.

These two factors are currently the primary focus in NIW evaluations, leading to higher rejection rates for petitions that don't adequately address these specific points.

To maintain your green card during extended absences:

• Brief trips under 6 months are generally fine. 
• For longer absences Apply for a re-entry permit, allowing travel for up to 2 years.Consider filing  Form N-470 to preserve continuous residence for naturalization.
• Avoid absences of 6 months or more; return within 6 months each time.
• Maintain strong ties to the U.S. (family, home, job) to demonstrate intent to reside permanently.
• If travels are work-related and you have significant U.S. ties, your green card status is less likely to be at risk.
• Absences of one year or more can lead to loss of green card status without proper documentation.

If your employer fails to pay you after starting your H-1B employment, it can pose challenges for future H-1B transfers. To address this:

• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
• You can file online or by phone (search for "LCA complaint US Department of Labor").
• This complaint serves as evidence explaining the lack of pay stubs during future H-1B transfers.
• Employers must start paying when you're ready to work or within 30 days (if coming from outside the US) or 60 days (if already in the US), whichever is earlier.
• Filing a complaint may help you recover unpaid wages and protect your ability to transfer your H-1B in the future.

The ability to keep your NIW when changing employers depends on whether you continue to pursue the same endeavor that was the basis for your NIW approval. If you maintain the same type of work in the same field, even with a different employer, you likely can keep your NIW. However, if you change to a completely different field or type of work, you may need to start a new green card process. For certainty, it's advisable to consider filing a new green card application or NIW when changing employers.

If an H-1B cap petition is approved, you could consider moving to Day 1 CPT to start working immediately for a client. However, since your H-1B won't take effect until October 1st, a better option might be to pursue a concurrent H-1B until then, allowing you to work immediately and transition to your permanent H-1B status later.

If you have an H-1B visa from a previous employer that hasn't expired and your current employer has filed for an extension, you can travel outside the U.S. while the extension is pending. You can return with just a few days left on your old visa stamp. The visa is not tied to a specific employer, so as long as your old visa is valid, you should be able to re-enter the U.S.

However, it's important to carry proof of your pending extension when you return. While there is no official source confirming this, many individuals have successfully traveled under similar circumstances without issues.
 

A DWI conviction can lead to visa cancellation, requiring visa stamping upon re-entry. However, this may trigger an addiction examination, which can take months. If deemed to have an addiction problem, you could be excluded from entering the U.S. If a spouse's visa has expired while waiting for the primary applicant's visa stamping, it's unclear if they can still obtain their visa stamp.
 

It is important to note that if you are from a country like India, you may face a long wait—up to 10 to 12 years—for a green card. After receiving your green card, you are not required to stay in your job indefinitely; you can leave for valid reasons after a few months, as long as you act in good faith.

Regarding work status for those with an approved NIW, the Compelling Circumstances EAD is an option. Still, it has several drawbacks: unpredictable, uncertain processing times, and requires annual renewal. Another alternative is Entrepreneurial Parole, which offers up to five years of work authorization but may not be ideal for individuals from India due to the lengthy green card process. Please read the articles on the The Economic Times Author Page for more information.