At which part of the process can I quit my job?

[silvermug 16]

I am on H-1B here in the US and about to get married in a few days to a US citizen. The company I am working for is taking care of all the paperwork through the company lawyer.

The lawyer said that in around 6 months, things should be all set. That is, GC will be on hand. Thing is, I want to go to another company (better package) soon -- like in less than 6 months.

My question: at which part of the process (from after wedding, petition, AOS, AOS interview) can I leave the company SAFELY, that I could be certain it has been approved and just waiting for some final papers to be sent.

I am still debating whether it was a wise decision to allow the company lawyer to do it. I just do not want to leave the company and face consequences that would have adverse effects to my application.

Thanks, in advance, for your replies.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Wait. You let a company lawyer handle your green card application based on marriage to a US citizen? Wow! I hope this lawyer knows what he or she is doing! It's a lot different from an employment based green card! PLEASE read the I-130 and AOS guides here, and insist on double checking anything the lawyer sends BEFORE they send it to USCIS. Experienced family immigration attorneys make mistakes all the time. An attorney who is not experienced with family immigration is bound to make mistakes - perhaps a LOT of them.

I wouldn't quit your job until you have the green card in your hands, or at least until you've gotten the "Welcome to America" letter after the interview. Up until then, almost anything can go wrong.

[silvermug 16]

Wait. You let a company lawyer handle your green card application based on marriage to a US citizen? Wow! I hope this lawyer knows what he or she is doing! It's a lot different from an employment based green card! PLEASE read the I-130 and AOS guides here, and insist on double checking anything the lawyer sends BEFORE they send it to USCIS. Experienced family immigration attorneys make mistakes all the time. An attorney who is not experienced with family immigration is bound to make mistakes - perhaps a LOT of them.

I wouldn't quit your job until you have the green card in your hands, or at least until you've gotten the "Welcome to America" letter after the interview. Up until then, almost anything can go wrong.

Sorry, my statement must have been misleading. The company lawyer refers to a law firm with over 100 lawyers. Depending on the legal need, that law firm provides our company the lawyer suitable for the situation. In my case, they are having an immigration attorney working on it. Had there been a copyright/license issues with the company products, that law firm would provide a different lawyer with stronger experience in that area.

Or something similar to that.

Ok, going back to topic. Yeah, I kind of thought about it -- that the safest way to do it is probably to wait until the gc is with me. But even if I quit my job now, the company can not do anything that could harm my application, can they? I could just proceed with it through a different law firm, wait for my EAD and switch to my new job?

Will that work?

[marriedtomrg 141]

Listen to Jim, wait for your GC.

[silvermug 16]

Yeah, I guess I should wait for my GC. I am just too tempted to take that better opportunity. *greedy*

[milimelo 4,541]

Moving to AOS from student, tourist and work visa.