Thanks to Rajiv and his team. My LC was filed in Nov' 99 and got approved on Nov'12th 2000. Applying for I-140. This team is very prompt, patient, energetic and knowledgeable. The team reply to every question very carefully. Rajiv even replied to some personal immigration questions when I need to change my wife's H4 status to F1 (we went to Mexico for this). Thanks to Rajiv for all his answers and suggestions. GC is a major milestone in our life, for those who want to make a career in U.S. We need patience and above all must follow the attorney's suggestions for successfully getting the GC.
Green card experience : I would like to thank Mr Rajiv Khanna, Fidelina and their staff for all the help they provided through my Green card process. I am glad I selected them as my lawyers and would recommend others too if they want a hasle free green card processing. My Labour was done in Feb 98 and it came in under 6 months. We tried for EB2 I140 but since I did not have masters, we got an RFE. We selected EB3 as an option then but due to some confusion at the VSC side, my I140 was denied, they thought we are asking for EB2 again. My date had luckily become current at that time. Due to the quick response from Fedilina, my 140 was approved in about a week or so. That was something really extraordinary and I am glad Fidelina was handling my case. We are able to file 485 at that time, Aug 99. Got the EAD in about 3 months. But unfortunately, the dates went back. At that time, my wife’s 140 got approved in EB2 and through another lawyer. Her date was current. We were in a dilemma whether to file another 485 while earlier 485 was still pending, do CP or just wait. We finally decided to go for CP. We had our interview on 25 October at Delhi and had to wait for 2 weeks at delhi because of Name check problem. Fidelina had been nice to answer my queries every now and then through the whole process. The CP process was very smooth without any problems. If anybody has any specific question, please write to me at KHERAA@YAHOO.COM and I will be really glad to answer.
Rajiv's staff is well informed, prompt and very friendly. I had no problem during all the phases of processing. I received prompt response to my emails and Rajiv or his staff members were easily available to answer any questions. Further he has a real good system to organize and store documents; because of which I never had to refer to any of my old documents over the course of my 3.5 years of Green card processing. Further his consultation fees are reasonable. I would recommend his services.
Comments: Rajiv Khanna is an extremely competent attorney and I am extremely pleased by the service provided by his staff. I specially commend Diane Lombardo for getting things done quickly, efficiently and correctly. I would recommend this firm for anyone wishing to hire a lwayer for their GC process. Country of Birth of primary applicant: India Country of Birth of beneficiary: Colombia I-140 NIW Application received by INS on Jan, 13 1998. I-140 Additional evidence requested on April 23, 1998. I-140 Approval received on Jun 13, 1998. I-485 Received by INS on Aug 5, 1998. I-485 RFE sent out by INS on Nov 12, 1999. RFE was for employment letter, original geographical area of NIW approval and birth certificate. I-485 Response sent on December 7, 1999. I-485 Approved on December 23, 1999. Passport stamped on January 3, 2000 using courtesy copy (not original copy). Further, for those who are wondering how I was able to submit my I485 application in August 1998 when my priority date is Jan 13 1998, I qualify since I cross-charged my application under my spouse's country of birth.
I've just started my GC process with Mr. Khanna's firm. They are about to send my DOL LCert. While working with them since last few weeks, I admire there professionalism and dedication. They've been good at follow up. I was surprised how much Mr. Khanna has been involved. I think it will be a good experience down the road. Special thanks to Mr. Khanna, Rajiv Durgam, Miss. Suman and Ursla Jara.
I began my GC processing in October 1999. And got my LC done in December 1999. I really thankful to Mr. Rajiv and his team for their efforts. Now I am in process of filing for I-140. Mr. Rajiv and his staff is highly professional and very friendly. Working with him is absolutely hassle free. I never have to do any . Follow-up. with him as his staff do things very efficiently. Also Thanks to Suman and Leila as they are always helpful.
In June of 1998 I changed jobs, and moved here to Florida in July of 1998. I began filing for new H1 visas in May of that same year. It took Just under two(2) months to get our H1-B and H-4. Just recently (Dec. 1999) our application for Alien Employment Certification, through the Atlanta DOL was approved. We are now in the process of filing our I-140 and, once the priority date becomes current, the I-485 (adjustment of status for GC). My wife and I are extremely pleased with the results Mr Khanna has been able to achieve since we first started with him in Maryland. We have come a far way, and it is refreshing to know that changing lawyers was the best choice we have made throughout this ordeal. We continue to look forward to the high standard of work Mr Khanna is setting for his clients. ** Keep up the good work Mr Khanna & Staff **
The work was very well done in a timely manner. thank you
Thank you very much for the swift and efficient process. Hoping to use you guys again at a later date
I started my GC processing in Sept. 98. Rajiv and his team got my LC done in Apr 99. I filed my I-140 in May 99. There were some questions regarding the valuation of my degree and experience. But Rajiv and Fidelina went out of way and got second evaluation of my education done which fitted the case in the EB2/RIR category. My I-140 was approved on 7 Dec.99 and now I have sent my I-485 papers for filing. Thank you very much Rajiv, Fidelina , Suman and the entire team. They are very dependable team even in difficult times. I must appreciate the skill and patience they showed in getting my I-140 approved.
Release Date
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each beneficiary.
