I-485 approval and citizenship delimma!

[zulo1715]

Hello,

I got my I-485 approval today, but my situation is a little complicated. I'm gonna explain that to you, and I appreciate your comments and thoughts.

My I-140 got approved two months ago, but the sad part is that I lost my job the day after I got my I-140 approval. My employer told me that it was because of the lack of projects, and I'd be back as soon as they got a new project (I don't think that happens soon; actually, I'm not counting on that). I was also told that they would not cancel my GC application (i.e. they won't revoke my I-140), and they would help me even if an RFE was raised to ask for an employment letter. Fortunately enough looks like I've not been out of status since I lost my job (I already filed my I-485 and got the approval for I-140 when I lost my job).

OK! here's what I'm worried about. My lawyer told me that as soon as I get my green card, I'm all set. He told me so when I asked him what would happen if I just wait for my GC approval and not to work for any other employer before then. I even have my EAD, but I decided not to go for another employer to make sure that I'm not raising a flag before getting my GC (that would be fine if I passed more than 180 days after my I-485 approval with an approved I-140). I know that some guys here say it's better (or even it's needed) to work for the company who sponsored your GC 6 months to one year after getting green card in order not to have an issue when applying for citizenship, but the thing is that my company doesn't have any project right now.

- Is there anything I can do to make sure that I'll be safe and sound in the future? What do I need to do now to make sure that my citizenship process in futute is OK?

- Is there anything that the sponsoring company can do regarding this; I mean help me out?

- Can I work for another employer now that I have my GC in hand?

Thank you,

[Prashanthi]

The problem might occur when you file for citizenship, you have to justify why you dint work after getting the GC. However it is not written in stone that if you dont work for your petitioning company the officer will deny your citizenship or revoke your GC. They will look at the totality of the circumstances, since you worked for the petitioner for some time, they may not make a determination that the job offer was speculative, you have to show that you had every intention of working for them and the company had every intention of hiring you, maybe they can give a letter stating that they continue to market you and will re-hire as soon as the economy imporves. If your company finds a project for you, you should continue to work for them. Or you could have done AC-21 after the I-140 was approved and before the I-485 was approved.

[zulo1715]

Originally Posted by Prashanthi

The problem might occur when you file for citizenship, you have to justify why you dint work after getting the GC. However it is not written in stone that if you dont work for your petitioning company the officer will deny your citizenship or revoke your GC. They will look at the totality of the circumstances, since you worked for the petitioner for some time, they may not make a determination that the job offer was speculative, you have to show that you had every intention of working for them and the company had every intention of hiring you, maybe they can give a letter stating that they continue to market you and will re-hire as soon as the economy imporves. If your company finds a project for you, you should continue to work for them. Or you could have done AC-21 after the I-140 was approved and before the I-485 was approved.

Thank you Prashanthi for your reply.

I have a letter (it's in email format) that shows my lay-off is because of "lack of work". However, this letter is for the time before my GC was approved. I suppose that I need to get a letter from the company dated sometime after my GC approval date in order to present that in the time my citizenship process to justify that the job offer was not speculative; right?

That might also possible to get a letter from the company that shows they are willing to hire me in case there's a new project; thanks for your comment on this.