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Sure, but you can only renew the H1-B once (although you can get extensions). Also, most companies make it a policy to not sponsor you for a green card unless

Sure, but you can only renew the H1-B once (although you can get extensions). Also, most companies make it a policy to not sponsor you for a green card unless you've put in a year or two, and then once you apply for it they've got you by the balls. So every time you switch companies, you're starting the clock over again. This is even worse if a company brings you in through some other visa like a TN-1 or L1 (NAFTA and Intracompany transfer visa respectively), and then make you convert to an H1-B before they will sponsor you. A word of advice: Always use your own immigration attourney and not the one being paid for by your company. If the company is paying for it, the attourney represents the company, and not you.

hpagey 13y ago
Your statement " So every time you switch companies, you're starting the clock over again." is incorrect. After your i-140 is cleared and you have received your priority date you can port your i-140 and retain your priority date. Your clock doesn't reset per se.
- jgh 13y ago
  Good information. "Port your I-140" though?
  - hpagey 13y ago
    Oops, good question. You port your priority date not your i-140. The new employer still needs to apply for a new i-140 with your previous PD. This way you don't lose your place in the queue.
    - jgh 13y ago
      Got it, thanks for the reply!
minwcnt5 13y ago
Your comment about TN makes no sense to me. TN is not an immigration-intent visa - if you apply for a green card while on a TN, you have to maintain an address in Canada and prove that you plan to return there. This is very difficult to do, and your green card will almost certainly be rejected and you might be allowed back into the US on the TN. So of course they make you switch to H1B before they'll sponsor your green card.
- Patrick_Devine 13y ago
  Not quite. It's certainly possible to enter the US on a TN visa to work with the intention of returning to Canada but also intending on becoming an immigrant at some point in the future. Yes, you do need to maintain ties to Canada when you enter under the TN visa, but there is no requirement that you need to be on an H1 when filing for Adjustment of Status. Here's a link: http://www.tnvisabulletin.com/tn-visa-adjustment-of-status/ http://www.tnvisabulletin.com/tn-visa-adjustment-of-status/ I've seen a couple of people do this, and it allowed them to skip the H1-B hassle. You just have to be honest and show that your intention initially is just to work and return to Canada, but your future intention is to become a permanent resident.

hpagey 13y ago

Your statement " So every time you switch companies, you're starting the clock over again." is incorrect. After your i-140 is cleared and you have received your priority date you can port your i-140 and retain your priority date. Your clock doesn't reset per se.

jgh 13y ago
Good information. "Port your I-140" though?
- hpagey 13y ago
  Oops, good question. You port your priority date not your i-140. The new employer still needs to apply for a new i-140 with your previous PD. This way you don't lose your place in the queue.
  - jgh 13y ago
    Got it, thanks for the reply!

minwcnt5 13y ago

Your comment about TN makes no sense to me. TN is not an immigration-intent visa - if you apply for a green card while on a TN, you have to maintain an address in Canada and prove that you plan to return there. This is very difficult to do, and your green card will almost certainly be rejected and you might be allowed back into the US on the TN. So of course they make you switch to H1B before they'll sponsor your green card.

Patrick_Devine 13y ago
Not quite. It's certainly possible to enter the US on a TN visa to work with the intention of returning to Canada but also intending on becoming an immigrant at some point in the future. Yes, you do need to maintain ties to Canada when you enter under the TN visa, but there is no requirement that you need to be on an H1 when filing for Adjustment of Status. Here's a link: http://www.tnvisabulletin.com/tn-visa-adjustment-of-status/ http://www.tnvisabulletin.com/tn-visa-adjustment-of-status/ I've seen a couple of people do this, and it allowed them to skip the H1-B hassle. You just have to be honest and show that your intention initially is just to work and return to Canada, but your future intention is to become a permanent resident.