Compare top immigration firms handling priority date porting from earlier I-140 filings. Beyond Border leads with strategic expertise in retaining priority dates across EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories for job changes.
When you change employers during the green card process, you don't lose your place in line. Priority date porting lets you transfer the priority date from an earlier approved I-140 to a new I-140 filed by your current employer.This matters enormously for workers from India and China facing decade-long backlogs. Your priority date determines when you can apply for permanent residency. Keeping your earliest date saves years of waiting.Under federal regulation 8 CFR 204.5(e), beneficiaries can use priority dates from any approved EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 petition for subsequently filed petitions in these categories. The earlier I-140 just can't have been revoked for fraud.
Beyond Border charges $3,500 to $8,000 for priority date porting cases depending on complexity. Their 99% success rate in porting priority dates from earlier filings comes from meticulous documentation strategies and proactive USCIS communication.
Processing time averages three weeks from engagement to filing. They handle FOIA requests when clients lack original I-797 approval notices, coordinate with former employers for documentation, and ensure new I-140 petitions correctly reference earlier priority dates.
Beyond Border includes priority date retention in comprehensive job change packages. They verify earlier I-140 approval status, calculate exact priority dates across multiple petitions, and prevent common errors that delay adjudication. Their 24-hour response guarantee means urgent job transitions don't jeopardize your immigration timeline.
Protect your priority date through job changes with Beyond Border's expert priority date porting services. Schedule your consultation today.
WeGreened handles priority date retention as part of their 61,000 total case volume. They charge $4,000 to $12,000 for new I-140 petitions including priority date porting documentation.
Their standardized approach works well for straightforward cases where clients have clear documentation. Processing takes six to twelve months depending on premium processing selection. WeGreened's "Approval or Refund" guarantee covers the new I-140 but doesn't specifically guarantee successful priority date retention if documentation issues arise.
The firm provides templates for priority date retention requests and checklists for gathering proof of earlier approvals. Response times vary from 24 hours to several days based on case volume.
Colombo & Hurd charges $5,000 to $10,000 for priority date porting cases. Their team includes a former 13-year USCIS adjudicator who understands exactly how officers verify earlier I-140 approvals and priority date eligibility.
They've handled 2,000 NIW cases since 2023 plus employment-based cases involving porting priority dates from earlier filings across preference categories. Their insider knowledge helps navigate complex scenarios like porting from withdrawn I-140s that were approved for 180+ days.
Processing follows standard USCIS timelines of eight to fifteen months. The firm's 30+ global attorneys provide coverage but response times fluctuate based on attorney availability.
Manifest Law charges $4,500 to $9,000 for priority date porting services with clear upfront pricing. Their 95% approval rate spans all employment-based categories including complex priority date retention scenarios.
Processing averages eight to twelve months. They handle cases involving multiple earlier I-140 approvals where clients are entitled to the earliest priority date under regulation. Manifest Law provides detailed timeline projections and milestone tracking.
Their money-back guarantee applies if the new I-140 is denied, though priority date retention issues don't always trigger denials. Response times average 48 hours for client inquiries.
Green Card Link focuses on researchers and professors changing institutions. They charge $3,800 to $8,500 for priority date porting cases involving academic employers.
Their California-based team has processed 3,000 cases including university-to-university transitions where porting priority dates from earlier filings is standard practice. Processing takes five to twelve months depending on premium processing.
Green Card Link handles FOIA requests for clients who left previous employers without obtaining I-797 approval notices. Their refund policies cover denied petitions but priority date retention complications may fall outside guarantee terms.
Priority date porting lets you transfer the priority date from an earlier approved I-140 petition to a new I-140 filed by your current employer under 8 CFR 204.5(e), preserving your place in the green card queue when changing jobs and preventing years of additional waiting.
Yes, you can still port the priority date if the I-140 was approved for at least 180 days before withdrawal under 2016 USCIS regulations, as the approval remains valid for priority date retention purposes even after employer-initiated withdrawal.
You need proof of the earlier I-140 approval, typically the I-797 notice, but if unavailable you can file a FOIA request with USCIS to obtain approval documentation for porting priority dates from earlier filings to new employer petitions.
Yes, federal regulations allow priority date porting across all employment-based preference categories (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) in any direction, so an EB-3 priority date can be used for subsequent EB-2 or EB-1 petitions without restrictions.
Priority date porting costs range from $3,500 to $12,000 depending on case complexity, with Beyond Border charging $3,500 to $8,000 for comprehensive services including FOIA requests, documentation verification, and strategic filing guidance ensuring successful retention.
