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12 Sep 2019

I am working based on my H-4 EAD and was recently laid off. Will I be considered a public charge if I apply for unemployment benefits?

Answer Unemployment insurance payments (commonly referred to as "unemployment benefits") are not generally taken into consideration for purposes of making a public charge determination. As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) explained when it released the final rule revising the definition of "public charge," unemployment...

12:37 / FAQs / For Families / For Individuals / Government / Homeland Security / Resident / USCIS News / Worker
29 Aug 2019

I have been working as a manager for a company in India for two years. I am now being transferred to the U.S. subsidiary to work as a manager in H1B status. Do I need to move to L1A status to be able to file for EB1 as a manager/executive? If the company does not want to sponsor me for EB1, can I sponsor myself?

Answer One does not need to be in L1A status in order to be sponsored for an EB1(c) multinational executive or manager position. But, the EB1(c) petition must be sponsored by the employer. The only type of EB1 case that can be self-sponsored is EB1(a), which...

16:37 / EB1 Category / Employment Based / FAQs / For Individuals / L-1 / Resident
29 Aug 2019

My son and I became green card holders nearly 5 years ago. I am about to apply for U.S. citizenship. Do I need to file a separate application for my son?

Answer Generally speaking, children under 18 automatically acquire U.S. citizenship if three requirements are met: (1) The child must have U.S. lawful permanent resident status (“green card” holder); (2) at least one parent must be a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization; and (3) the child...

11:39 / Citizen / FAQs / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / Resident
21 Aug 2019

Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Greatly Expanded

On August 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final rule, Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds, that greatly expands the categories of public benefits considered in the determination of whether a foreign national may be deemed a public charge (i.e., a...

16:47 / Consulates / Employment Based / Family Based / For Families / For Individuals / Homeland Security / Immigrant Family / InfoArticle / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / USCIS News / Visitor / Worker
14 Aug 2019

I received a green card through my employer about a year ago. The employer wants to change the terms of employment, but I do not like the proposed changes. If I resign, does my employer have the ability to cancel my green card?

Answer Once a green card is issued, the sponsoring employer has no ability to cancel or revoke it. If a person leaves an employer immediately after being issued the green card, this could create problems with the USCIS. But, given that a year has passed and...

13:24 / Employment Based / FAQs / For Individuals / Resident
07 Aug 2019

I have an approved I-140 and am in H1B status. However, my H1B extension was just denied, so I will soon be departing the U.S. Do I have any options of returning? Will this impact my I-140?

Answer An H1B extension denial normally would have no impact on an approved I-140. As for returning to the U.S., one typically could have another H1B petition filed on one's behalf for consular notification. Assuming it is approved, it should be possible to apply for an...

07:56 / Employment Based / FAQs / For Employers / For Individuals / Resident / Worker
31 Jul 2019

I filed an EB5 case a few months ago and my I-526 petition is still pending. I just heard that there are new rules being issued that are raising the investment requirements. Will this impact my case?

Answer On November 21, 2019, a new regulation will go into effect that raises the minimum investment amount for EB5 cases to $1.8 million, or $900,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA). A TEA is a rural area or area of...

11:29 / EB5 Investor / FAQs / For Individuals / Investor / Resident