Hold H-1B visa? Will get green card soon

[OhioChick]

June 12, 2008 18:46 IST


The US immigration services have offered speedy disposal of green card applications from employers who want to sponsor H-1B visa holders nearing the end of their six-year limit.

From June 16, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting Premium Processing Service requests for Forms I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) filed on behalf of the alien workers whose six-month stay allowed under H-1B visa will expire within 60 days.

Premium Processing Service offers 15 calendar-day processing for designated employment-based petitions and applications upon request and with a nonrefundable fee of $1,000 for this service. Usually, the process takes about three to four months.

"During the 15-day period, USCIS will issue either an approval or denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, a request for evidence, or open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation," the USCIS said in a statement.

The service is limited for Form I-140 petitions that are filed on behalf of aliens under certain conditions, including that their sixth year will end within 60 days and who are only eligible for a further extension of H-1B nonimmigrant status under section 104(c) of AC21.

Section 104(c) of AC21 permits certain applicants to extend their stay in H-1B nonimmigrant status beyond the six-year bar in increments of up to three years, under certain conditions.


http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jun/12visa.htm

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Bringing the off-shoring home

Meanwhile, capable, trained Americans are forced on the dole because employers would rather higher an equally skilled foreigner for less pay and no benefits.

[varun]

2. The title is misleading

I-140 is only a part of the green card process.

After I-140, one has to file the "Adjustment of Status" (I-485).

The processing time for I-485 is anywhere from 2 years to 10 years. Applicants from populous countries like India and China have to wait 5-6 years to get their green cards.

Speeding up I-140 (as this article mentions) will shave off a mere 3-4 months off the 5-6 year wait.