Immigration: EAD I140 Compelling circumstances.

Whether you qualify for an EAD based upon compelling circumstances will depend upon the view of U.S.C.I.S. As this is new relief without much of a track record, I could not inform you whether your situation would be seen as compelling circumstances although I suspect that it will be. An individual on the EAD who works for another employer is no longer in valid nonimmigrant status. It does not give travel privileges.  For that, you would have to make an application for advance parole, and such could be approved based on urgent humanitarian circumstances or where it would provide a significant public benefit.  If you must renew your H-1B after the year of employment authorization under the EAD, you would have to go abroad for non-immigrant visa processing. If you are denied an H-1B petition and are still in the States, you can request an extension of the EAD where there is still compelling need and the visa availability date is far away, or the visa availability date is reachable within one year before or after the visa bulletin final action date. However, if the H-1B petition is approved by U.S.C.I.S. and you are denied a visa when you try to go for visa stamping abroad, you would essentially be stuck overseas unless you are able to overcome the ground(s) of denial.Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.