Rajiv's Comments in the News - Immigration reforms that would've helped Indians in America blocked by Senate Parliamentarian

Published by: The Economic Times - Date: September 20, 2021

Synopsis 

Lawyers said that this development would make it difficult for the reforms to be passed as part of this bill. Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Partner at immigration.com said that this barrier would be very difficult to overcome.

For more on this news please see the attachment below.

 

Applied for EB-3 downgrade and change of employer after 180 days while I-140 is pending

Question details

I have applied for EB3 downgrade last October, received the EAD cards, I-140 is still pending. What would be the process for me to change employers at this time? Does the new employer need to start the GC process all over again? As the 180 days have passed since the I-485, what would be the process to use AC21 when I-140 is still pending for same or similar occupation?

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FAQ Transcript

The AC21 law says you can change jobs to a same or similar job once your I-140 is approved and I-485 has been pending 180 days. So until the I-140 is approved you are not protected. More...

 

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Consequences of green card holders staying outside the USA for an extended time. Reentry permit protection

Question details

My spouse has her green card from 2014 and she has been travelling regularly to India to take care of her ailing Father.
She had been coming back to USA within Less than 6 months and staying in the US for a few months
and travelling back again. This has has been going on for the past 6 years. In between she got a reentry permit for 2 years which has expired.
recently she travelled back to the US after 8 months and had a tough time with the immigration officer who questioned regarding the
extended stay in india and finally she was allowed in with the regular stamp in the passport. No comments/special notes were made in the passport.She has now applied for a new re entry permit and waiting for its approval.

she co owns the house and a partner in the LLC and has been filing US resident taxes and I have
been working and staying in the US during the entire period .

1) Based on the above details is it safe for her to travel once her re entry permit is approved?
2) Should she wait for a specific period of time before she can travel ?
3) Would carrying a copy of the House title,LLC partnership details and copy of the Tax filing help
in case she is questioned at the Port of entry.

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FAQ Transcript

In a situation like this you should really talk to a lawyer. The key indicators of a situation like this are does she permanently live in the United States. Doing it repeatedly year after year for six years that does not bode well, but with special circumstances, you could make an argument that she never intended to abandon her permanent residence. More...

 

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Consequences of extending parents’ B-1/B-2 (visitors/tourist) status more than once

Question details

What are the consequences if we extend parents visitor's visa's stay for more than 1 time? Will it be a problem when they come back to US again? Is the minimum time to come back again still 6 months?

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FAQ Transcript

The first consequence is coming too frequently. So, then stay away for one year. The second is you have to keep daisy-chaining your extensions. Three if you leave without an extension result, it's okay as long as you're leaving within the time that you asked for and lastly, if the extension is denied you may have to apply for a new tourist visa. More...

 

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Travel on ESTA

Question details

My parents are both U.K. citizens and don't have any visas apart from just an ESTA; they are in the U.K. However, my wife is American, and I am now a U.S. citizen, and we both live in the U.S. permanently. We just had a baby a few days ago, and we want my parents to travel from the U.K. to the U.S. to help with the baby. Is this possible for them to travel on the ESTA they have? If not, can we apply for a different visa, so they can come to the U.S.?

 

 It appears they will be able to travel only if they travel to and stay for two weeks in a third country from which travel to the USA is allowed.

FAQ Transcript

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J-1 exchange visitors and NIE (National Interest Exception)

Question details

 I am a Slovenian citizen, and I plan to do a 3-month student internship in the USA in December. I have everything arranged with my employer. The only question I have is, can I travel from the Schengen area on my J-1 visa? And if not, how can I come to the USA for my internship?

J-1 exchange visitors will be able to travel only if the visa is approved and they qualify for a national interest exception (NIE).

FAQ Transcript

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Documents required for F-1 OPT holders to travel to the United States of America during pandemic

Question details

I am on my OPT period (June 1st, 2021 - May 31st, 2022) and am working for a company in the USA. I plan to travel to India for my sister's wedding from December 18th, 2021, to December 28th, 2021. The following are my questions for travel in these COVID situations:

1. I wanted to know the details for entering the USA. What documents should I have while entering the USA?

2. Does the USA allow OPT holders to enter?

A1: You will need to contact your DSO for endorsement on your I-20 to travel, evidence that you have been working (like pay stubs), and a letter from your employer confirming that you will be returning to your ongoing employment.

FAQ Transcript

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F-1 OPT and travel during pandemic

Question details

I am on F1 OPT and in the U.S. My OPT started in Jan 2021. My wife is in India and just got her F-2 visa. We both are Indian and haven't been able to meet. Would you please tell us if she can travel to the U.S.? Most places say that the program needs to start on or after August 1st, but I am very confused, given that my OPT began in January.

 

OPT is considered an ongoing program. She can travel now, subject only to the Covid-19 related health directives. 

 

FAQ Transcript

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Intermittent H-1B employment

Question details

I recently transferred from the U.S. to the UAE office since I was not selected in the H-1B lottery in March. I was then selected in the second lottery and my company has started the H-1B process. Can I do short-term 1-2 week visits on H-1B every few months instead of B-1? Do I need to be employed to enter the U.S. using H-1b?

While intermittent H-1B employment is permitted, it is only for the job for which you have an H-1B approval. You cannot use an H-1B visa to travel to the US intermittently without that job.

 

FAQ Transcript

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