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
One of our community members had asked a questing regarding the processing dates of 485.
In a pending AOS (I-485), unless your PD is current, USCIS will not touch your application. Only when the PD becomes current, they start processing applications ROUGHLY in the order received.
For recent updates on PERM processing please click here.
http://www.immigration.com/processing-times-and-status-checks
One of our clients (I think I have worked with these folks for over a decade) had these questions:
Quote: A member of our family was issued a Green Card in November 1980. The green card did not have any renewal date (see enclosed). I assume Green Cards at that time did not have a renewal date. Does this need to be renewed?
Ans: Replace the green card. See:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-90instr.pdf
Now that I received my GC through employment, does my employer need to change my position to the one filed in the Labor Certification?
Yes, now that the GC is approved, your employer should "permanently" give you the job described (including the title, salary and job duties) in the Labor Certification. This change should take place within a "reasonable time" after the GC approval.
Keep in mind, "permanent" does not mean forever. This term describes a job that has no pre-decided termination date. We see no violation of the law, If the employer, due to economic or other circumstances, can no longer support the job after having offered it to you in good faith.
Some of our employees' Green cards
have been filed. There projects have ended. They are working on H-1 but possess EAD and have 140 approved and 485 pending more than 180 days.
Quote: (1) If we revoke their H-1, are we still required to pay full wages if our clients say they do not currently have a project for our employees?
Ans. You are not required to pay "bench salaries" for employees whose H-1 are revoked (remember you must inform CIS and offer employee a one-way ticket home). But we then have exposure to the questions, "do you still have a "permanent" job for them?" If the answer is no, then their GC processing can be interrupted unless they use AC21 portability.
1. Hi Rajiv I have a few questions about starting business in partnership.
I am currently on H-1B , my I-140 is cleared and priority date is not current. My wife is on H-4 visa and she is interested in starting her own business with some one who has I-485 pending and has EAD.
I will be the one who will be investing in this business but I won't be employed with that business.
- Is this legal ?
2. Can you be a passive investor on H-1?
1. She can NOT do this on H-4. Once you folks file 485 and get EAD, things will be different.
You can then be a passive investor (performing no work type activity for the company) even while on H-1. You can also be an active investor if you wish to move to EAD as long as you maintain your intention to work full time for the GC sponsoring employer. Your wife can work for the company, own it, be partners, etc. as long as she has the EAD.
For past 7 years I work for company ‘A’ on their H1B visa (EB3). I had a I-140 cleared in 1998 from my previous company ‘B’ under EB2. Company ‘B’ filed for my I-485 in 2004 and I finally got my green card.
Quote: 1) Do I need to inform company ‘B’ and be in their payroll with immediate effect?
2) If company ‘B’ cannot provide me a job in my location and offer the salary I demand, is it a valid reason for me not to join ‘B’?
3) How should I inform company ‘A’ about my green card and what is the best reason to justify my case to continue work with company ‘A’?
or Should I inform company ‘A’ only when I fill the I-9 form next year Jan 2010.
Excellent team. Very quick effective correspondance and communications skills by Mr. Vikas.
Though still waiting for my last stage of GC to be cleared, I went with Rajiv S. Khanna as my attorney. Rajiv is an expert on Immigration Laws and is straight up and abreast of rules & regulations. He helped me at every point in the whole process even when my 6 yr H1-B was getting expired to file the renewal with appropriate paperwork and was very quick to do this. I never had any problem or incompletion about the paperwork done under his guidance, which has been perfect. Perfect paperwork reduces the total time of this lengthy process. His associates who worked with me on my case are very thorough. I am greatly thankful to Richa Narang who worked with me from the begining of the process and then Prerna Mehta who took over later who is always available and is happy to respond calmly and peacefully. Also many, many thanks to Sheena, Mathew, Lakshmi and other staff members who are very co-operative and would return calls & e-mails promptly. I even got good & prompt advises on some legal issues even if it wasn't the area of interest for them and not related to my case. I am really glad that I chose this Law firm. I am greatly pleased with Rajiv and his staff as far as their professionalism, courtesy and promptness regarding my GC.
Many thanks to all for doing a wonderful job, excellent team.
Law offices of Rajiv Khanna did a good job in getting my labor approved. My special thanks to Richa and Suman My case is EB2 with masters. But, I got masters after joining the company. Attorneys has provided good instructions on how to get promotion on to a position requiring masters etc. It worked very well and the documentation is really good. Response to the client is quick. Overall I am satisfied with the skills.
The attached document explains the criteria.
1. Is it advisable or compulsory to get the prevailing wage determination from the states or Online Wage Library is enough at the time of taking LCA? Because most of the time we are taking the LCAs for the job titles like: Software Engineer, Programmer Analyst and System Analyst for which the wage determination available in the online wage library.
Ans. OES wages can be used as long as the correct job category and job level are used. Applying for prevailing wages from the govt. is time consuming, but does have the benefit of being almost beyond question in case of an audit.
1. I am contemplating switching from H-1B status (in Year 4) to an L2 status (wife holds L1B status) and then applying for EAD. After I receive the EAD (receipt of application sufficient for starting work?), (1) am I allowed to hold on to my current H-1B status or does it automatically lapse upon conversion to L2?
2. Can I hold a CAP-EXEMPT H-1B with an academic institution/ think-tank etc CONCURRENTLY with the L2, (3) work as an independent contractor (1099)?
3. Does EAD allow one to be do multiple things as a free-lance professional?
1. Ans. It lapses upon change of status from the date the status is changed.
2. Ans. You cannot have H-1 and L-2 status at the same time. But on the L-2 EAD you can do both jobs.
3. Ans. Yes.
1. Are we OK in keeping an H1B worker without work as long as we pay him during the project break too - at the LCA wage level.
Ans. You must pay your H-1 workers the legal wage. This is the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage. Actual wage is defined as that which you pay other similar employees in the same geographical location. So, as long as you pay the legal wage, there is no problem.
When filing for H-1, it often becomes an issue as to what is acceptable evidence that a foreign employee has completed their degree requirements.
USCIS has stated:
I have attained Canadian Citizenship but a born Indian citizen, when I am applying for 485 which priority dates do I need to consider, General or India. I do not have Indian passport.
Still, India. Your chargeability follows the place of birth, not your citizenship.
I am sharing with you a response to a frequently asked question about adopting a child from India. Our inquirer also wanted to know if she could adopt her niece. Here is the info:
The following pointers have emerged from recent cases and comments from USCIS:
1. Make sure you document the citation records (to show how many hits the journal gets), impact factor and circulation figures of the journals in which your publications appear.
2. (This we already knew) Recommendations from people who know you personally carry less weight than from those who know you by reputation.
3. Emphasize/document the "international" nature of your accomplishments.
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.