FAQs on recapturing I-140 priority dates.

1. When can I recapture an earlier priority date?

If you have an approved I-140 in the employment-based 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd preference category, this can be transferred to a subsequent I-140 filed on your behalf in one of these categories. Priority dates cannot be transferred to 4^th or 5^th EB preference petitions or to family-sponsored petitions.

2. What if my earlier employer withdraws the I-140?

Your priority date is transferable unless CIS revokes the I-140 petition due to fraud or misrepresentation. Withdrawing the I-140 does not affect priority date recapture.

3. Does the new I-140 petition need to be filed by the same employer?

No. The later I-140 can be filed by a different company and be for a different position.

4. Doesn’t the new job have to be in the “same or similar occupational classification” for portability?

No. Recapturing priority dates does not require that the I-140s be for similar jobs. "Porting" usually refers to AC21 portability, nothing to do with priority dates. AC21 portability allows a person to change jobs during the permanent residence process in specific circumstances.

5. Can I transfer my earlier EB-3 priority date to my husband’s later EB-2 filing, so that we have an earlier EB-2 priority date?

No. Priority dates can only be transferred from one I-140 to another when the I-140s are filed for the same beneficiary. They are not transferable between beneficiaries.

6. How do I ask CIS to use an earlier priority date?

Normally the lawyer filing the 2^nd or later I-140 will include a letter asking CIS to use the earlier priority date. The request needs to include a copy of the Earlier I-140 approval, or at least the receipt number. CIS needs some way to confirm that the earlier I-140 was for the same beneficiary.

7. What if the 2nd I-140 was already approved - how to I make sure CIS is using the earlier priority date?

You should not need to do anything. However I would contact CIS once the priority date is current to be sure that are using that PD
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PLEASE READ: I welcome all the comments to this posting. However, please do not ask specific questions about your particular case via the blog. I can only provide general information on this forum.

Permanent residence (green card) petitions down by half

The Associated Press reports that the number of employers filing immigrant petitions has declined dramatically in the past two years. According to AP, CIS received about 1/2 the number of I-140s in Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 than it did in each of the previous years.

There were almost 235,000 applications submitted in fiscal 2007, almost 104,000 the following year, and fewer than 36,000 through the first eight months of fiscal 2009, according to data obtained by the AP.

One side-effect of the drop in applications is that I-140s are now being processed much faster than before, the report notes.

The decline in filings is attributed to "weak job market, long waits for immigrant visa availability, deep job cuts in sectors that have traditionally lured large numbers of applicants and more competition from American job seekers."

CIS resumes Premium Processing for I-140s

CIS has just announced that it will resume Premium Processing for I-140 petitions, starting on June 29. The following petitions will be affected:

• EB-1 Aliens with Extraordinary Ability;
• EB-1 Outstanding Professors and Researchers;
• EB-2, Members of Professions with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver;
• EB-3 Professionals,
• EB-3 Skilled Workers, and
• EB-3 Workers other than Skilled Workers and Professionals.

Premium Processing guarantees a decision within 15 days for an additional government filing fee of $1000. The decision could be an approval, denial, request for additional evidence, or some other action.

See the CIS website and Press Release for details.

What are the steps to a green card through employment?

Yesterday I wrote about the different preference categories in permanent residence (green card) processing. Employers and foreign nationals frequently ask what the steps are to getting a green card, so these are outlined below. Tomorrow I'll explain the steps in a family-based case.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Labor Certification

1. If the preference category requires a test of the US job market, the first step involves getting a labor certification (called PERM) approved by the Department of Labor (DOL). The employer needs to conduct a prescribed number of recruitment methods, to see whether there is an available, qualified, US worker interested in the position. Because of the uncertainties of the job market, this is the most unpredictable step in the immigration process. Martin Immigration Law works closely with employers to analyze the position, requirements, and advertising, and to answer questions regarding the process. However, no immigration law firm can review resumes or screen applicants.

2. I-140 Immigrant Petition

(i) With labor certification
Once the labor certification is approved, the employer files an immigrant visa preference petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS, formerly INS). This petition needs to prove the following to USCIS:
(a) that the DOL has approved a PERM on behalf of this foreign national;
(b) that the foreign national has the education and experience required as listed on the labor cert. The employee will need to provide educational documents and copies of experience letters. Martin Immigration Law will discuss these with the employee at Step 1.
(c) that the employer can afford to pay the salary listed on the PERM.

(ii) Without labor certification
If the employee is in a category that does not require labor certification, the process starts with the employer filing an I-140. In that situation, the I-140 needs to include extensive detail about the employee’s qualifications for the classification requested. For example, if the employer is asking that the employee be classified as an outstanding researcher, we must include evidence of the foreign national’s publications, presentations, research experience, education, recommendation letters, etc.

3. Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing

The final step is filed by the foreign national with the USCIS or with the consulate overseas (via the National Visa Center (NVC)). Whichever route the foreign national takes, her dependent family members also file for permanent residence at this stage. This final step involves the employee and her family showing to USCIS or the consulate that there is no reason why they are not permitted to get permanent residence, i.e. there are no criminal, medical, fraud, etc bars to a green card. To show this, each applicant needs to provide certain medical reports, birth and marriage documents, police records, and other documents that will be explained in detail by your immigration lawyer.

(i) Adjustment of Status
If the foreign national’s priority date is current*, s/he can file the Adjustment of Status (AOS) with the I-140, or while the I-140 is pending. If the priority date is not current, the foreign national must wait until it is current before she can file the AOS.

(ii) Consular Processing
If the foreign national prefers, she can complete the permanent residence at her home consulate. If she chooses this option, she cannot do the 3rd step until and I-140 is approved AND the priority date is current. Consular processing used to be faster than AOS sometimes, but with concurrent filing of AOS now available, consular processing is less popular. It is also more cumbersome because of the travel requirements and the need for more documents than with AOS.

* Please see the FAQs on my website for an explanation of these terms.