We recommend that the H-1B lottery registration process should be planned and initiated now to ensure that it is ready to be submitted once the registrations open from noon Eastern on March 7, 2025 through noon Eastern on March
Number 99
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during March 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.
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
FAQs:
1. Laid off on EAD from EB1A, can I start an UNRELATED teaching business?
2. Can I travel on Advance Parole?
3. Can I delay using an H-1B visa to utilize the STEM extension period?
4. H-1B specialty occupation for MS in UX Design (STEM)
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
FAQs:
1. Can I volunteer with a Non-Profit while on any temporary visa (for example, F-1 OPT)?
2. Options after layoff on approved EB-1 - Compelling circumstances EAD and GC EAD conversion
3. NIW I-485 rejected: Refiling options and priority date usage?
We primarily have questions on relocation to India and possibilities.
My wife and I want to retain our Green Cards and eventually get US citizenship. We are just 3 years away from getting our US citizenship.
However, we want to relocate to India for our aging parents. We want to be able to relocate to India now for a few years (5 years), but we also don’t want to miss out on the citizenship opportunity when we are this close to getting our US citizenship. Is this even possible without the hassle of staying 6 months in the US and 6 months in India, and would there be any tax implications if one of us continues to work for the same employer in the US remotely from India?
We are aware that we can take 2 years' permission by filing Form I-131 and staying outside the US for 2 years. However, we need more than 2 years to stay outside the US. Also, the citizenship clock resets if we take this option. Is there a way to avoid this?
If you plan to relocate to India with a green card before obtaining U.S. citizenship, it can significantly complicate the naturalization process. To apply for U.S. citizenship, you must meet physical presence requirements: at least 2.5 years in the U.S. over the last five years and no single absence of a year or more. If you stay outside the U.S. for over six months but less than a year, you may need to provide an explanation.
A re-entry permit (Form I-131) allows you to stay outside the U.S. for up to two years without losing your green card, but it does not help with citizenship requirements. Form N-470 can protect your eligibility in limited cases, such as working for a U.S. company’s foreign branch, but it does not guarantee naturalization.
If you stay abroad for more than a year, you will likely need to restart your five-year residency requirement (or four years and one day if a re-entry permit was used). While re-entry permits can be renewed in certain cases, they do not protect your citizenship timeline.
Best advice: Obtain U.S. citizenship first and then relocate, as naturalized citizens can live abroad indefinitely without affecting their status. Please consult your lawyer regarding this.
I applied for a change of status from an H1B to an H4 visa via I-539 in May 2024 as I got laid off, with my last working date being 3/19/2024.
The document was received by USCIS on 5/10/2024 and confirmed by I-797C, Notice of Action dt 5/20/2024.
On 12/26/2024, my case was approved. I received I-797A Notice of Action with Approval on 1/7/2025. The approval date shows the validity of H4 from 12/23/2024 to 03/13/2027.
On my I-539 I had asked for the change of status to be effective from 05/15/2024 as my 60-day period would run out on 5/19/2024.
However, the H4 approval shows the start date as 12/23/2024. So, my question is, what status was I in during the period 5/19/2024 and 12/23/2024, and will I face any problems if I go for visa stamping? Do I need to write to USCIS and ask for a date to be changed to 5/15/2024 to avoid issues in the future?
If you applied for a change of status (COS) while still in valid status—such as H-1B plus the 60-day grace period—you are not considered out of status while your application is pending. In this case, since you applied for H-4 within the grace period, the period between May (filing date) and December (approval date) is classified as an authorized period of stay, meaning it does not count as unlawful presence.
Even though the approval date is later, you are not subject to the three-year bar because you remained legally in the U.S. while the petition was pending. There are no negative implications for your status.
I am in my first year of OPT and eligible for a STEM extension. If selected in the H1B lottery on the first attempt, can I delay activating my H1B to fully utilize my STEM OPT? Would this be advisable, and what are the potential benefits or risks?
If you have time left on your STEM OPT but have won the H-1B lottery, you can technically opt for H-1B consular processing and continue using your STEM OPT. However, since 2023, this approach has become riskier.
The safer option is to proceed with an H-1B change of status. If you delay the H-1B activation and later face job loss, transferring the H-1B could be more complicated. While consular processing is still possible, it carries uncertainties. If it were my case, I would choose the change of status for a more secure transition.
I have an EAD from an approved EB1A petition (priority date: Apr 2022). I recently got laid off and am thinking of starting a business ( related to K-12 education.) MY EAD is based on an advanced degree in Operations research with publications and related work experience in data science. Is there a risk to justify 'teaching' or running a tutoring business based on this EAD? If so, can you keep looking for related jobs and teach on the side without incorporating this as a business in the interim? On an unrelated note, in your opinion, what is the risk of traveling out of the country in this situation? (I have an advance parole in hand as well.)
If you have an EB-1A-based EAD and a pending I-485, starting an unrelated business (such as teaching) is risky. Your EB-1A petition asserts that you intend to work in your field of extraordinary ability. Shifting to an unrelated field could raise questions about your original intent and impact your green card application.
Additionally, traveling on Advance Parole in this situation may pose some risks. It’s advisable to either have a job offer or a clear plan to work in your field (such as consulting with clients) before traveling. Proceed with caution.
The services provided by Mr. Rajiv & Ms. Suman were outstanding and the timely help during emergencies were really professional and courteous.