Latest News

Visa Bulletin For April 2022

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during April for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

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Rajiv's Article - Is it legal for an H1B employee to be the beneficiary of multiple lottery registrations?

Published by: The Economic Times - Date: February 28, 2022

Synopsis
This question has created much confusion amongst the employers and the employees Because of a new declaration introduced by the USCIS. Every employer who signs up an H-1B employee for the lottery registration must now declare “under penalty of perjury:”

For more on this article please see the attachment below.

Frequently asked questions answered in The Economic Times NRI Helpdesk by Rajiv - How long can I stay outside the US without losing my Green Card?

FAQ's answered in The Economic Times NRI Helpdesk: How long can I stay outside the US without losing my Green Card?

Published by: The Economic Times: February 27, 2022

Question: I am a US green card holder. I traveled from the US in September 2021 and am currently in India. I need to stay here longer due to personal reasons. How long can I stay outside the US without my GC being affected? Alternatively, would it suffice if I pay a week’s visit to the US before March 2022?

Rajiv's Comments in the News - US to process more green cards this year under employment based categories - CNBC TV18

Published by: CNBC TV18: February 23, 2022

Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:

“The USCIS wants to approve as many green cards as they can as there has been a huge spillover from the family quota. This has not happened in the past in such large numbers,” Economic times quoted Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Attorney of Immigration.com.

For more on this news please see the attachment.

USCIS Urges Eligible Applicants to Switch Employment-Based Categories

Release Date 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services encourages eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status application to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced degrees or with exceptional ability) employment-based preference categories, because there is an exceptionally high number of employment-based immigrant visas available in these categories during this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022).

PERM Processing Times (as of 1/31/2022)

The dates reflect the month and year in which applications were filed (request date) or submission date of the appeal request for Redeterminations or Center Director Review. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) encourages employers to request a prevailing wage determination for the H-2B program at least 60 days before the date the determination is needed. For various reasons, OFLC may be completing the processing of applications filed prior to the month posted.

USCIS Updates Guidelines on Maximum Validity Periods for New Employment Authorization Documents for Certain Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today published updated policy guidance to change the maximum validity period that may be granted for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to certain applicants, as well as to provide general guidance on adjudicating Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

Starting today, USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs that are valid for two years to applicants in the following categories: