BharatPremi
03-12 04:00 PM
I am in ROW, EB2 if they processed the interfiling, EB3 if not, with a PD of Dec 2002, and receipt date of 5 May 2007.
My application was filed with Nebraska Service center, they moved to Texas (with SRC* receipt number), they moved back to Nebraska in October 2007.
Even on EB3 my PD is now current.
When they passed 60 days late according to processing times I raised a service request. They claim that they have 45 days to respond. Their 45 days will be up on Thursday, and I still have no response.
So here is my plan...
On Thursday call again. Raise another service request?
Make an Info pass appointment ? - not sure IO could tell me more in person than over phone.
On Thursday go see Congressman's office.
Come May 2008 (one year since filing I485) if there is still no suitable reply to service request file WOM. Their lack of response to service request should annoy the judge hopefully.
When I last spoke with an IO she thought that the notice date on the transfer notice was the processing date to use (Oct 2007) not the receipt date on it (May 2007). I believe she is plain wrong, and she was silent when I asserted that I believed she was wrong, and that's why the original receipt date is kept on the transfer notice. If someone has a link to the USCIS rule on this it would be helpful.
Any comments please?
Mark,
Being ROW, I do not think your case might have been stuck in Name Check. But it could be the possibility. I would take one more infopas and ask IO regarding name check status. If case is still rotting in name check then fighting strategy would be different, I guess. As far as WOm is concerned, all stories what I have gone through on different immigration boards, most advise to wait for 2 years before thinking about WOM route.. I do not know how far that argument is valid..
My application was filed with Nebraska Service center, they moved to Texas (with SRC* receipt number), they moved back to Nebraska in October 2007.
Even on EB3 my PD is now current.
When they passed 60 days late according to processing times I raised a service request. They claim that they have 45 days to respond. Their 45 days will be up on Thursday, and I still have no response.
So here is my plan...
On Thursday call again. Raise another service request?
Make an Info pass appointment ? - not sure IO could tell me more in person than over phone.
On Thursday go see Congressman's office.
Come May 2008 (one year since filing I485) if there is still no suitable reply to service request file WOM. Their lack of response to service request should annoy the judge hopefully.
When I last spoke with an IO she thought that the notice date on the transfer notice was the processing date to use (Oct 2007) not the receipt date on it (May 2007). I believe she is plain wrong, and she was silent when I asserted that I believed she was wrong, and that's why the original receipt date is kept on the transfer notice. If someone has a link to the USCIS rule on this it would be helpful.
Any comments please?
Mark,
Being ROW, I do not think your case might have been stuck in Name Check. But it could be the possibility. I would take one more infopas and ask IO regarding name check status. If case is still rotting in name check then fighting strategy would be different, I guess. As far as WOm is concerned, all stories what I have gone through on different immigration boards, most advise to wait for 2 years before thinking about WOM route.. I do not know how far that argument is valid..
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bindas74
03-25 10:28 PM
ok..from what I have been hearing from my multiple friends and company's attorneys, USCIS has been digging deep into most of the 485s..
Our company guy said, there is some new policy in 485 processing which is causing them to gather lot of other information (I havent seen this policy published anywhere..so thought this guy is bluffing)..but I dont know many ppl have been saying about such RFEs or RFEs which were not raised before are more common now.
Look at my other thread as an example.
Hopefully you resolve it fast
I received one too...just this morning I received emails stating that RFE was sent for me and my wife....mine is a straight forward case
1) I am with the same employer since I applied for my GC
2) Still on H1B
3) No AC21
4) With a very good company ( medium sized) which never laid off any employees so far
5) Not a labour substitution
I am still wondering what it could be...well I guess i will have to wait for a couple of days more to find out.
But, I am glad that atleast they started looking at my case...this is the first time since August 2007 there is an LUD on my case
Our company guy said, there is some new policy in 485 processing which is causing them to gather lot of other information (I havent seen this policy published anywhere..so thought this guy is bluffing)..but I dont know many ppl have been saying about such RFEs or RFEs which were not raised before are more common now.
Look at my other thread as an example.
