Hello Everyone,
I'm trying to help a friend out, and was looking for answers to a rather complicated topic. I've tried to search for a thread with a similar issue, but couldn't. Hence this post.
Background:
A friend studied in the US, got his master's degree, joined a company and obtained an employment based green card (EB1). He worked for about 1 and half to 2 years after the process and decided to move back to India (For family/personal reasons - I'm not exactly sure). Upon moving back, he surrendered his card as well. Now it has been four (4) years since he has surrendered his card.
While he was in the US he has had a clean record, filed taxes regularly and all.
He has a child who was born in the US (US Citizen).
Now:
He's decided he wants to go back to the US and wants his old GC back.
He consulted the US consulate and this is what they said:
"Since the GC was employment based, ask the old employer to issue an offer letter, and simply based on the offer letter only they will immediately re-issue the GC".
Questions:
1. Does this mean he has to take up employment with the company, or can he just get the GC and go with any company of his choice?
2. He wants to study further - but on full time. Can he take up a full time schoolwork despite the GC being employment based (EB) ? Does he have to work for his old company (question 1) before he goes to school full time?
3. Can the spouse work (to feed the family) while he is in school?
Wife was on a dependent visa and got the green card sponsorship through my friend.
4. Is there any other way to get the GC back without having to contact the old employer? For instance (I'm just hypothesizing), since his labor has cleared, can he use that labor with the old priority date, and re-apply I-140 and I-485 through another company? (His ex-manager at his old company has moved on). I ask this since labor is generic, but 140 and 485 are tied to a specific "Sponsor" meaning his ex-company).
I would really appreciate any helpful insights into this issue. If there are any other things to be considered other than the four points I've asked, kindly mention them.
Thank you very much.
Ashwin.
I'm trying to help a friend out, and was looking for answers to a rather complicated topic. I've tried to search for a thread with a similar issue, but couldn't. Hence this post.
Background:
A friend studied in the US, got his master's degree, joined a company and obtained an employment based green card (EB1). He worked for about 1 and half to 2 years after the process and decided to move back to India (For family/personal reasons - I'm not exactly sure). Upon moving back, he surrendered his card as well. Now it has been four (4) years since he has surrendered his card.
While he was in the US he has had a clean record, filed taxes regularly and all.
He has a child who was born in the US (US Citizen).
Now:
He's decided he wants to go back to the US and wants his old GC back.
He consulted the US consulate and this is what they said:
"Since the GC was employment based, ask the old employer to issue an offer letter, and simply based on the offer letter only they will immediately re-issue the GC".
Questions:
1. Does this mean he has to take up employment with the company, or can he just get the GC and go with any company of his choice?
2. He wants to study further - but on full time. Can he take up a full time schoolwork despite the GC being employment based (EB) ? Does he have to work for his old company (question 1) before he goes to school full time?
3. Can the spouse work (to feed the family) while he is in school?
Wife was on a dependent visa and got the green card sponsorship through my friend.
4. Is there any other way to get the GC back without having to contact the old employer? For instance (I'm just hypothesizing), since his labor has cleared, can he use that labor with the old priority date, and re-apply I-140 and I-485 through another company? (His ex-manager at his old company has moved on). I ask this since labor is generic, but 140 and 485 are tied to a specific "Sponsor" meaning his ex-company).
I would really appreciate any helpful insights into this issue. If there are any other things to be considered other than the four points I've asked, kindly mention them.
Thank you very much.
Ashwin.
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