I-140 Processing Update

We are starting a post to give everyone a sense of the processing timeframe for I-140 petitions by showing some sample approvals. Below is an I-140 EB2 filed in October 2020 at the TSC. It was approved on 09/09/2021. In August, we received an I-140 EB3 approval on 08/31/2021 which was filed at TSC on 06/03/2021. This was fairly quick which took just under 3 months. On the slow end, we also...

EB1a, Aliens of Extraordinary Ability (2021)

Since March of 2021, visa numbers have been current for Chinese or Indian nationals filing for green card under the employment-based first preference (EB1) category. This means that an applicant may file their green card applications (I-485) concurrently with their I-140 petition instead of waiting 3 to 10 years for visa number availability under second or third preference categories. The...

You may now pay I-140 Premium Processing via Credit Card

On July 20, 2021, The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) will start accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450 for petitioners filing Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, with Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, or when filing Form I-907 to upgrade a pending Form I-140 to premium processing.

Perpetual H-1B? Almost

Seasoned H-1B status holders are familiar with the regulations that allow them to extend their stay beyond the standard 6-year maximum period. We regularly see H-1B workers from India who have been in H-1B status for well over 10 years. Section 104(c) of AC21 provides that DHS "may grant" a three-year H-1B extension beyond the six-year maximum if the H-1B worker has an approved I-140 petition,...

I’m in H-1B Status and Just Got Laid Off. What are My Options?

Update, December 8, 2022 Considerations from the employer's perspective when terminating a foreign worker.  Original Post, February 15, 2021 We often receive inquiries from clients and first-time callers who just got terminated or have been informed about their last day. Many of them hope for a quick fix but fail to grasp the reality of what is ahead. Only after expectations are properly...