Hopefully you resolve it fast
I received one too...just this morning I received emails stating that RFE was sent for me and my wife....mine is a straight forward case
1) I am with the same employer since I applied for my GC
2) Still on H1B
3) No AC21
4) With a very good company ( medium sized) which never laid off any employees so far
5) Not a labour substitution
I am still wondering what it could be...well I guess i will have to wait for a couple of days more to find out.
But, I am glad that atleast they started looking at my case...this is the first time since August 2007 there is an LUD on my case
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gcForV
07-13 12:35 PM
Do not start new thread to respond back or add to what gc_hoga_re has said. His post was offensive to members and detrimental to the organization.
That thread is now closed and gc_hoga_re has been banned.
To those who dont like censorship and moderation of forums:
Immigration Voice neither promises nor practices "Free speech" and "First amendment rights" claimed by members who dont like moderation and censorship.
We are an organization for Greencard backlogs advocacy, not civil rights like First amendment rights and free speech. In order to worship civil rights like free speech and first amendment rights, please join the ACLU (www.aclu.org).
Also, Immigration Voice is in its full rights to censor its own site as the site is owned by organization and it is not a public property. Your first amendment rights to "Say whatever you feel like" are guaranteed by the constitution to protect you from congress passing laws that can take away those rights. The constitutional rights dont guarantee you the right to say whatever you want on other citizen's/organization's property/website/domain. So please do not come back to preach the US constitution to the core group. There are thousands of blogs, sites and discussion forums that practice much higher level of censorship. The only way to guarantee the retention of online material is to start your own website and we encourage members who find Immigration Voice as a "Restrictive" or "Non Democratic" website to do that.
Immigration Voice will ban users, ban posts, delete posts, close threads and remove material that is detrimental to the organization.
Also, gc_hoga_re has been banned for posting offensive material.
Wow Wow Wow.
Watch out..Before typing think.
You are the Administrator of the site!!!
I do understand the wild posts though
That thread is now closed and gc_hoga_re has been banned.
To those who dont like censorship and moderation of forums:
Immigration Voice neither promises nor practices "Free speech" and "First amendment rights" claimed by members who dont like moderation and censorship.
We are an organization for Greencard backlogs advocacy, not civil rights like First amendment rights and free speech. In order to worship civil rights like free speech and first amendment rights, please join the ACLU (www.aclu.org).
Also, Immigration Voice is in its full rights to censor its own site as the site is owned by organization and it is not a public property. Your first amendment rights to "Say whatever you feel like" are guaranteed by the constitution to protect you from congress passing laws that can take away those rights. The constitutional rights dont guarantee you the right to say whatever you want on other citizen's/organization's property/website/domain. So please do not come back to preach the US constitution to the core group. There are thousands of blogs, sites and discussion forums that practice much higher level of censorship. The only way to guarantee the retention of online material is to start your own website and we encourage members who find Immigration Voice as a "Restrictive" or "Non Democratic" website to do that.
Immigration Voice will ban users, ban posts, delete posts, close threads and remove material that is detrimental to the organization.
Also, gc_hoga_re has been banned for posting offensive material.
Wow Wow Wow.
Watch out..Before typing think.
You are the Administrator of the site!!!
I do understand the wild posts though
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magician7989
09-05 04:49 PM
Does anybody know if Egyptians also have a backlog. Does that also mean that an egyptian with a later priority date can be accepted before an Indian because of the quotas. We need a change in the immigration system. I filed my I-485 in July w no receipt yet. Does that mean I can also expect a long wait.
more...
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GreenCard_Soon
05-25 01:44 PM
Just sent the fax.
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asanghi
10-08 01:49 PM
They might be trying to put pressure on US govt to agree to totalization agreement. The number of Americans working in India is on rise. It is nowhere close to the number of Indians working in US though.
more...
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sunny1000
06-19 07:12 PM
The below thread has a lot of info.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16145&highlight=PIMS
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16145&highlight=PIMS
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Beemar
10-04 09:04 PM
Congratulations.
Even I got approved on saturday. What's wrong in that?
