Guestbook Entry for Sethuraman Sankaranarayanan, United States
Name
Sethuraman Sankaranarayanan
Country
United States
State
NJ
Search
Guestbook Entry for Anil Kowatra, United States
Name
Anil Kowatra
Country
United States
State
MD
Comment
Thanks to Rajiv and his efficient & prompt legal team for excellent dedicated service. My GC process was started in April 1999 and completed on Jan 23, 2001. The whole process went thru smoothly without any complication. I highly recommend this group to anyone who has immigration related issues.
Guestbook Entry for Venkat, United States
Name
Venkat
Country
United States
State
NY
Comment
Rajiv, Leila, Diane, Suman and Fidelina have done an excellent job. They're all very responsible and cooperative.
Guestbook Entry for Pratik Sheth, United States
Name
Pratik Sheth
Country
United States
State
NC
Comment
very proffesional firm quick resposnse from Rajiv Khanna all the time
Guestbook Entry for S.C., United States
Name
S.C.
Country
United States
State
FL
Comment
Iam thankful for the excellent work done by Mr.Rajiv Khanna and his colleagues Ms.Amel Berhe and Ms.Nimia Aranibar which enabled me to obtain the G.C. Keep up the good work guys.
Guestbook Entry for Suresh, United States
Name
Suresh
Country
United States
State
NJ
Comment
I got my passport stamped last week to complete the GC processing. I am thankful to Mr. Khanna and his cooperative team for all the effort they put in for my case. I am impressed by the attention to the case provided by the entire team and also the backup measures that were taken to ensure speedy success. Overall it was a very pleasent experience. I had chosen Mr. Khanna over my company's lawyer and I feel it was a wise decision. My Labor Certification papers were filed in May 99 and the Center was VSC.
Guestbook Entry for Paresh Randeria, United States
Name
Paresh Randeria
Country
United States
State
MD
Comment
I got my GC approval on July 11 after a Interview at LOCAL INS Baltimore. Thanks to Rajiv and his team. I do not want to mention any of the staff members name as all the staff was prompt (Very important to me) and were extremely helpful. I really appreciate them answering all my questions patiently throughout the case. Like most of Desis, I was also asking same questions again and again in different ways but his staff were always patiently answer all my questions politely. I always got replies to all my (Phone/Email/Fax) inquiry within 24 hours. Rajiv also gave me his Cell Phone number on the day I was going for Interview which gave me feeling that he is with me for the Interview.
Guestbook Entry for Deepak Bapna, United States
Name
Deepak Bapna
Country
United States
State
AR
Comment
Hi, I got my GC approval on June 20th (filed mid Aug 99 at TSC). Kudos to Rajiv and his team, esp. Diane who handled my case. Both Rajiv and Diane were extremely helpful. I really appreciate them answering all my questions patiently throughout the case. Esp. email exchanges with both of them works great. I got replies to all my emails within 24 hours. At one point (March/April) after filing I-485, I was thinking about doing counsular processing. Rajiv asked Fidelina to check on status and suggested that we wait for a few more months. We did that and got GC. Bottomline, everyone at Rajiv's office has been very helpful. I recommend his office anytime. Thanks Deepak
USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees
Release Date
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. The new fees would allow USCIS to more fully recover its operating costs, reestablish and maintain timely case processing, and prevent the accumulation of future case backlogs. USCIS receives approximately 96 percent of its funding from filing fees, not from congressional appropriations.
USCIS Updated Forms - G-1055 and I-956K
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
01/04/2023 01:59 PM EST
USCIS Forms Update - Form I-134
USCIS recently updated the following form.
Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support
01/04/2023 09:24 AM EST
USCIS Releases New Immigrant Investor Form
Release Date
USCIS has published Form I-956K, Registration for Direct and Third-Party Promoters. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 added the requirement for direct and third-party promoters to register with USCIS.
Recording for January 05, 2023 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
Discussion Topics
FAQ: Effect of typos on immigration documents || Concerns about EB-1C Green Card Portability || Who is required to pay for an EB-1C Green Card? || Can too many parking tickets affect Green Card or Citizenship process? ||
USCIS Q&As from an Interagency Engagement on International Student Issues
Question details
The CIS Ombudsman’s Webinar Series:
Interagency Engagement on International Student Issues
Thursday, August 25, 2022
1 - 2:15 p.m. EDT
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided these answers to stakeholder questions gathered from the webinar.
.......................................................................................................
