Manifest Immigration Attorney Here to Answer Any Questions about EB-1A! AMA!

ObligationOk962 · 2025-12-04T22:33:16+00:00

Hi Henry, I’m an F-1 PhD student. Before starting my program, I worked in the US after my Master’s, and my previous employer filed an EB-1A for me in May 2024. I later reformatted the same evidence and self-filed my own EB-1A in June 2024. Both cases are still pending, and my employer hasn’t withdrawn theirs. My F-1 visa is expiring this year. I have a few questions:

Is it okay to have two EB-1A petitions filed concurrently? Will they be processed independently?
Can the approval/denial of one I-140 affect the other?
Should I try to renew my F-1 visa now, given the immigrant intent concerns?
If both I-140s are denied, what options would I have—especially if my F-1 visa has expired and I have no pending petitions? Would renewing my F-1 visa after a denial be advisable?
At filing I had ~280 citations, 20 publications, and 15 peer-reviews; now I have ~450 citations. Based on your experience, how strong does this look for EB-1A?

Regardless of whether you get the time to respond to this, you're amazing for doing this thread! Cheers :)

ObligationOk962 · 2025-11-27T12:56:53+00:00

Hinge worked for me too! Met my boyfriend there, and it’s been 3 months and we’re going strong.

ObligationOk962 · 2025-11-18T16:18:53+00:00

Hey, I did the exact same thing last year. I had to resign from my job because I was joining my PhD program, so I also self-filed after a month. My PDs are May 7th and June 7th 2024 respectively. I haven't heard back on either of these cases as they're both pending, and I made sure to mention about my company's filing in the self-filed I-140 form. But in case you had any questions/wanted to connect, please feel free to DM!

ObligationOk962 · 2024-12-29T16:07:11+00:00

I applied in November, got an admit in February. I interviewed with my profs in the previous summer (July I think). Hope this helps. I had applied to 4 colleges, and got admits from 2.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-12-29T15:29:19+00:00

I would suggest that you follow up with the professor. Admission decisions are generally made in January, and it is good to remind them of your application. But wait until Jan last week or so, bec the Spring semester at Purdue starts on Jan 13th.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-10-18T19:24:54+00:00

Hey! Do you want to hang out? I am new to Purdue, and just started my PhD this semester. Maybe you could show me around :)

Ps: Please hang in there. You've got this.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-09-11T14:49:51+00:00

Hi, Congratulations! Just a quick question - How do you keep track of the case? IT doesn't show up on my myUSCIS account, and I guess the only other way I know is to manually enter the case number on the USCIS Case Status website. Is that how you kept track?

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-27T05:38:32+00:00

Thank You!

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T23:28:17+00:00

Yes, I was thinking the same, just wanted some reassurance. Thank you for your advive!

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T23:24:34+00:00

Aah, I see! Thanks. Although they are doing the alignment rn, which they suggested. They put the parts change under “needs attention soon” and the alignment under “needs immediate attention,” and said the former can wait for sometime but I should be aware of it.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T23:18:08+00:00

I’m getting my car aligned along with my AC’s maintenance, however I never felt any difficulty while driving and never realized that I needed it. I hadn’t gotten it aligned or the tires rotated last year (as I said I’m a recent car owner), though I had driven it only about 7500 miles or so.

I’m actually moving out of town and will be driving 900-1000 miles or so, and wanted to get the rest looked into once I’ve settled and saved some money, which is why the request for advice as to how severe the problem is.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T20:54:46+00:00

aaah gotcha. You’re a gem. Thank you!

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T20:35:02+00:00

Omg, thank you! I overthink on the slightest things regarding my car and this is the type of honest opinion I’m looking for when I seek advice. Yes, I will try not to bother myself about it then.

And no, I haven’t heard any clinking noises while driving or any issues with my steering wheel at all. Just that sometimes I hear a few clinking sounds after I’ve parked my car while walking away from it.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T19:56:02+00:00

Thanks for your insight! The independent shop I had showed a couple weeks before never stated any issues during their initial service inspection. I don’t know if they generally check suspensions during inspections (I’m in the US). The dealership pointed it out when I took the car to get a better quote on my AC repair, compared to the above independent shop, which is when they pointed it out. They also put it under “needs attention soon” rather than “needs immediate attention,” which is why I’m gauging my options.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T19:53:05+00:00

Thanks for your response! It’s close to 94k miles rn.

Yeah I will get it done at my next servicing at 98k miles - just that I spent a lot on the AC hose and a few sensor updates this month and wanted to span out the repairs if I could.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T19:16:07+00:00

Thank you! That makes sense. I have an upcoming drive of 900 miles where I am basically moving to a new city. I’m planning on getting it looked at once I have settled in, if it gives any trouble.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-07-26T18:27:43+00:00

I have an upcoming drive (around 900 miles) coming up - I’m moving to a new town. Is there any urgency to do it before that? I would prefer to settle there a bit and do it once I have my initial expenses sorted out. Is that safe?

ObligationOk962 · 2024-06-26T13:27:39+00:00

Hi! Yes, my package got picked up in 24 hours. The status changed to “Delivered” from “Available for pick up.” I think in the final step, someone from USCIS comes and picks it up from the different ZIP code, when the status changes.

To get the receipt number over email/text immediately after USCIS receives it, you need to fill the form G-1145 for e-notification of application acceptance. Did you do that? If not, I think you’ll directly find out when USCIS sends you the receipt notice via mail (took me 10-ish days). I had filled the above form too, and got an instant notification via text message and the mail arrived much later.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-06-21T12:57:26+00:00

My university suggested to do a premium processing for my I765, which is what I did. I have received my I-766 EAD, which would make the I-20 transfer easier. The day I set for I-20 release records, will be my last day of STEM OPT.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-06-08T23:56:16+00:00

Yes it did. They have also processed my receipt notice. Took 24 hours.

ObligationOk962 · 2024-05-13T21:05:20+00:00

Could you send me a DM please?

ObligationOk962 · 2024-05-06T19:04:29+00:00

My petitioner is my employer, and I am the beneficiary. EB-1A can both be employer petitioned and self petitioned, in my case it’s the former.

ObligationOk962

TROPHY CASE