Enjoy green life now.
finally approved... got magic emails this morning :D:D
How does one go about canceling the pending EB2-NIW i-485 (possibly get the money back... will be glad to donate it all to IV :D:D)
Even I got approved on saturday. What's wrong in that?
Enjoy green life now.
finally approved... got magic emails this morning :D:D
How does one go about canceling the pending EB2-NIW i-485 (possibly get the money back... will be glad to donate it all to IV :D:D)
more...
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tb2904
12-21 11:11 AM
I was in a kind of similar situation couple of times
1. I had a valid US visa and I was traveling from Cincinnati to New Delhi via Paris on Air France. My flight from Cincinnati got delayed and I missed my connecting flight in Paris. All the passengers that had the green card or US citizenship were allowed to stay in Hotel outside the airport. But, since I am an Indian national and did not have a transit visa, France custom officer told me that I am "illegally" in France. He was nice guy and advised me to stay the night at the airport terminal and board the plane to India next day.
2. My visa on my passport expired and I had the H1 extension papers with me. I was traveling on Air France from Cincinnati to New Delhi and my flight was via Paris. The airline staff at Cincinnati did not allow me to board the plane as I did not have a valid US visa on my passport. I had to drive down to Chicago to get the transit visa.
Bottom line, if you don't have a green card it is better/safe to get a transit visa. France is a tourist friendly country and they process the visa much faster than other embassy provided you have had western country visa before (which in your case you do).
1. I had a valid US visa and I was traveling from Cincinnati to New Delhi via Paris on Air France. My flight from Cincinnati got delayed and I missed my connecting flight in Paris. All the passengers that had the green card or US citizenship were allowed to stay in Hotel outside the airport. But, since I am an Indian national and did not have a transit visa, France custom officer told me that I am "illegally" in France. He was nice guy and advised me to stay the night at the airport terminal and board the plane to India next day.
2. My visa on my passport expired and I had the H1 extension papers with me. I was traveling on Air France from Cincinnati to New Delhi and my flight was via Paris. The airline staff at Cincinnati did not allow me to board the plane as I did not have a valid US visa on my passport. I had to drive down to Chicago to get the transit visa.
Bottom line, if you don't have a green card it is better/safe to get a transit visa. France is a tourist friendly country and they process the visa much faster than other embassy provided you have had western country visa before (which in your case you do).
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n4nature
02-05 01:25 PM
Masters + 4 years or Master + 0 Years or Bachelors + Exp etc is all decided by the company based on the job title requirements, pay. It is not for you to decide what the labor should be. When company filed my labor I had MS + 3 Years experience from different origanization + 2 years with current organization but the labor was for MS + 0 Yrs experience because that is what the manager & HR thought the company needed and that is how it was advertised. They attached my experience letter from previous employment while submitting the labor but the job requirement never needed it.
Thanks for this answer!!!
Thanks for this answer!!!
more...
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desi3933
07-13 09:48 AM
What will happen if primary case got approved but dependent case is still pending and at the same time, dependent H4 will be expiring soon??
Actually my case got approved yesterday, my wife's not yet. Her H4 expires in September. Thanks.
She is NOT in H4 status anymore the day your I-485 is approved.
She has 180 days (from your approval date) to file I-485 application, otherwise she has to do follow-to-join CP at consulate abroad.
Consult a good attorney asap.
____________________
Not a legal advice.
Actually my case got approved yesterday, my wife's not yet. Her H4 expires in September. Thanks.
She is NOT in H4 status anymore the day your I-485 is approved.
She has 180 days (from your approval date) to file I-485 application, otherwise she has to do follow-to-join CP at consulate abroad.
Consult a good attorney asap.
____________________
Not a legal advice.
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simon03
07-14 01:11 PM
My company attorney is not of much help. He claims given that USCIS has issued Receipt, and has not yet rejected the application, we may be ok...
For me, the risk is that USCIS rejects the application after sitting on it for 2 months...My EAD is expiring mid of Aug, and I will have to start again, and will have to be on unpaid leave.
Has anybody in the forum applied for EAD renewal and whose I-485 filing date is between August 1, 2007 and August 17, 2007 ?
