Change jobs?

There is no hard fast rule. After stamping you may change your job immidiately. However, to be on the safe side people suggest 180 days. I personally know guys who have changed their jobs with in 90 days.


Psinha
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I am not a lawyer and my statement might be incorrect. Consult a good immigration lawyer.

I485 ND - 12/10/2002
I45 AD - 11/29/2004
 
is there any paperwork that goes to INS, if you change jobs after stamping?

how do they find out?

was there a discussion on this? i am hoping to switch jobs immdtly after 485 approval+stamping. could somebody point me to any resources on this?

thanks
 
Anybody....

Are the Green cards valid for 10 yrs or 5 yrs? I was under the impression that since 1989, GCs are issued for 10 years.


Psinha

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I485 ND - 12/10/2002
I45 AD - 11/29/2004
 
Rajiv's opinion on 'changing job' after GC

Q. How soon can I leave my petitioning employer once I get my green card approval?

A. There is no brief answer to this question. Let me explain. The basic premise (or theory) behind permanent residence through offer of employment is that an employee is accepting a job on a "permanent" bases. What does "permanent" mean? Does it mean for ever. Obviously not. That would be unreasonable. But "permanent" also does not mean that you pack your bags the moment you receive your green card. So what is the answer? No one really knows. Each case has to be determined upon its own merits. Normally, I would say working for one year or more with the same employer after getting your GC is PROBABLY enough indication of permanency. Less than 4-5 months is perhaps evidence to the contrary

But REMEMBER, this is just my own guess. Technically speaking, the moment you decide that you will leave after a certain period of time, "permanent" intent is gone. Catch-22 eh? Well that is the way it is.

There may be considerable relaxation in this interpretation because in the year 2001 Congress enacted a law that permits employees to leave an employer even while their I-485 is pending. We do not have the regulations or any detailed guidance on these issues.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Q. I did not willingly left the GC sponsor employer but actually after three months I got my GC, i got laid off from the project and due to the bad economy , my employer was not able to get me other project so he gave me letter saying that he wont be able to pay me salary since he doesnt have any project for me.And, after getting that letter I resigned from GC sponsor employer.
This is the whole scenario, now considering it, Am I still at risk?

A. There are no clear rules as we have stated above. But, In my opinion, there is no risk in this scenario. You acted in good faith to continue the job, but your employer could not continue to employ you.

Q. I am employed at the XYZ University (XYZU). I applied for 485 myself (without attorney). My 485 was approved last month and I got my passport stamped in July. My contract with XYZU is coming to an end. My job is renewed every year based on the availability of funding. I have been with XYZU for the last 5 years. There is a possibility that they (XYZU) may not extend the contract because the research grant I got is coming to an end in september.
Will my termination from the job at XYZU affect my Green Card in the future, and is it better to be terminated from service (based on unavailability of funding) by the WVU or is it better to offer my resignation?

A. I think it is better to be terminated. There are no clear rules as we have stated above. But, In my opinion, there is no risk in this scenario. You acted in good faith to continue the job, but your employer could not continue to employ you.


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IMPORTANT NOTE: I am a Moderator, not a Lawyer. So act accordingly.
 
Opinion of Sheila Murthy's office on this topic....

A person may switch employers during the I-485 process if (a) the I-485 has been pending for over 180 days and is not yet adjudicated and (b) the offer of new employment is in the same or similar job. While the USCIS may use the description of the job duties from the DOT or the O*NET to determine similarity in jobs, they have verbally agreed that they may be willing to consider a broader definition in the future. Besides job title and description, the salary with the new employer would at least need to satisfy concerns regarding the public charge provisions and should be as closed to the amount listed on the labor certification as possible.

Clearly, the law before AC21 was passed in October 2000 required that a person continue working with the employer that sponsored the green card for at least 6 months to 1 year after obtaining the green card. Although AC21 allows the changing of employers if the I-485 is not adjudicated within 180 days, there is no change in the law with respect to the intention of the employer to offer and the employee to undertake "permanent," full-time work with the sponsoring employer for the job advertised. Keep in mind that a green card job offer is legally considered a future job offer. Therefore, the employee must have a good-faith intention to work for the employer after the green card is approved, and the employer must have a good-faith intention to employ the employee after the green card is approved. Even if a person had worked for the sponsoring employer for several years while pursuing the green card process, that would not count as future intent. Generally, 6 months to 1 year after obtaining the green card is a safe time period to change employment. Failure to stay at the sponsoring employer may result in problems at the naturalization stage!
 
As long as your employment goes well in accordance to the Labor certification and your employer treats you well...., 180 days is a good period to stay...
If one has any proof of employer troubling the employee..., one need not stick on..., (for example..., if the employee is a salaried from a consulting company, and after GC approval, if the employee is on bench and the consulting companies not paying salary on bench is sufficient proof for one to leave the consulting company)
 
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