05 Oct 2022

I am in H-4 status and my husband has an approved I-140. I recently gave birth to our first child, and I have no intentions of working for the foreseeable future. As a precaution, however, I was considering applying for an H-4 EAD. Is this permitted even if I may never use the EAD?

Answer Yes, this is allowed. The H-4 EAD provides the individual with unrestricted work authorization, but it does not require that the person actually work. (05.Oct.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here....

22 Sep 2022

My EB2 I-485 was approved a few days ago. My wife’s I-485, which is also based on my I-140, is still pending. My priority date will no longer be current in October. What happens if her case is not approved before October 1st?

Answer The USCIS generally cannot approve an I-485 if the priority date of the underlying I-140 is no longer current. Therefore, if your wife's case is not approved before October 1st, it likely will remain pending until the date becomes current again (or some other action...

29 Aug 2022

DOS Update on U.S. Visa Services at Embassies and U.S. Consular Posts

On August 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) shared a briefing where Ms. Julie M. Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, discussed the status of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates around...

22 Aug 2022

Changing from Adjustment of Status to Consular Processing

For most types of immigrant petitions, such as a family-based petition for an alien relative (form I-130) or an employment-based petition for an alien worker (form I-140), the petitioner must indicate whether the foreign national beneficiary will be applying for adjustment of status (form I-485)...

10 Aug 2022

When I entered the U.S. in L-2 status in 2020, I applied for an EAD. Now that I am authorized to work based on being in L2S status, is there any benefit to applying to extend my EAD?

Answer There does not seem to be much benefit to having an EAD based on one's L2S status. When the policy was announced, granting work authorization to L-2 dependent spouses incident to their status, the EAD was useful while waiting to obtain an I-94 updated with...

10 Aug 2022

A few months ago, my husband and I were issued green cards based on his approved I-140. While our I-485 applications were pending, we separated. Our divorce is now close to being finalized. Will this put my green card in jeopardy?

Answer Generally speaking, as long as the couple is legally married at the time the green card is issued, getting divorced after the green card is issued would not impact the validity of that green card. (10.Aug.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies...