Assuming my current employer does not withdraw the i140, can I go work in one of their branch offices thats outside the US for 10-20 years and then come back when the priority date is current.
Better to check with an immigration attorney
Well, that US immigration at the finest
Take a risk then 😊 and figure it out after 10-20 years
Yes. You don't need to work for one of their branches either, you can work for anyone. Whether the company would still want to hire you is up to them, the i140 would be valid. In fact this is how the process is SUPPOSED to work. The practice of staying in the US indefinitely on a non capped h1b is an abuse of the process, a loophole.
I don't think it's a loophole. History has it that this was how it was lobbied as part of ac21 law creation.
The expectation was people would use it to bridge a small gap between h1b expiry and priority date. No one expected that to be a decade or more. It was seen as unfair that people were having to leave because they missed their priority date by a year or two. H1b is supposed to be capped at 85000 but there are now over 600,000 on h1b. No one expected that either. These unexpected results are the reason for the very long greencard queue which was also unexpected. One solution might be to exempt i140 visa holders from the lottery but still count them in the quota. That way people can wait for their priority date but you don't end up with hundreds of thousands doing that. Greencard queue would then not grow to a hundred year wait.
After that much time, why would you still want to come to the US?
Bet Koramangala is more attractive to you than Cupertino in 20 years. But yes, your guess on i140 is right IF the law doesn't change by then. Remember - it's a foreign land where you're not welcome. I definitely wouldn't make any life decisions for 20 years based on current US law. All it takes is one drunk tweet to upset your life and career.
Well, I am just exploring options at this point. Can I come back? Should I come back?
Making money in a third world country and then retiring in the US is the new trend!
Hamberders for everyone
And a smocking gun to go with it.
US won't be as attractive in 20 years. Even today if you go outside big cities you see a lot of poverty and old infra along with barely hidden racism.
holy shit 20 years.... is this a movie?
Nope it’s being Indian