Question 1. Maintaining F-1 status
Question 2. Reinstatement
Question 3. OPT
Question 4. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
Question 5. Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
Question 6. Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
Question 7. Change of Address
Question 8. Other
---------------------------------------------------------------
Maintaining F-1 status
Q1. Can a student under Optional Practical Training (OPT) travel out of the country for a few days (less than five days) without notifying the designated school official (DSO) or employer or do they need permission to travel?
Visa Bulletin For February 2023
Number 74
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during February 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.
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
AAO Processing Times (October - December 2022)
| Form Type | Case Type | Completed 0-180 Days | Quarterly Completions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative total of all completions | 69.69% | 848 | |
| I-129CW | Petition for CNMI Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | 66.67% | 3 |
| I-129F | Petition for Fiancée | 100% | 14 |
Immigration Law
USCIS Announces Final Phase of Premium Processing Expansion for EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions and Future Expansion for F-1 Students Seeking OPT and Certain Student and Exchange Visitors
Release Date
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is implementing the final phase of the premium processing expansion for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications.
PERM Processing Times (as of 12/31/2022)
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | April 2022 |
| Audit Review | January 2022 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | June 2022 |
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
Do I need to have my SSN number before I start working?
Question details
I have a query about the employment status of the H1B resource coming from India. Once the resource reaches the US, from what day they can start working? I understand that once they reach the U.S. they need to apply for SSN first. So the question is can they start working in full employment capacity even before they get SSN?
.
Excerpt from the SSA (Social Security Administration) website:
"We don’t require you to have an SSN before you start work. However, the Internal Revenue Service requires employers to use your SSN to report your wages.
While you wait for your SSN, your employer can use a letter from us stating you applied for a number. Your immigration documents can prove your authorization to work in the United States".
Find more information online at www.ssa.gov/employer/hiring.htm
The Practical Lawyer Editorial Board Member Rajiv S. Khanna's Conversation With Samuel D. Hodge, Jr.
This article is part of the continuing series of interviews between The Practical Lawyer Editorial Board Member Rajiv S. Khanna and leading practitioners across the country, designed to provide personal and professional insights into various areas of the law.
Read more by clicking the pdf attachment.
Effect of typos on immigration documents
Question details
One of my friends has just completed a master's (F1 Visa) in Dec 2022 and has traveled to India (outside the USA). However, he hadn't noticed that the EAD card had incorrect DOB (date of birth). Would he have any issues while entering back to the USA? Will he have issues returning to the USA, how can he ensure that his DOB issue in EAD is sorted out?
FAQ Transcript
You could send in a request to the USCIS for correction of the typographical error by taking a screenshot. Attach it with the rest of the documents and now you have enough proof to show who you are. Also, typographical error depends upon who made the error and in which context it's being raised. Sometimes it is just an easy fix and complicated at times. Let your lawyers help you with that decision in this case. I think if you have a screenshot of a requested correction you should be fine.
Concerns about EB-1C Green Card Portability
Question details
How does EB-1C portability work?
I also have a question about the EB1C portability of the priority date. Say, If I have I-140 approved under EB1C and have a particular priority date. For some reason, if I need to or want to change employers and I do not qualify for EB1C with other employers. My new employer can file I-140 under EB-2, or I can file EB-2 NIW myself. I have both options. The question is whether I can use the priority date of the earlier approved I-140 petition under EB1C to the new employer's EB-2 petition and file AOS.
FAQ Transcript
Sure. EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 all of them can be ported.
Who is required to pay for an EB-1C Green Card?
Question details
Who pays for the I-140 filing fee? Employer or Employee? Do federal regulations mandate payment by the employer? Who pays the attorney fees for the I-140 form per federal regulations? Is it mandatory to be paid by the employer? Who pays for the I-1485 filing fee per federal regulations? Employer or Employee? Any federal mandate I need to know? Who pays for I-485 attorney fees per federal regulations? Is anything mandated in federal regulations?
FAQ Transcript
Generally speaking for L-1/EB-1C there are no requirements of any kind that say that the employer has to pay. The employee can pay for I-140 and I-485.
DHS Announces Process Enhancements for Supporting Labor Enforcement Investigations
Release Date
Changes Strengthen Efforts to Hold Unscrupulous Employers Accountable
My sincere thanks to Rajiv Khanna's team, particularly Diane Lombardo for their efficient service. I was really impressed by their clear, concise and prompt responses to my queries at all times. I strongly recommend them for any immigration related services.