H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

FYI - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has reported a glitch in the issuance of Advance Parole Documents during the first part of January 2010. The date of issuance on the documents is noted as January 1990 instead of 2010.

USCIS has identified all of the cases in which the wrong date was issued, and will issue revised forms as soon as the software issue is corrected.

***No further action will be necessary to receive a corrected document***

If you need to travel urgently and you have received a document with an invalid issue date, then you may travel using the incorrect document. U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has been alerted however, you may be questioned about the issuance date. Therefore, please print this explanation to share with CBP if necessary.

$450 flat fee (no admin fee) for filing both EAD and Advance Parole per applicant

OR

$200 + $50(admin fee) if filing either EAD or Advance Parole separately

Our normal legal fees are $250 + $50(admin fee) per application

**If an RFE is received, an additional legal fee will be required to respond**

Contact our office to process your EAD and Advance Parole Renewal!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question: How soon can I renew my EAD and Advance Parole (AP)?
Answer: You can file the renewal 120 days prior to the expiration date. However, AP applicants are advised to reapply within 30 days or less remaining on their current I-131 document.

Question: I have a valid H-1B. Do I need to renew EAD and AP?
Answer: No. You do not have to renew your EAD or AP. According to the new USCIS guidance issued last November, People on L1 or H-1B status can travel without AP. However, it is advisable to renew the EAD and AP as a precautionary measure if you plan to travel. For instance, if you travel outside the U.S. and you are not allowed back into the U.S. by customs on H-1B for any given reason, you can always come back in with AP and ensure that your adjustment of status proceeding continues.

Question: My spouse has H4 and is currently not working; do I need to renew EAD? Can I renew later when I need it?
Answer: You do not need to renew EAD. You can reapply for EAD anytime while your I-485 is pending.

Question: How long does it take to get a new EAD and AP?
Answer: Current processing times can be viewed on the USCIS website.

Question: My H-1B is expiring, should I extend H-1B or be on EAD?
Answer: You can work on EAD while your adjustment of status application (I-485) is pending. However, in the unforeseen event that your adjustment of status application is denied by the USCIS, you would fall out of status. Therefore, it is a good idea to maintain H-1B status as long as you can. However, this is decision that you have to make.

Question: Can I renew AP while I am outside the U.S.?
Answer: No

Question: What happens if my EAD expires and I’m still waiting for an approval of 485 while I am working?
Answer: If not on valid H-1B/L status, you cannot work until you get an approval.

Question: If I am currently on O1 status, and would like to travel, should I apply for AP and EAD, or just AP?
Answer: If you are on a nonimmigrant status other than H-1B, H-4, L-1, or L-2, you should obtain an AP, but EAD is not needed. Problems could occur while traveling, especially when attempting to reenter the U.S. Therefore, it is recommended that if you are not on H-1B/L status, that you should obtain both an EAD and AP if you wish to travel outside the U.S. while your I-485 is pending.

Question: What is the validity period for the EAD card?
Answer: As of June 30, 2008, USCIS will issue EAD valid for two years for individuals who qualify. The new two-year EAD is only available to individuals who have filed Adjustment of status I-485 and are unable to become a lawful permanent resident because an immigrant visa number is not currently available.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has recently issued a fact sheet reminding qualifying applilcants to apply EARLY for an Advance Parole document, as Advance Parole processing times take about 90 days.

The list of applicants who must obtain an Advance Parole document before traveling outside of the United States is as follows:

• Applicants that have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS);
• Applicants with a pending application for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (LPR);
• Applicants with a pending application for relief under section 203 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA 203);
• Applicants with a pending asylum application; or
• Applicants with a pending application for legalization

If you are an Appllicant with a pending Application for Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and need assistance with filing Form I-131, contact our office, as we currently have a SPECIAL running for the preparation and filing of the Advance Parole document.

$450 flat fee (no admin fee) for filing both EAD and Advance Parole per applicant
$200 + $50(admin fee) if filing either EAD or Advance Parole separately
Our normal legal fees are $250 + $50(admin fee) per application
**If an RFE is received, an additional legal fee will be required to respond**

$450 flat fee (no admin fee) for filing both EAD and Advance Parole per applicant

$200 + $50(admin fee) if filing either EAD or Advance Parole separately

Our normal legal fees are $250 + $50(admin fee) per application

**If an RFE is received, an additional legal fee will be required to respond**

Contact our office to process your EAD and Advance Parole Renewal!

