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Originally Posted by
eaglenow
There is always only one 485. Multiples not allowed. If you want to send another, you must withdraw already filed one and then file the new 485.
Having said that, if one has already filed 485, there is no need to file another separate 485 in any case. You just need to send an email to uscis requesting them to switch to a different underlying form 140. So if you have 2 140s and you filed 485 using your first 140 and the second one becomes current, all you need to do is send email to uscis requesting them to associate your pending 485 to the second 140.
As an example when I filed 485, I already had 2 140s, one in eb3 and another one in EB2 from the same employer. Either the lawyer sent the eb3 140 copy instead of EB2 140 or uscis misplaced the EB2 140 copy. No idea what happened, but the 485 receipt notice had eb3 preference category. But EB3 was not current, only EB2 was at that time.
You only had multiple I140's and not a previously filed I-485. Your lawyer applied for first I-485 with EB3-140 papers instead of EB2-140. He also corrected it by sending the correct EB2 papers in the same month. It was an error correction.
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The lawyer mentioned that since eb3 was not current, Uscis should have rejeced and returned the application as per process. Since they accepted it, they must have my EB2 information in their system and hence accepted it. Regardless that same month the lawyer sent another letter with both EB2 and eb3 140 copies to uscis along with a cover letter requesting correction of preference classification on the 485 to EB2 and that EB2 140 be correctly associated to the 485.
I later logged an SR while my EB2 dates were still current to check preference classification and also validated it with L2 officer that EB2 140 was associated to my 485 and got it confirmed.
Your situation is not exactly similar to the instance here. We are talking about people who applied for I-485 in 2012 or 2014 and has only EB2 petition.
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Now for folks who have already filed EB2, there are 2 options. They can file a new perm, 140 in eb3 and once approved, send letter or email to uscis asking them to associate the new eb3 140 to their pending 485.
Time is the key. Labor ad's, perms, perm approval, 140 approval we are looking at 12-18 months average. The only good thing I see here it can be started any time. Ideal only for EB2 people beyond May 2010.
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The second option is to amend the existing EB2 140 and request the preference classification of 140 be changed to eb3 instead of EB2. In this case no new perm needed. Any EB2 140 can be downgraded to eb3 as the qualifications for EB2 automatically satisfy eb3 as well. In fact this is specifically called out as one of the scenarios where a 140 application can be filed without the perm certification attached (as the original perm would have been sent with the original 140).
Once uscis adjudicates the 140 and approves it as eb3, you are all set.
After that just send an email or letter to uscis requesting them to adjudicate 485 based on the approved amended 140 under eb3.
This would be the option most of the people will be interested in. The only catch here in I140 without original PERM certificate cannot have a premium filing, but some law firm is claiming they can do it if the prior application is in the same service center. This again takes anywhere between 6-12 months. And in the mean time if your EB2 dates are current, all this new actions are deemed waste.
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This is the downgrade process in a nutshell.
Some feel there is a slight risk with second option, some feel first option is riskier. In my view both carry some limited risk depending on the type of employment, salary range, employer etc (the usual stuff). Either way, the downgrade process is not the same as filing new 485.
As for interviews for downgrades of pending 485, no one can say for certain till someone tries it. Technically you are not filing a new 485 and so many expect that there will be no interviews needed.
Do we have anybody from the past who filed an EB3 petition and I485 in 2007 and who later upgraded to EB2/485 and GC? That would a good perspective to lot of us. We simply don't have enough info yet on this.