19 Jan 2023

I am a U.S. citizen and am sponsoring my mother for a green card. Her case is being processed through the U.S. Embassy in Mumbai. Is she allowed to visit on her B-2 visa while the case is pending?

Answer Having a pending green card case does not prevent a person from requesting admission in B-2 status. However, there generally is an increased risk of being denied admission based on immigrant intent. (19.Jan.2023)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For...

19 Jan 2023

I am not able to get an experience letter from my previous employer. To show I qualify for an EB2 position, can I instead submit affidavits from my former coworkers?

Answer A letter from the previous employer is typically preferred. But, yes, if it is not possible to get such a letter, it may be possible to use coworker affidavits as evidence of past employment experience. (19.Jan.2023)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies...

12 Jan 2023

About five years ago, my sister, who is a U.S. citizen, sponsored me for a green card. Can I use that priority date for my EB3 case sponsored by my employer?

Answer No, unfortunately, it normally is not possible to take a priority date from a family-based case and apply it to an employment-based case. (12.Jan.2023)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access...

22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022
15 Dec 2022

My green card was approved recently and I have no plans to leave my position with the sponsoring employer. However, I am interested in earning some additional money by selling goods online. My employer has no objections to this. Would this jeopardize my green card?

Answer Once an employer-sponsored green card is issued, the expectation typically is that the beneficiary will work for the sponsoring employer in the position listed on the I-140. If the person works in that position, while also earning money through a second job, entrepreneurship, etc, this...

10 Nov 2022

My H1B extension was approved, but my wife’s H-4 extension is still pending. We are getting ready to file our I-485 applications. Does she have to wait for her H-4 extension to be approved before applying?

Answer The general requirement is that a foreign national must be in valid status at the time an I-485 application is filed. If an H-4 dependent timely applies for an extension of status, once the I-94 expires, she remains in a period of authorized stay while...

03 Nov 2022

I am a U.S. citizen and filed an I-130 petition for my mother. She would like to visit me on her B-1/B-2 visa. Is this permitted?

Answer In order to be admitted in B-1/B-2 status, the burden is on the foreign national to demonstrate that she lacks immigrant intent for that particular trip. Given that you filed this petition for an immediate relative – and therefore, not subject to the numerical limitations...