For me, the risk is that USCIS rejects the application after sitting on it for 2 months...My EAD is expiring mid of Aug, and I will have to start again, and will have to be on unpaid leave.
Has anybody in the forum applied for EAD renewal and whose I-485 filing date is between August 1, 2007 and August 17, 2007 ?
more...
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flex
10-02 02:23 PM
Eilsoe - save some of that inspiration for the game.
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10-14 07:12 PM
Wow! No-tec, thats pretty **** sweet. Have any links you could give me to make thrill ISH like that, ya know, like tutorials!
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GCNeophyte
09-17 02:11 PM
one more question... if I reenter using my AP then IO always take you to some place/room to verify something or its sometimes/randomly only? I just realize that my connection time while coming back from one airport(POE) to another is just 2 hours.
I can tell you right now that 2 hrs is not enough time for your connection flight and it is NOT RANDOM.its for all AP holders
I can tell you right now that 2 hrs is not enough time for your connection flight and it is NOT RANDOM.its for all AP holders
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godspeed
01-15 09:16 AM
You have done all the right things, sit tight, all izz well.
It would be helpful to others if you can blog the cover letter and the AP explanation letter.
Great, so I see so many fast cases here.
I had all my docs well organized, also put tabs corresponding to the list numers on cover letter for quick access. I also included self addressed prepaid priority envelope.
It would be helpful to others if you can blog the cover letter and the AP explanation letter.
Great, so I see so many fast cases here.
I had all my docs well organized, also put tabs corresponding to the list numers on cover letter for quick access. I also included self addressed prepaid priority envelope.
more...
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calabor2001
06-20 05:44 PM
Its kinda sad, but I can relate with both the sides here. For folks who are stuck in the stupid AAP (NameCheck, Security Clearance) - the life is harsh - especially if you just came for a quick trip. I am dealing with it for the last 5.5 months and it hasn't been easy. Thankfully, we have a workaround.
But yes, I do agree that missing a lifetime wedding of a sibling because you will get stuck for a few months is perhaps taking it too far. Now, I know folks who have/are doing this and they have valid reasons. We all have our own reasons and to each his /her own.
If you can get Advance Parole then travel with it. If you cannot, then just be prepared for the long haul and prepare your company/client - lawyer and ensure there is a support system that will see through your obligations in States. US Govt. will eventually clear the Visa - the sibling may not necessarily marry again! :) Make your choice! Good Luck and do the right thing for you!!!
But yes, I do agree that missing a lifetime wedding of a sibling because you will get stuck for a few months is perhaps taking it too far. Now, I know folks who have/are doing this and they have valid reasons. We all have our own reasons and to each his /her own.
If you can get Advance Parole then travel with it. If you cannot, then just be prepared for the long haul and prepare your company/client - lawyer and ensure there is a support system that will see through your obligations in States. US Govt. will eventually clear the Visa - the sibling may not necessarily marry again! :) Make your choice! Good Luck and do the right thing for you!!!
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watertown
03-11 11:50 AM
Guys, I've aske this in another board but does anyone know any good attorney in Boston area who can handle WOM/ AC21 like stuff?
My company lawyer doesn't even bother to reply my e-mail!!!! Thats Todd and Weld
My company lawyer doesn't even bother to reply my e-mail!!!! Thats Todd and Weld
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sundarpn
08-03 03:46 AM
If one is in their say 5th or 6th yr of H1 and has an Approved I-140 (copy) from a company A, does that mean:
1. that he can transfer his H1b to a company B and get 3 yr ext.
2. Again in the 8th or 9th year, can he move to another company C and get a 3 ext (upto 12th year).
So can one get infinite 3 yr extenstions just because once upon a time he/she had an approved I 140 from one of his ex-employers (and not his immediate previous emplyer). :)
1. that he can transfer his H1b to a company B and get 3 yr ext.
2. Again in the 8th or 9th year, can he move to another company C and get a 3 ext (upto 12th year).
So can one get infinite 3 yr extenstions just because once upon a time he/she had an approved I 140 from one of his ex-employers (and not his immediate previous emplyer). :)
gimme_gc_asap
06-19 10:55 PM
Be cool my babies....
