Used AP ( UN or other Gurus , please help!)

Hardrock

Registered Users (C)
I know this post may not be applicable to here. I used AP last year, never used EAD and am still working for the same employer after coming back from China. I have a H-1 approval valid until next year, no stamp on my passport. There are lots of discussions about if using AP would make your H-1 invalid and My attorney holds that opinion. I have to prepare for the worse senario. Can I go back to H-1 status? Can I change employer? Can I go to the border to get a H-1 stamp on my passport?

Thanks in advance
 
Hi UnitedNations,
Thanks for clearing a few basic doubts. But what
happens to my H1B status in these 2 scenarios:

1. H1B with previous employer is stamped on my passport till March 2006.
I have ONLY the H1B receipt notice of my current employer, who is also
my sponsoring my GC. In this case, if I have AP, can I enter the country
with my H1 status? Or will AP be the only option that can be used in this case?
And if I do use AP to enter, can I still remain on H1 since my H1 petition is
pending? Please advise...

2. My wife switched from an F1 visa to an H1. She does not have her H1 stamped
on her passport. So her case is quite similar to mine, I guess. Can
she enter with her AP but work with her H1?

Thanks...
 
That is thru Cronin memo. Check out what it is:

http://www.immigrationportal.com/showpost.php?p=939106&postcount=47


For lazy ones:

:)

Revised INS Memo on Dual Intent When Adjustment Application Pending

Below is the amended version of the May 16, 2000 INS memo that supersedes and reverses the March 14, 2000 Bach Memo. The memo states that Hs and Ls who have returned to the U.S. under advance parole would be considered to have worked with authorization under H or L status.



U.S. Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization Service
425 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20536

HQADJ 70/ 2.8.6, 2.8.12, 10.18

AD 00-03

AMENDED VERSION

MEMORANDUM FOR

REGIONAL DIRECTORS
SERVICE CENTER DIRECTORS
DISTRICT DIRECTORS
OFFICERS IN CHARGE
ASYLUM DIRECTORS
PORT DIRECTORS

FROM:

MICHAEL D. CRONIN
ACTING ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF PROGRAMS

SUBJECT: AFM Update: Revision of March 14, 2000 Dual Intent Memorandum

This memorandum supersedes and amends the March 14, 2000 memorandum on dual intent for H-1 and L-1 non-immigrants with pending applications for adjustment of status, which changes the Adjudicator's Field Manual, Chapter 23.

Please note that the Service intends to address these issues definitively when the Service finalizes the interim rule published on June 1, 1999, at 64 Fed. Reg. 29,208 (1999). When the final rule enters into force, the final rule, not this memorandum, will be controlling.

1. In Chapter 23 of the Adjudicator's Field Manual, the questions and answers added at APPENDIX 23-4, entitled FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES BY AN H-I OR L-1 NONIMMIGRANT WHO HAS APPLIED FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS: by the March 14, 2000 memorandum, are removed and replaced with the questions and answers below:

1. If an H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant has filed for adjustment of status under an employment-based preference category that requires an offer of employment in the United States, does the interim rule affect the applicant's responsibility to establish his/her intent to work for the petitioning entity?

No. If an H-1 or L-1 has filed for adjustment of status under an employment-based preference category that requires an offer of employment in the United States, the applicant still has the responsibility of establishing his/her intent to work for the petitioning entity after becoming a permanent resident. Neither the rule nor the guidance has modified this requirement or the corresponding requirement that the employer establish his/her intent to employ the applicant.

In the interim rule and initial guidance, the term "open-market employment" was used to mean unrestricted access to employment. Applicants with pending applications for adjustment of status are eligible to apply for an employment authorization document (EAD). With an EAD, an alien has access to unrestricted employment, the "open *market". However, if the applicant is adjusting status under an employment-based preference category that requires an offer of employment in the United States, the fact that an applicant is able to work in the open-market does not alter the applicant's responsibility to demonstrate an intent to work for the petitioning employer.

2. If an H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant or H-4 or L-2 dependent family member obtains an EAD based on their application for adjustment of status but does not use it to obtain employment, is the alien still maintaining his/her nonimmigrant status?

Yes. The fact that an H or L nonimmigrant is granted an EAD does not cause the alien to violate his/her nonimmigrant status. There may be legitimate reasons for an H or L nonimmigrant to apply for an EAD on the basis of a pending application for adjustment of status. However, an H-I or L-1 nonimmigrant will violate his/her nonimmigrant status if s/he uses the EAD to leave the employer listed on the approved 1-129 petition and engage in employment for a separate employer.

3. If an H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant has traveled abroad and was paroled into the United States via advance parole, the alien is accordingly in parole status. Does this interim rule allow him or her to now apply for an extension of nonimmigrant status?

Until the final rule is published, an alien who was an H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant, but who was paroled pursuant to a grant of advance parole, may apply for an extension of H-1 or L-1 status, if there is a valid and approved petition. If the Service approves the alien's application for an extension of nonimmigrant status, the decision granting such an extension will have the effect of terminating the grant of parole and admitting the alien in the relevant nonimmigrant classification.

