Hello

Please read this thread and help me with your suggestions! I am waiting for your cooperation from those of you who have already read the posts in this thread and have experience in this serious matter!

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Thank you so much Happyface, Gorkhalijetho, AAAA, Pops, Upendrajee and others for reading my email and for your kind words of support, suggestions and inspirations. As you guys suggested, I should look for all options and pursue multiple plan Bs: (1) Apply as many jobs as possible, (2) Apply PR in Canada, (3) Apply EB1/EB2 Green Card, and trust on Almighty God!

Suggestions I received and Scenarios in case I do not get my current H1B petition approved:

1. Apply as many jobs as possible: I am certainly doing it and have narrowed down to Academic/Non Profits jobs only since my International Student advisor told me that I should not waste my time to apply for Corporate jobs since my degree which had a CPI code ending -9999, does not qualify for STEM category to extend OPT. I appreciate for your (AAA, POPS) information/suggestions- as the type of research work or dissertation/or job you are pursuing matters more to decide whether ones’ degree relates to STEM or NOT. But there is still uncertainty and regulations are still unfolding. So I decided to focus my job applications on Academic/Non profit jobs only. If I get such job, at least I would be able to ask my employer for H1B petition anytime before my OPT expires.

2. Canada PR: I will now start collecting documents as suggested. I have few questions:

a. I have my POLICE report from Nepal dated two years back. Since then I have not visited Nepal. Can I still use the same old report or I need to have a new one from Nepal?  I have not been in Nepal for last two years.

b. I have some credit card debts around $20K. I heard that an applicant should be in a good financial status (0 debt and few savings at least 10K balance in your account) at a time when applying for PR in Canada. Is this true?, if yes I may not be qualified or I need to clear my balance before I apply, right?

c. It will take me another 3 months at least (takes two months for FBI clearance report) to apply PR from the US, and my OPT is expiring in November, and I can stay two additional months (grace period to leave the country) in the US with OPT. In such scenario, I have to leave US and what will happen to my application from the US? Would I be able to get my interview for PR before January 2009, or can I arrange my interview from other country- Nepal/India? A complex scenario…

3. EB1/EB2 category green card application: I have few publications  but relatively my application will not be as strong as others who I have known obtained the Green Card from EB1/EB2 category. You have to make an outstanding contribution to be recognized nationally through numerous publications, research and other inventions. Let’s see even I apply for this in next two months, how long I have to wait to receive a decision on it from DHS, because I have to stay in the US until I hear a decision and I can stay here legally until January 2009.   

I know these are technical questions and pessimistic scenarios (in a condition my H1B visa does not get approved by June 08) but I believe some of you may have gone through such experience or know something about such cases. So please advise me. Also, I would like to talk to a lawyer. Please refer me if you know a good lawyer (experienced Nepali or others) who I can talk about these scenarios. I can pay for whatever they charge hour basis.

Waiting desperately for your kind thoughts and suggestions!