For people who got their Green Card while on STEM OPT, how much time did you have until STEM OPT expiration date before applying for GC? I recently got an offer from a company that agreed to sponsor me for a green card. I have 1.5 years left until STEM OPT expiration and from rest of the world (so no backlog), but I'm concerned about what could happen if my GC process is not finished before the STEM OPT expires. Has anyone applied for GC with 1~1.5 years left until the STEM OPT expiration? TC: 150K #workvisa #greencard #stemopt
Opt i believe you get on f1 visa, which is a non immigration intent visa. If you apply for gc on f1, your visa will be deemed invalid and you will be have to leave immediately. You can apply for gc only when you're on dual intent visa like l1 or h1. But do check with immigration lawyers.
Please don’t spread misinformation. You can apply directly for green card on f1 visa, as long as you don’t leave the country or attempt to renew the visa. Please understand the difference between visa and status
@XNkg45 Did you apply for GC when you were on OPT? If yes, how much time did you have until OPT expiration date? Do you think it'll be safe to apply for GC with only 1.5 years left on OPT?
I did not apply for gc on opt but i think you will get ead before ur opt expires so u can continue working
My company has started my green card process and i am on OPT with 2 years remaining. I think you can get a new EAD if your i140 is approved, even if you are on f1. But check with your lawyer
@dUou47 Thanks for the comment! How long does it usually take from initiating GC process until i140 approved? Also, does premium processing help getting EAD sooner?
You can’t get new EAD if you have approved I-140 on OPT. You can only get it if you have I-485. OP if you’re from ROW and have about 2 years on OPT or even 1.5 sometimes is good based on your country, you’ll get GC in time before OPT expires.
I started entire process in October 2018. My STEM OPT expires July 2020. I have my EAD/AP as part of the final stage (AOS). Most time consuming stage is the PERM. It has some potential delays (due to random audit: 9 - 12mos added). Beyond that stage you can almost certainly get your EAD/AP within 3-5mos if you file the AOS concurrently
How long did you PERM stage take? I started mine in October 2019 and they still haven’t filed for the PERM itself. I think they are on the resume review/recruitment stage
I filed the PERM early June 2019 and approved in August 2019 (so roughly 10mos to approval).
I will always wonder what it will be like when you have a green card in hand. Crying in Indian 😭 But also a genuine question: How did you feel when you got your green card?
Not a big deal, most people from the ROW don’t fantasize about America
It’s nice, but it locks you in the country until you get the citizenship.
For me the process was initiated around August 2017 and my i140 was approved in September 2018, got EAD by Dec 2018. My Stem OPT was expiring in Jan 2019. So about ~1.5 years to EAD. I got the GC in Nov 2019. To answer your question, if your stem opt expires while the aos is pending, you’d still be able to be in the country as long as your AOS application is pending ( you’ll also be waiting for your EAD/ Advanced parole at that time ). But you’d not be allowed to work. You can resume once you get the EAD and wait for the AOS interview.
Just wondering, why it took you almost 1 year from getting EAD (Dec 2018) to finally getting the GC (Nov 2019)? Also, in total, it took you ~2.5 years for the entire process?
Visa retrogression. My priority wasn’t current from May 2019 onwards. It turned current in October 2019 and my interview was scheduled for Nov 2019.
I started the process in April 2020, PERM filed in June 2020. My STEM OPT starts later this month (so >2yrs left) - though I'm kinda worried about the recent rumor regarding Trump administration about possible STEM OPT change...
You should be fine. Once you get 140, you can get EAD/travel card. It won’t talle too long. Make sure to do premium 140 and file 476 concurrently
I did not even bother with H1b. Company just filed for GC when I started 3 years back. Took 1.5 years to get GC. I don’t understand why anyone bothers with H1b. It was tough not traveling for 1.5years. So you do have that burden of being locked in America. Wish it was faster. Most countries process in 6months
I thought the travel restrictions only start after you file I-140/145? So you should be able to travel during PERM - before filing I-140?
Yes but was advised against it unless absolutely necessary
Which company is sponsoring you for GC? Looking for the same opportunity
Salesforce doesn’t sponsor GC for you?
No! Not if you’re on f1
you can apply GC without H1B?
If you are from row sure
What is ROW?