4. If an H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant has traveled abroad and reentered the United States via advance parole, the alien is accordingly in parole status. How does the interim rule affect that alien's employment authorization?

A Service memorandum dated August 5, 1997, stated that an "adjustment applicant's otherwise valid and un-expired nonimmigrant employment authorization... is not terminated by his or her temporary departure from the United States, if prior to such departure the applicant obtained advance parole in accordance with 8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)." The Service intends to clarify this issue in the final rule. Until then, if the alien's H-1 or L-1 employment authorization would not have expired, had the alien not left and returned under advance parole, the Service will not consider a paroled adjustment applicant's failure to obtain a separate employment authorization document to mean that the paroled adjustment applicant engaged in unauthorized employment by working for the H- 1 or L-1 employer between the date of his or her parole and the date to be specified in the final rule.

5. Should an alien returning to the United States from travel abroad who has a valid 1-512 and a valid H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant visa be paroled in or readmitted in H-1 or L-1 status?

If an alien has a valid H-1or L-1 nonimmigrant visa and is eligible for H-1 or L- 1 nonimmigrant status and also has a valid Form I-512, he or she may be readmitted into H-1 or L-1 status or be paroled into the United States. It is the alien's prerogative to present either document at inspection. However, if an alien presents both a valid H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant visa and a valid Form I-512, and the alien is eligible for the H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant classification, the Service should inform the alien that H-1 and L-1 non-immigrants no longer need to use advance parole to preserve pending applications for adjustment of status and should admit the alien in H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant status. The fact that an alien has applied for advance parole and received Form I-512 does not compel him or her to use the advance parole.

If the alien is not admissible as an H- I or L-I nonimmigrant, then he or she cannot be readmitted as an H- I or L-I nonimmigrant. Instead, such an alien may be paroled into the United States.

6. Is an alien who has a multiple entry I-512 and who has previously been paroled into the United States now eligible for admission as an H-1 or L-1 if he or she is still in possession of a valid H-1 or L-1 visa?

Yes, the alien may be admitted as an H-1 or L-1. However, aliens returning from abroad may only be admitted as an H-1 or L-1 when they have a valid H-1 or L-1 visa (unless visa exempt), remain eligible for H-1 or L-1 classification, and, where there has been a recent change of employer or extension of stay, have evidence of an approved I-129 petition in the form of a Notice of Action, Form I-797, indicating approval or a notation on the nonimmigrant visa indicating the petition number and the employer's name. If they do not meet these criteria, then they use their I-512.

11. In Chapter 15.4 of the Inspector's Field Manual, the Special Note A for nonimmigrant classification H-1 B should be revised to read as follows:

(A) Foreign residence requirement. H-1 B does not have to establish he or she has a foreign residence. For information pertaining to dual intent, see AFM Appendix, 23-4.

111. In Chapter 15.4 of the Inspector's Field Manual, add Special Note E for nonimmigrant classification L-1 to read as follows:

(B) Dual intent. For discussion of applicability of dual intent, see AFM Appendix 23-4.

Field Inquiries

All operational regional program units should familiarize themselves with this memorandum and related procedures in order to be responsive to any inquiry from the field. Questions regarding this memorandum may be directed, through appropriate supervisory channels to HQADN. For issues concerning H or L status, contact John Brown or Irene Hoffman, respectively, at 202-353-8177. For issues concerning advance parole, contact Michael Valverde at 202-514-4754.
 
santex24 said:
Hi UnitedNations,
Thanks for clearing a few basic doubts. But what
happens to my H1B status in these 2 scenarios:

1. H1B with previous employer is stamped on my passport till March 2006.
I have ONLY the H1B receipt notice of my current employer, who is also
my sponsoring my GC. In this case, if I have AP, can I enter the country
with my H1 status? Or will AP be the only option that can be used in this case?
And if I do use AP to enter, can I still remain on H1 since my H1 petition is
pending? Please advise...

2. My wife switched from an F1 visa to an H1. She does not have her H1 stamped
on her passport. So her case is quite similar to mine, I guess. Can
she enter with her AP but work with her H1?

Thanks...
1. Yes.
2. No. In fact her 485 will be in jeopardy.
 
unitednations said:
Using AP doesn't invalidate h-1. I know another member who had used AP and went back to India to get h visa stamping done. When he entered into San Francisco (less then two weeks ago), they wouldn't let him go back to h-1 and secondary inspection wouldn't let him either. He is going to take the pearson memo with him next time as an education to the POE.

btw, I don't have the pearson memo, if you do a search within the boards you will find it.
At SFO the confusion of AP and H1 occured in a different way.
At POE I showed the officer H1 Visa stamp and he asked me to show my H1 approval notice.Accidentally AP in the same folder also fallen on the desk.
he picked it up and said once I have an approved AP I need to enter on AP and go for only secondary inspection.
I insisted that H1 is a duel intent and I wish to enter on H1 and I quoted these memos also.
in return he said he has a decade of experience at POE and he knows the rules and I use AP.Ultimately after an hour of hold off I prevailed.
So many at POE are confused wrt AP and H1.
 
