Guestbook Entry for Sethuraman Sankaranarayanan, United States
Name
Sethuraman Sankaranarayanan
Country
United States
State
NJ
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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 New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the Policy Manual to further clarify the types of evidence that USCIS may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications.
This policy guidance:
Visa Bulletin For November 2024
Number 95
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during November 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
USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Clarifying Expedite Requests
USCIS is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how USCIS considers expedite requests related to government interests and requests related to emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, including travel-related requests. This update also clarifies how to make an expedite request and explains how USCIS processes expedite requests.
Government Interests
PERM Processing Times (as of 10/15/2024)
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | August 2023 |
| Audit Review | December 2022 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | April 2023 |
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
USCIS Updates Guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule
Release Date
USCIS updated guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule in the Policy Manual to clarify the required triennial increase in investment, revenue, and other thresholds, and to clarify how USCIS arranges biometrics appointments for certain applicants.
Recording for October 10, 2024 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Nonimmigrant Visas
Topics Discussed:
USCIS - Form G-1055, Fee Schedule Updated
USCIS recently updated the following form:
10/11/2024 12:02 PM EDT
Edition Date: 10/11/24. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page of Form G-1055, Fee Schedule.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.
Maintaining LPR status (Green Card) during extended absences for employment
Question details
I have a family-based green card. For my job, I need to travel outside of the US for 150-160 days (3 days per week for the entire year). I am worried that I may lose my green card. What shall I do to retain my green card and still maintain this schedule of travel for my job?
FAQ Transcript
To maintain your green card during extended absences:
- Brief trips under 6 months are generally fine.
- For longer absences Apply for a re-entry permit, allowing travel for up to 2 years.Consider filing Form N-470 to preserve continuous residence for naturalization.
- Avoid absences of 6 months or more; return within 6 months each time.
- Maintain strong ties to the U.S. (family, home, job) to demonstrate intent to reside permanently.
- If travels are work-related and you have significant U.S. ties, your green card status is less likely to be at risk.
- Absences of one year or more can lead to loss of green card status without proper documentation.
Concerns regarding nonpayment of wages and potential H-1B impact
Question details
I arrived in the U.S. in the last week of May 2024, and despite innumerable requests, my employer has not run payroll for the weeks since my arrival. Could this pose any challenges for future H1B transfers, extensions, or I-140 processing? Is there a risk of scrutiny or denial due to this issue? If yes, could you guide how to mitigate this please?
FAQ Transcript
If your employer fails to pay you after starting your H-1B employment, it can pose challenges for future H-1B transfers. To address this:
- File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
- You can file online or by phone (search for "LCA complaint US Department of Labor").
- This complaint serves as evidence explaining the lack of pay stubs during future H-1B transfers.
- Employers must start paying when you're ready to work or within 30 days (if coming from outside the US) or 60 days (if already in the US), whichever is earlier.
- Filing a complaint may help you recover unpaid wages and protect your ability to transfer your H-1B in the future.
EB-2 NIW I-140 portability for employer-sponsored cases
Question details
My employer is in the process of filing employer-sponsored EB2 NIW (instead of self-sponsored). I understand that self-sponsored EB2 NIW is independent of an employer and remains valid in any case. But can I-140 obtained from employer-sponsored EB2 NIW be transferred to another employer?
FAQ Transcript
The ability to keep your NIW when changing employers depends on whether you continue to pursue the same endeavor that was the basis for your NIW approval. If you maintain the same type of work in the same field, even with a different employer, you likely can keep your NIW. However, if you change to a completely different field or type of work, you may need to start a new green card process. For certainty, it's advisable to consider filing a new green card application or NIW when changing employers.
USCIS Updates Policy Manual Guidance for T Visa
USCIS is revising the guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Classification for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons; Eligibility for “T” Nonimmigrant Status Final Rule.
Recording for October 24, 2024 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
FAQs: GC approval before AC21 Supplement J could be filed || H-1B grace period eligibility after second layoff and B-1/B-2 visa options for job search
Rising NIW rejection rates: Examining changes in eligibility criteria
Question details
Why rejection rate of NIWs is increasing? Is there any change in eligibility criteria, etc.?
FAQ Transcript
The USCIS is currently focusing on two main aspects when evaluating NIW petitions:
- National Importance of Your Work:
They want to see how your specific work benefits the entire country, not just your immediate sphere of influence.
Example: For a neurosurgeon, saving lives locally isn't enough; they want to see a broader national impact.
- Comparative Contribution:
USCIS is looking at how your work stands out from others in your field.
They want to see that your contribution is not just significant but also distinguishable from your peers' work.
These two factors are currently the primary focus in NIW evaluations, leading to higher rejection rates for petitions that don't adequately address these specific points.
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.