Employer Change - Transfer H1B and AC21 Portability

[myturn]

Hello Everyone,
I am a really big FAN of this blog and following it for a while. I need an advice for my situation. Thanks in advance for the help.
Here is my situation. I have been working for the same employer for more than 8 years and they have filed my green card. My priority date is Nov 2008 and I have an EAD, which expires in Feb 2015. I also have an H1, which expires in Sep 2015. I have been recently offered a job, which I am planning to take.
This leads to my questions.
1. I am planning to port/transfer my current H1 B to new employer. Is there any difference in porting or transferring or they are just same?
2. I have filed my I-485 in Jan 2012, so it is more than 6 months and I am pretty much staying in the same area of work. Does it mean that my new employer has to sponsor my green card again?

[qesehmk]

my turn welcome to forum. Please post questions in appropriate forums / threads from next time onwards.

This time its ok. Don't worry.

To answer your questions:
#1 - You don't port H1. You transfer H1. And to be honest technically transfer basically issues a new H1 IMHO!
#2 - Luckily you can avail AC21. No need for new sponsorship. New employer becomes the sponsor without doing anything!!


1. I am planning to port/transfer my current H1 B to new employer. Is there any difference in porting or transferring or they are just same?
2. I have filed my I-485 in Jan 2012, so it is more than 6 months and I am pretty much staying in the same area of work. Does it mean that my new employer has to sponsor my green card again?

[myturn]

Thanks a lot Q. I really appreciate the help and I will post questions in appropriate forums/threats from next time. Please feel free to remove it or put it in right thread. Thanks again for quick reply.