file rightaway.
you will need previous year\'s IRS tax filing copy to file with 485.
(most lawyers file this with 485). If you wait until next year to file 485, then you will have to provide this year\'s tax copy, but if you are on bench for 7 months then your tax filing looks bad ( much less income than what is reported for labour). If you file this year and you have last year\'s tax filing copy, you may be fine.
Let us hope you will get a project soon and all problems end.
Goodluck
