Supplement J

Use Supplement J to:

  • Confirm that the job offered to you in Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker, remains a bona fide job offer that you intend to accept once your Form I 485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is approved. Beginning Jan. 17, 2017, if you are filing or have previously filed Form I-485 based on being the principal beneficiary of a valid Form I-140 in an employment-based immigrant visa category that requires a job offer, you will need to file Supplement J instead of submitting a job offer letter;

OR

  • Request job portability under INA section 204(j) to a new, full-time, permanent job offer that you intend to accept once your Form I-485 is approved.  This new job offer must be in the same or a similar occupational classification as the job offered to you in the Form I-140 that is the basis of your Form I-485. (For more information about how USCIS determines which jobs are same or similar please see PM-602-0122 (PDF, 205 KB): Determining Whether a New Job is in “the Same or a Similar Occupational Classification” for Purposes of Section 204(j) Job Portability (March 18, 2016 ))

GC approval before AC21 Supplement J could be filed

Question details

My I-485 was pending for 9 months (concurrent filing), and I worked all these years (4 years) with my sponsoring employer. My I-140 was approved 4 months ago, and I received EAD and AP as well. At the end of 8 months, I resigned from my employer to take advantage of AC21 (moving to a similar position) and was on notice period. My new employer was ready to file I-485J when asked by USCIS. During my last working week with my sponsoring employer, my 485 got approved, and I received my GC. Can you please advise on what kind of documentation I need to get from my new employer to help with any future naturalization process since I can't file I-485J as my case has been approved?

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FAQ Transcript

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.

AC21 Supplement J and Salary Increase: Potential Issues with Job Porting and leaving the employer after green card

Question details

Q1. My AOS is pending 180+ days, so which is less risky or will not cause problems when it comes to naturalization: (i) filing AC 21 and going with a new employer right after 180 days are complete, or (ii) leaving the current employer right after getting the green card?

Q2. Salary increase when filing ac21/485 j supplement: if I am filing an ac21 and the next job offers me a significant increase (2x) and 50% up from my current job, is it going to be an issue while filing a j supplement and porting a job?

Q3. What should I consider and keep in mind when changing from employer A to employer B when filing a J supplement (ac 21)?

Q4. Also, is it advisable and recommended that we stay with our employer for six months upon getting a green card? Or does it matter, and we can move as soon as we get the green card? Or should we stick with our employer for at least 3 months?

Q5. Suppose I am filing a J supplement (ac21) vs. moving right after from the employer from whom I just got the green card. Are both things considered the same, i.e., filing a J supplement and leaving the green card regarding consequences or future issues regarding citizenship/renewal? Or is one thing less risky compared to the second thing?

 

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FAQ Transcript

In most cases, filing Supplement J before moving is preferable. It's a more transparent approach, indicating your intention to change jobs before your green card approval. Moving right after obtaining the green card may require explanations and potentially dishonest justifications for your decision to leave. Therefore, Supplement J is generally considered a better option.

Recording for March 23, 2023 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna

Immigration.com

Immigration Law

Discussion Topics - March 23, 2023

FAQs: Handling H-1B visa and layoff : What happens if I get laid off before or after stamping my visa in India? || Marriage and relocation to the U.S. : Quickest path for prospective fiancé of U.S Citizen living in India || AC21 AOS portability: Pending AOS I-140 withdrawn before 180 days || What to do if one is in India during the PERM and I-140 process ||

Consequences of employer withdrawing I-485 Supplement J

Question details

Currently working with Employer B.
My PD - EB2 India, Aug 2013 with old employer A
Sep 2022 - Filed I485 with Employer A's I485J (which he provided that I will join his consultancy company)

  1. I always intended to join him but we couldn't find a new project in this market. He mentioned he is going to withdraw the I485J and I140.
  2. Will it be a right-away denial, RFE or USCIS will issue NOID?
  3. If USCIS issues RFE/NOID and the response date is after the 180 days mark - Can I provide 485J from my current Employer or any other employer or self-company?
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FAQ Transcript

1. It is not required by the law.
2. Probably a NOID and if USCIS wants to be nice to you they will send you an RFE giving you more time.
3. If USCIS issues an RFE you have to wait 180 days from the date of filing and after that you should be able to submit any employers I-485 Supplement J.

 

Recording for February 02, 2023 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna

Immigration.com

Citizenship and Naturalization

Discussion Topics, Thursday, February 02, 2023:

FAQ: Criteria for national interest waiver || NIW for physical therapists || Multiple companies applying for H-1B Cap registration - H-1B lottery || Can H-4 visa (no EAD) holders take an unpaid internship? || Can H-4 EAD start a Business in any State? Can a relative's company file H-1B? || H-4 visa dependent children change of status to F-1 before 21 || Filing H-4 and H-1 simultaneously || Status of F-1 once H-4 is approved || Most efficient way to get EAD F-1 or H-4?

Can a new employer file I-485 using an old employer's I-140?

Question details

My priority date is April'14 in EB2. My current employer filed an AOS (I-485, I-765 & I-131) using a prior employer I-140 petition. My EAD (I-765)/AP (I-131) was approved a few weeks ago. My current employer didn't submit I-485J while submitting I-485 application. My current employer PERM was submitted a few months ago.

Questions:

1) Is it safe to use the EAD/AP (or) would you recommend staying in H1B until I-485 is approved?

2)  Will this filing be considered to be fraud/misrepresentation (or) Would you recommend withdrawing my I-485 application?

 

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FAQ Transcript
  1. When that application itself is illegal or at least improper, I do not see how you can use any component of that with any degree of comfort.  
  2. I would withdraw that I-485. I certainly think it is a bad idea. Even if it is approved, it has no value because it can be revoked at any point of time. 

 

Recording of September 01, 2022 Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna

Discussion Topics:

FAQ: What is the meaning of a US “visa canceled without prejudice”? || I have an Approved I-140 from a previous job. My new employer has initiated the PERM. How can I make sure that the attorneys use the priority date from my old I-140? || What are the chances of an H-1B visa (STEM OPT) after completing Masters in the U.S? || H-1B visa holder travels abroad (Canada) for work sometimes; is an H-1B amendment required for change of address or location abroad?

Can we file more than one AC21 portability Supplement J if we continue changing employers?

Question details

I have a question regarding the AC21 180 days rule. My I-485 Green Card was approved under EB2 category in March 2022. I changed my employer in October 2021 but my new employer filed AC21 I-485j only in February 2022 when my PD got current. When can I change jobs if I get a better offer? Do I need to work for 180 days with this employer since I-485j filing date?
In total, I have worked for 9 months for this employer (5 months before filing AC21 and 4 months after GC approval).
 

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FAQ Transcript

There is no limit on how many times you can change employers on AC21 portability and there is no requirement that you must work for an employer for 180 days.
 

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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.