Be nice to the guy
It may or may not. No one knows. Dont act like you know it all!!
Be nice to the guy
It may or may not. No one knows. Dont act like you know it all!!
pappu
06-16 09:22 PM
Good comparison. if you have more informatiion, do add to this thread.
COMPARISON OF ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS VERSUS CONSULAR PROCESSING
The purpose of this page is to address the advantages and disadvantages of Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing. There are various factors that need to be considered, including the procedures, the cost, the time and the risks involved in each process.
I. TIME
Generally, Adjustment of Status Applications take about 12-15 months to be approved by the INS. In most cases, Consular Processing takes approximately 6 to 9 months, depending on which US Consulate is chosen.
II. CONSULATE NOTIFICATION
The decision to consular process often turns on the issue of whether the overseas consulate will accept an application without notification from the INS via the National Visa Center (NVC). At present only a handful of Consulates will accept such an application. The usual course calls for the INS to send notice of the approval of the I-140 to the NVC in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which then notifies the particular consulate.
From time to time, an I-824 is required in order to Consular Process. In these scenarios, Consular processing takes in excess of one year and is almost never a good option. Because some consulates are realizing that the I-824 processing times at the Service Centers are unreasonably lengthy, several Consulates have opted to allow consular processing in their discretion without the requirement of the notification from the NVC. Under this process, the AC I-140 (attorney certified I-140), the attorney directly sends the Consulate a certified copy of the I-140 approval notice.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you choose the AC I-140 process. First, not all consulates recognize it. Second, some Consulates may later switch to an approach where they demand the I-824. Third, some of the consulates who do accept ACI-140 do so only on grounds of hardship, such as the aging out of a child.
III. 180 DAY PORTABILITY RULE
Persons whose I-485s have been pending at the INS for 180 days or longer are ordinarily eligible to transfer to a new employer without abandoning their I-485 Adjustment of Status Application. The rules surrounding the 180 Day Portability are new and can be complex. However, the Portability rule can provide great relief to employees who are concerned that future lay-offs or Reductions In Force may cause their permanent Residency Applications to fail. Because of several liberalized I-485 rules, it usually a poor choice to opt for Consular Processing.
IV. LOCAL ISSUES
Each consulate has its own nuances. Most U.S. Consulates require police certificates for all applicants 16 years or older covering all periods that they have resided in a foreign country. This requirement does not exist in the case of adjustment of status. The consular officers also require a certified copy of any military records, whereas this is not required in adjustment of status applications. The consulate in Manila will only accept birth certificates issued by the National Statistics Office. A person who does not have all the documents at the time of the interview will need to appear for a second interview.
In all cases however, the medical exams have to be completed by a designated doctor in that country. In London, the medical exams are completed the same day as the interview. However, in Johannesburg, Chennai, and Mumbai, the medical exams have to be completed at least two weeks before the interview. Essentially, this means the employee will need to spend approximately three weeks overseas or will require two trips overseas.
In most cases, interview notices are generated approximately 30 days prior to the actual interview. As a practical matter, families need to depart the U.S. immediately upon receipt of an interview notice in order to have plenty of time to complete the medical exam.
In addition to the general procedural differences between the two processes, there are more stringent requirements in consular processing. For example, it is generally easier to obtain waivers of certain medical grounds for exclusion, such as HIV, if you are Adjusting.
V. COSTS
Another issue that should be analyzed is the cost associated with each process. The major monetary difference is travel costs. Plainly, you only need to pay for a flight overseas if you are Consular processing. This can be burdensome and costly where there are several family members.
Another factor that may indirectly affect the costs to the employer and employee is the time that will be required to be spent outside of the United States. During the adjustment of status process, a person can continue their employment in the United States while the case is processing. In consular processing cases, they are required to be out of the U.S. for approximately a month, assuming no problems arise in their case. If problems do arise in their case, they may need to stay overseas longer than anticipated. Alternatively, they could, in most cases, come back to the U.S. but would need to travel to the consulate again for a follow-up interview. Obviously, this adds to additional time away from work and additional expenses. In addition, for employees who have school age children, this would require the child's absence from school.
