Employer Based Green Card (from H1-B) processing times

[bp18]

Hi,

I am a French citizen holding an H1-B visa and currently working in New York. I would like to ask my employer to sponsor me for an Employer Based Green Card. I hold a Master's degree in Management, which I guess makes me eligible for EB-2.

I was wondering if you could kindly share some basic information, such as:

- Best timing to start filing
- Average length of each step (LC, I-140 approval, I-485 approval)
- Average price (filing fees + attorney fees)

Best,

[wce]

Hi,

I am a French citizen holding an H1-B visa and currently working in New York. I would like to ask my employer to sponsor me for an Employer Based Green Card. I hold a Master's degree in Management, which I guess makes me eligible for EB-2.

I was wondering if you could kindly share some basic information, such as:

- Best timing to start filing
- Average length of each step (LC, I-140 approval, I-485 approval)
- Average price (filing fees + attorney fees)

Best,

From my experience, as soon as you start filing your second H1B extension for the second three years, you should start talking with your employer and attorney about the green card plan. My case got some miscommunication between HR and attorney in my job descriptions. Therefore, it delayed the process about 8 months or more since the DOL rejected from the first file.
Here is my final timeline. Hope you will get some ideas and plan ahead.


H1B expired in Sept 2015 (Max 6 years with recapture days.)

5/19/15 PERM Labor Certification filed (Priority date)
The attorney suggested that I needed more recapture days to be eligible for 1 year extension while PERM application is pending. So I took a vacation to cover the required recapture days.

9/14/15 H1B Extension filed with "premium processing"
9/25/15 H1B Extension approved until 5/2017

11/30/15 Certified PERM Application ETA-9089 from Dept. of Labor.
12/15 - 1/16 Prepared all documents (including Medical exam, birth certificate, etc.)

3/1/16 I765, I-485, and I-131 filed.
3/3/16 Receipt notice from USCIS.
3/5/16 Application Support Center (ASC) Appointment Notice for fingerprint appointment on 3/23/16.
3/11/16 Walk in for fingerprint due to the scheduled trip on the first appointment date.
3/28/16 Employment Authorization and Advance Parole card delivered in mailbox.
6/1/16 I-485 approved (checked online).
6/8/16 The green card delivered in mailbox.