Jharkandi,
Thanks very much for taking time to read and answer my questions! But are you saying that my wife CAN enter the country with her AP but will NOT have her H1 status just because she does not have it stamped on her passport? How is this going to jeopardize her 485? Can you please elaborate or direct me to the source of your information?

Jharkhandi said:
1. Yes.
2. No. In fact her 485 will be in jeopardy.
 
santex24 said:
Jharkandi,
Thanks very much for taking time to read and answer my questions! But are you saying that my wife CAN enter the country with her AP but will NOT have her H1 status just because she does not have it stamped on her passport? How is this going to jeopardize her 485? Can you please elaborate or direct me to the source of your information?

How is this going to jeopardize her 485? Can you please elaborate or direct me to the source of your information?

Ok let use see the rule about travelling on pending 485, in relevant context:

8 CFR 245.2(a)(4)(ii)(c):

The travel outside of the United States by an applicant for adjustment of status who is not under exclusion, deportation, or removal proceeding and who is in lawful H-1 or L-1 status shall not be deemed an abandonment of the application if, upon returning to this country, the alien remains eligible for H or L status, is coming to resume employment with the same employer for whom he or she had previously been authorized to work as an H-1 or L-1 nonimmigrant, and, is in possession of a valid H or L visa (if required) and the original I-797 receipt notice for the application for adjustment of status. The travel outside of the United States by an applicant for adjustment of status who is not under exclusion, deportation, or removal proceeding and who is in lawful H-4 or L-2 status shall not be deemed an abandonment of the application if the spouse or parent of such alien through whom the H-4 or L-2 status was obtained is maintaining H-1 or L-1 status and the alien remains otherwise eligible for H-4 or L-2 status, and, the alien is in possession of a valid H-4 or L-2 visa (if required) and the original copy of the I-797 receipt notice for the application for adjustment of status.

But are you saying that my wife CAN enter the country with her AP but will NOT have her H1 status just because she does not have it stamped on her passport?

If she enters on her F1 stamp - it is considered that she has abandoned her H1 status. That is how COS works.
 
Revisiting the point.

santex24 said:
But are you saying that my wife CAN enter the country with her AP but will NOT have her H1 status just because she does not have it stamped on her passport?

Yes.

Check:

http://www.flynnclark.com/nov-2004-travel-memo.htm

You must have an unexpired visa of the correct type in order to re-enter the US after foreign travel. The correct type of visa is the one which matches your current legitimate purpose for being in the US. If you changed or extended status while in the US, remember that a change or extension of status is not a visa. It only changes or extends your status for as long as you remain in the US. When you leave the US, your status ends. You must generally obtain a new visa to correspond with your new status in order to re-enter the US.

Hope this helps. :)
 
Jharkhandi,
Thanks very much once again for making things clear! You've saved
me a few dollars because I was planning to take an attorney's help to figure this out :)
 
santex24 said:
Jharkhandi,
Thanks very much once again for making things clear! You've saved
me a few dollars because I was planning to take an attorney's help to figure this out :)

You can spend that money to get some sweets for me. ;)
 
Jharkhandi,

YOU ARE WORNG and UN is right. I personally know two guys who entered US using AP and were sucessful renewing their H1 in the US later (therefore their H1 status are maintained even if they used AP)

They switch to H1 from F1, both of them does not have H1 stamp.

I guess you should not take other people's sweets by prividing false info.
 
allaboutgc said:
I personally know two guys who entered US using AP and were sucessful renewing their H1 in the US later (therefore their H1 status are maintained even if they used AP)

Check the link provided on my post - post #5 of this thread - 28th January 2005 01:19 AM. Read first two lines:
********************
By using AP, is my H/L visa status invalidated?
-------------------------
No.
********************

They switch to H1 from F1, both of them does not have H1 stamp.

I guess they have not gone out of USA and their 485 is not pending. Situation is different.

I guess you should not take other people's sweets by prividing false info.
;)
 
Participant said:
At SFO the confusion of AP and H1 occured in a different way.
At POE I showed the officer H1 Visa stamp and he asked me to show my H1 approval notice.Accidentally AP in the same folder also fallen on the desk.
he picked it up and said once I have an approved AP I need to enter on AP and go for only secondary inspection.
I insisted that H1 is a duel intent and I wish to enter on H1 and I quoted these memos also.
in return he said he has a decade of experience at POE and he knows the rules and I use AP.Ultimately after an hour of hold off I prevailed.
So many at POE are confused wrt AP and H1.

Yes, I very much agree with this! I had a very similar experience at Los Angeles. When showing my H1 visa, i mentioned that I had also applied for 485...and that was it! The officer insisted I use my AP and refused to check with anyone about this...after lots of arguing I was sent to secondary inspection, where the officer (who also didn't know this) was nice enough at my insistence to check with his supervisor and finally let me in on H1!

Moral: If you plan to enter on H1, don't utter the words 485, Adjustment of status, parole etc. at the immigration counter. It will save you a lot of grief.
 
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