> Any time I change my job, green card process has to be restarted from square one..more cash to attorneys.
That is not true. Visa can be transferred in mere 15 days. Why dont you change jobs?
That is not true. Visa can be transferred in mere 15 days. Why dont you change jobs?
From personal experience I can say that this takes up to two years or longer to get back to status quo in the GC process after switching jobs and reapplying. This is a major disincentive for switching even if there's better pay and position on offer. It also makes talented H1B workers stay away from startups as the GC application process is safer when sponsored by established companies.
That's not fully true AFAIK. The green card (GC) is a 3-step process - PERM, I-140 and GC itself.
If you already have your I-140, unless your previous employer cancels your I-140 (which cost them a few thousand dollars), your new employer can just start over the third step of the process. This is not optimal, sure, but it is not square one either.
So if you can get as far as the I-140/I-485 filing, you should be good to go, though IANAL (and you should retain your own to guide you through this process).