VI. RISKS
The major factor in deciding whether to choose adjustment of status or consular processing is the risk involved. By far, consular processing is much more risky than the adjustment of status process. First, consular processing provides less opportunity for attorney assistance. In the adjustment of status process, the attorneys prepare the application and file it with the INS. If the INS has a Request for Additional Evidence or any issues in the case, the information is sent to the attorney at which time the attorney can review the issues with the client and submit a response. In consular processing, the consulates do not allow the person to be represented by an attorney during the interview. Sometimes the attorney can stay in the waiting room and address any questions that the applicant has, but is not allowed to actually represent them at the interview.
Second, consular processing involves a personal interview whereas the adjustment of status does not. Of course, any time that there is a personal interview, there is more risk that the applicant will say something unfavorable to his case. It also provides the officer with more time to go in depth into the applicant's immigration history or any issues of excludability. For example, if the employee's job title or job duties have changed at all since the filing of the labor certification then there is more of a chance that the consulate will focus on this issue and could deny the application. In contrast, in adjustment of status the INS does not delve into the exact job duties, (e.g. specific tools, utilities, software) but rather focuses on the job title, salary, and whether there is a continued offer of employment.
Third, consular officers sometimes work with a mindset of distrust because they are accustomed to seeing fraudulent cases. Keep in mind that Manila, Mumbai, and Chennai are high fraud posts.
Fourth, anyone who has been unlawfully present in the United States and is subject to the 3/10 year bar would immediately trigger that bar once he departed the U.S. Clearly, a person in this situation should not even consider consular processing as such as decision would be fatal.
Finally, and most importantly, a denial of a visa at a Consulate post cannot be appealed.
VII. EMPLOYMENT FOR SPOUSES
Spouses can obtain employment authorization while their Application for Adjustment of Status is pending at the INS. They are ineligible for work authorization while their Consular Processing Application is pending.
VIII. CONCLUSION
In sum, consular processing can be advantageous in some situations. However, the decision to do consular processing should be made on a case-by-case basis based upon the particular consulate and the facts of each case. Ordinarily, Adjustment of Status is the better approach.
COMPARISON OF ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS VERSUS CONSULAR PROCESSING
The purpose of this page is to address the advantages and disadvantages of Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing. There are various factors that need to be considered, including the procedures, the cost, the time and the risks involved in each process.
I. TIME
Generally, Adjustment of Status Applications take about 12-15 months to be approved by the INS. In most cases, Consular Processing takes approximately 6 to 9 months, depending on which US Consulate is chosen.
II. CONSULATE NOTIFICATION
The decision to consular process often turns on the issue of whether the overseas consulate will accept an application without notification from the INS via the National Visa Center (NVC). At present only a handful of Consulates will accept such an application. The usual course calls for the INS to send notice of the approval of the I-140 to the NVC in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which then notifies the particular consulate.
From time to time, an I-824 is required in order to Consular Process. In these scenarios, Consular processing takes in excess of one year and is almost never a good option. Because some consulates are realizing that the I-824 processing times at the Service Centers are unreasonably lengthy, several Consulates have opted to allow consular processing in their discretion without the requirement of the notification from the NVC. Under this process, the AC I-140 (attorney certified I-140), the attorney directly sends the Consulate a certified copy of the I-140 approval notice.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you choose the AC I-140 process. First, not all consulates recognize it. Second, some Consulates may later switch to an approach where they demand the I-824. Third, some of the consulates who do accept ACI-140 do so only on grounds of hardship, such as the aging out of a child.
III. 180 DAY PORTABILITY RULE
Persons whose I-485s have been pending at the INS for 180 days or longer are ordinarily eligible to transfer to a new employer without abandoning their I-485 Adjustment of Status Application. The rules surrounding the 180 Day Portability are new and can be complex. However, the Portability rule can provide great relief to employees who are concerned that future lay-offs or Reductions In Force may cause their permanent Residency Applications to fail. Because of several liberalized I-485 rules, it usually a poor choice to opt for Consular Processing.
