Would getting laid off from the petitioning employer 4 months after GC cause issues with N-400?

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PeteM

New Member
I have been on an employment based Green Card for 5 years and 1 month and just filed my N-400. I'm a bit concerned because when I received my Green Card in early November 2008 I was laid off 4 months later in late March 2009 by the petitioning employer. I was an IT consultant and the client at the time decided to hire another company to continue the work (not due to my own or employer's fault). My employer could not find me another project so they laid me off. I could not find another job in the 2009 recessionary market and filed for unemployment benefits that I was entitled to. I eventually found another job in the same field around February 2010 and have been in that position since then.

Would losing my job so soon after receiving my Green Card and not being employed for almost 1 year after that cause any issues with my Citizenship application and/or interview?

Would the validity of the Green Card come into question since a Green Card is a petition for future employment? I was only there for 4 months after that and then no job for almost a year.
 
Jackolantern said:
Before GC approval, how long did you work for the petitioner while your I-485 was pending?
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He did not work for the sponsor at all before the approval.

As far as I know the laid off was not your fault and you did work for the sponsor so you should be ok.
 
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Been exactly there... the interviewing officer was only concerned about how I sustained during the time of unemployment - just mentioned unemployment insurance, savings, spouses' income and that was it.
 
PeteM said:
I have been on an employment based Green Card for 5 years and 1 month and just filed my N-400. I'm a bit concerned because when I received my Green Card in early November 2008 I was laid off 4 months later in late March 2009 by the petitioning employer.

Would the validity of the Green Card come into question since a Green Card is a petition for future employment? I was only there for 4 months after that and then no job for almost a year.
Click to expand...

I interpreted this as he was not employed before gc with sponsor.
 
Reply to Jackolantern

Jackolantern said:
Before GC approval, how long did you work for the petitioner while your I-485 was pending?
Click to expand...

I was with the petitioning employer for 10 years prior to receiving the GC. However, only 3 - 4 months while I-485 was pending and then received the physical card and was there for an additional 4 months. A GC is a petition for future employment and that is why my concern is with losing my job only 4 months after receiving it and not having a job for almost a year after that. Somebody could interpret not having a job as not being in the same field that the petition was filed for.
 
You should be OK. 4 months with the employer post-GC + 3 months while the I-485 was pending is more time than many other successful naturalization applicants had. Unless there is a court case that pops up which rules otherwise, I would be very surprised if your situation causes a problem (other than possibly having to supply proof that you worked for the employer post-GC).
 
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