my boyfriend got laid off and may lose his work visa .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm suspicious of a 31 yr old here on a work permit dating a 22 yr old. That's a huge age difference. Red flag.

My DH immigrated here as an adult and we started dating when I was 23 and he was 36, although unlike the OP he already had a green card when we met. We're now very happily married with a kid. It can happen.

Sorry OP, this sucks. Hope your story has a happy ending.

[Anonymous]

OP, I hope things work out. I've worked with quite a few wonderful people on visas. It almost seems like these companies run rackets where they hold the visa over their workers. These colleagues were some of the nicest and hardest working people I've ever known, people who are playing by the rules, then get kicked out of our country. All the while there are criminals and gang-bangers we could be focusing more money and effort on in getting them off our soil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are more ways to stay here than an H-1. Tell him to also look into G-4 or A-2. The first is issued for employees of international organizations, and the second for the employees of foreign missions. None of these are time-bound. I used to have an H-1B, and I like A-2s and G-4s much better. In fact, I let my greencard application lapse because I like my G-4 so much, I prefer it to a green card.

He would have to get hired by an international organization to get a G4. If he gets laid off from the international organization, he would still have to leave the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry but coming here on a work visa was never a guarantee of permanent permission to live here.
I don't understand the people to choose to come here on a visa and then make such a fuss about having to leave when they are laid off. Yeah - being laid off sucks but he should have clearly known and weighed the consequences before he chose to move her.

No, you suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry but coming here on a work visa was never a guarantee of permanent permission to live here.
I don't understand the people to choose to come here on a visa and then make such a fuss about having to leave when they are laid off. Yeah - being laid off sucks but he should have clearly known and weighed the consequences before he chose to move her.

you're disgusting

Why is PP disgusting? PP is correct, even if you don't like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry but coming here on a work visa was never a guarantee of permanent permission to live here.
I don't understand the people to choose to come here on a visa and then make such a fuss about having to leave when they are laid off. Yeah - being laid off sucks but he should have clearly known and weighed the consequences before he chose to move her.

you're disgusting

Why is PP disgusting? PP is correct, even if you don't like it.

There is also a possibility that you will be hit by a bus tomorrow. And since you knew that when you chose to walk out the door, if it happens you and your partner shouldn't make a fuss either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry but coming here on a work visa was never a guarantee of permanent permission to live here.
I don't understand the people to choose to come here on a visa and then make such a fuss about having to leave when they are laid off. Yeah - being laid off sucks but he should have clearly known and weighed the consequences before he chose to move her.

you're disgusting

Why is PP disgusting? PP is correct, even if you don't like it.

There is also a possibility that you will be hit by a bus tomorrow. And since you knew that when you chose to walk out the door, if it happens you and your partner shouldn't make a fuss either.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are more ways to stay here than an H-1. Tell him to also look into G-4 or A-2. The first is issued for employees of international organizations, and the second for the employees of foreign missions. None of these are time-bound. I used to have an H-1B, and I like A-2s and G-4s much better. In fact, I let my greencard application lapse because I like my G-4 so much, I prefer it to a green card.

He would have to get hired by an international organization to get a G4. If he gets laid off from the international organization, he would still have to leave the country.

Well duh, he needs to hired to get a visa. I think that would be understood. And of course, if he is laid off, he'd have to leave. But the advantage of G-4 is that there is no time limit on it. As I said, I like it so much I declined my green card application to stay in G-4 status for as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are more ways to stay here than an H-1. Tell him to also look into G-4 or A-2. The first is issued for employees of international organizations, and the second for the employees of foreign missions. None of these are time-bound. I used to have an H-1B, and I like A-2s and G-4s much better. In fact, I let my greencard application lapse because I like my G-4 so much, I prefer it to a green card.

He would have to get hired by an international organization to get a G4. If he gets laid off from the international organization, he would still have to leave the country.

Well duh, he needs to hired to get a visa. I think that would be understood. And of course, if he is laid off, he'd have to leave. But the advantage of G-4 is that there is no time limit on it. As I said, I like it so much I declined my green card application to stay in G-4 status for as long as possible.

OP here: Thanks for this info. It maybe helpful if he's able to secure a new position within his company soon. Everything is still a big question mark right now. He maybe able to get an extension on his G1 if he pays more to speed up the visa process. Some co-workers told him this has happened to others in the past and they were all able to get a 1 year extension. He's just 4 months shy of his 6 years of employment . This is such bad timing for him . His employer planned to extend the visa this June.

He's lucky though because most of his friends are in IT. One of his close friends owns a consulting company too so this may be helpful .

[Anonymous]

Sounds like he has 4-5 months to get himself a job in IT - is that really so impossible esp for someone with experience? I imagine that even if he doesn't get his first choice job or if he has to move or something, he WILL get a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry this is happening to your boyfriend. Unless you were already considering it, please don't up and marry him just to get him to stay though.

+1
I don't know what field he works in, but maybe contact a headhunter who specializes in placing people with visas.

He works in IT.

There are plenty of large IT companies always looking for good folks and who sponsor visas.

TCS, Cognizant, HCL, Modis, Experis, Randstad just to name a few. Good luck to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like he has 4-5 months to get himself a job in IT - is that really so impossible esp for someone with experience? I imagine that even if he doesn't get his first choice job or if he has to move or something, he WILL get a job.

The employer has to have the ability to hold and pay for the visa. Not every company has that capability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm suspicious of a 31 yr old here on a work permit dating a 22 yr old. That's a huge age difference. Red flag.

It's not that big of a difference. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like he has 4-5 months to get himself a job in IT - is that really so impossible esp for someone with experience? I imagine that even if he doesn't get his first choice job or if he has to move or something, he WILL get a job.

The employer has to have the ability to hold and pay for the visa. Not every company has that capability.

OP here: A transfer petition is a long process unfortunately. To be on the SAFEST side, he can do premium processing of his H1 transfer . He would only have to do this if he transfers his H1 to a different company. We're hoping he gets the job opening he interviewed for today at his current company. His status wouldn't be in danger if he still works for his current company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like he has 4-5 months to get himself a job in IT - is that really so impossible esp for someone with experience? I imagine that even if he doesn't get his first choice job or if he has to move or something, he WILL get a job.

The employer has to have the ability to hold and pay for the visa. Not every company has that capability.

OP here: A transfer petition is a long process unfortunately. To be on the SAFEST side, he can do premium processing of his H1 transfer . He would only have to do this if he transfers his H1 to a different company. We're hoping he gets the job opening he interviewed for today at his current company. His status wouldn't be in danger if he still works for his current company.

OP, I'm not sure if the laws have changed, but the last I dealt with it, H1Bs are portable. That means the transfer petition has to be filed while the current visa is still valid and then he can begin working the day it is filed. You can pay for premium processing but it does not affect his eligibility to work, as long as it is filed before the current one expires.