IV. LOCAL ISSUES
Each consulate has its own nuances. Most U.S. Consulates require police certificates for all applicants 16 years or older covering all periods that they have resided in a foreign country. This requirement does not exist in the case of adjustment of status. The consular officers also require a certified copy of any military records, whereas this is not required in adjustment of status applications. The consulate in Manila will only accept birth certificates issued by the National Statistics Office. A person who does not have all the documents at the time of the interview will need to appear for a second interview.
In all cases however, the medical exams have to be completed by a designated doctor in that country. In London, the medical exams are completed the same day as the interview. However, in Johannesburg, Chennai, and Mumbai, the medical exams have to be completed at least two weeks before the interview. Essentially, this means the employee will need to spend approximately three weeks overseas or will require two trips overseas.
In most cases, interview notices are generated approximately 30 days prior to the actual interview. As a practical matter, families need to depart the U.S. immediately upon receipt of an interview notice in order to have plenty of time to complete the medical exam.
In addition to the general procedural differences between the two processes, there are more stringent requirements in consular processing. For example, it is generally easier to obtain waivers of certain medical grounds for exclusion, such as HIV, if you are Adjusting.
V. COSTS
Another issue that should be analyzed is the cost associated with each process. The major monetary difference is travel costs. Plainly, you only need to pay for a flight overseas if you are Consular processing. This can be burdensome and costly where there are several family members.
Another factor that may indirectly affect the costs to the employer and employee is the time that will be required to be spent outside of the United States. During the adjustment of status process, a person can continue their employment in the United States while the case is processing. In consular processing cases, they are required to be out of the U.S. for approximately a month, assuming no problems arise in their case. If problems do arise in their case, they may need to stay overseas longer than anticipated. Alternatively, they could, in most cases, come back to the U.S. but would need to travel to the consulate again for a follow-up interview. Obviously, this adds to additional time away from work and additional expenses. In addition, for employees who have school age children, this would require the child's absence from school.
VI. RISKS
The major factor in deciding whether to choose adjustment of status or consular processing is the risk involved. By far, consular processing is much more risky than the adjustment of status process. First, consular processing provides less opportunity for attorney assistance. In the adjustment of status process, the attorneys prepare the application and file it with the INS. If the INS has a Request for Additional Evidence or any issues in the case, the information is sent to the attorney at which time the attorney can review the issues with the client and submit a response. In consular processing, the consulates do not allow the person to be represented by an attorney during the interview. Sometimes the attorney can stay in the waiting room and address any questions that the applicant has, but is not allowed to actually represent them at the interview.
Second, consular processing involves a personal interview whereas the adjustment of status does not. Of course, any time that there is a personal interview, there is more risk that the applicant will say something unfavorable to his case. It also provides the officer with more time to go in depth into the applicant's immigration history or any issues of excludability. For example, if the employee's job title or job duties have changed at all since the filing of the labor certification then there is more of a chance that the consulate will focus on this issue and could deny the application. In contrast, in adjustment of status the INS does not delve into the exact job duties, (e.g. specific tools, utilities, software) but rather focuses on the job title, salary, and whether there is a continued offer of employment.
Third, consular officers sometimes work with a mindset of distrust because they are accustomed to seeing fraudulent cases. Keep in mind that Manila, Mumbai, and Chennai are high fraud posts.
Fourth, anyone who has been unlawfully present in the United States and is subject to the 3/10 year bar would immediately trigger that bar once he departed the U.S. Clearly, a person in this situation should not even consider consular processing as such as decision would be fatal.
Finally, and most importantly, a denial of a visa at a Consulate post cannot be appealed.
VII. EMPLOYMENT FOR SPOUSES
Spouses can obtain employment authorization while their Application for Adjustment of Status is pending at the INS. They are ineligible for work authorization while their Consular Processing Application is pending.
VIII. CONCLUSION
In sum, consular processing can be advantageous in some situations. However, the decision to do consular processing should be made on a case-by-case basis based upon the particular consulate and the facts of each case. Ordinarily, Adjustment of Status is the better approach.
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