The required documents for filing an EAD renewal are as follows:
1. copy of current EAD card (front and back)
2. copy of I-485 receipt notice
3. copy of I-765 approval notices
4. two (2) colored passport style photographs for each applicant
5. application fee $340 each (Check made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security- DO NOT ABBREVIATE)

The required documents for filing an AP renewal are as follows:
1. copy of current Advance Parole approval
2. copy of current status for each applicant; (For example, if on H1B, a copy of current H1B approval notice, etc.)
3. copy of I-485 receipt notice
4. two (2) colored passport style photographs for each applicant
5. application fee $305 (Check made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security – DO NOT ABBREVIATE)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question: How soon can I renew my EAD and Advance Parole (AP)?
Answer: You can file the renewal 120 days prior to the expiration date. However, AP applicants are advised to reapply within 30 days or less remaining on their current I-131 document.

Question: I have a valid H-1B. Do I need to renew EAD and AP?
Answer: No. You do not have to renew your EAD or AP. According to the new USCIS guidance issued last November, People on L1 or H-1B status can travel without AP. However, it is advisable to renew the EAD and AP as a precautionary measure if you plan to travel. For instance, if you travel outside the U.S. and you are not allowed back into the U.S. by customs on H-1B for any given reason, you can always come back in with AP and ensure that your adjustment of status proceeding continues.

Question: My spouse has H4 and is currently not working; do I need to renew EAD? Can I renew later when I need it?
Answer: You do not need to renew EAD. You can reapply for EAD anytime while your I-485 is pending.

Question: How long does it take to get a new EAD and AP?
Answer: Current processing times can be viewed on the USCIS website.

Question: My H-1B is expiring, should I extend H-1B or be on EAD?
Answer: You can work on EAD while your adjustment of status application (I-485) is pending. However, in the unforeseen event that your adjustment of status application is denied by the USCIS, you would fall out of status. Therefore, it is a good idea to maintain H-1B status as long as you can. However, this is decision that you have to make.

Question: Can I renew AP while I am outside the U.S.?
Answer: No

Question: What happens if my EAD expires and I’m still waiting for an approval of 485 while I am working?
Answer: If not on valid H-1B/L status, you cannot work until you get an approval.

Question: If I am currently on O1 status, and would like to travel, should I apply for AP and EAD, or just AP?
Answer: If you are on a nonimmigrant status other than H-1B, H-4, L-1, or L-2, you should obtain an AP, but EAD is not needed. Problems could occur while traveling, especially when attempting to reenter the U.S. Therefore, it is recommended that if you are not on H-1B/L status, that you should obtain both an EAD and AP if you wish to travel outside the U.S. while your I-485 is pending.

Question: What is the validity period for the EAD card?
Answer: As of June 30, 2008, USCIS will issue EAD valid for two years for individuals who qualify. The new two-year EAD is only available to individuals who have filed Adjustment of status I-485 and are unable to become a lawful permanent resident because an immigrant visa number is not currently available.

According to a recent AILA Liaison Committee meeting, I-485, Adjustment of Status applicants who intend to file for their second or subsequent I-131 reentry permit should file with 30 days or less remaining on the previous valid I-131 document…otherwise an RFE will most likely be issued asking for the valid travel document before a new I-131 is issued to the applicant...

For more information, do not hesitate to contact our office at (240) 390-0600

The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) recently dismissed an appeal
brought by a foreign national who applied for a re-entry permit while outside of the Continental United States. The regulation at 8 C.F.R. § 223.2 (b) states in pertinent part that except as otherwise provided, an application may be approved if filed by a person who is in the United States at the time of application and is a lawful permanent resident or conditional permanent resident.

In the aforementioned case, the applicant filed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on April 24, 2006. On July 24, 2006, a request for additional evidence (RFE) was issued asking the applicant to produce evidencing indicating his actual date of departure from the United States. The applicant replied with evidence that he had departed the U.S. on February 28, 2006. The applicant did not dispute that he was outside of the U.S. when he filed Form I-131; however, he explained that he was only attempting to extend his expired travel document.

According to the regulations, an applicant may not extend an expired travel document; they must surrender their expired travel document and apply for a new travel document with the USCIS.

Accordingly, the regulations provide no exception for the physical presence requirements at the time of filing a Form I-131. Furthermore, the AAO concluded that since the application was not filed until after the applicant had departed the U.S., the application may not be approved as a matter of law.

The MVP Law Group, P.A. strongly recommends that applicants who intend to submit any petition with the USCIS do so while they are physically present in the United States. It is not wise nor beneficial to submit a form to the USCIS while outside of the U.S. Doing so may result in a substantial loss of money, time and status.