Guestbook Entry for Arul Palanivelu, United States
Name
Arul Palanivelu
Country
United States
State
ID
Search
Guestbook Entry for Rob Ray, United States
Name
Rob Ray
Country
United States
State
FL
Comment
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest appreciation for the great job done by this law firm in getting my LC approved in record time. My LC was filed at the Florida SESA on August 2nd, 2000 and approved from Atlanta DOL on 18th September. The entire process took only 1.5 months, which is incredible considering that Labor is taking around 4-5 months in that region. This has been made possible mainly due to the expertise and professionalism of the staff of this law firm, particularly Rajiv Khanna, Suman Bhasin, Richa Narang and Vijay Durgav (among others). I am grateful to them for a job well done and will recommend their services to anybody about to start the journey. On to I-140!!!!!
I-485 Priority Dates and Processing Dates
Question details
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.
DOL gives PERM processing dates
For recent updates on PERM processing please click here.
http://www.immigration.com/processing-times-and-status-checks
Renewing Expired GC and Citizenship for autistic/disabled persons
Question details
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
GC approved. When should I start working on the green card job?
Question details
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.
GC Compliance for Employers
Question details
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.
Starting business while in AOS/I-485/H-1/H-4
Question details
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.
Am I obliged to join my sponsoring employer after GC approval?
Question details
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.
Sept 30, 2021, Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
Discussion Topics, Thursday, September 30, 2021:
FAQ: Obtaining student or visitor's visa while a green card is pending || Continuing to use H-1B when I return on Advance Parole || Nuances of changing employers during the green card process || Green card holder working on multiple jobs - Is it legal? || How long can green card holders stay outside the U.S.? || Effect of a career change on naturalization process and timing.
Successful lawsuit for H-1B extension of stay
We filed an H-1B extension petition for a small software company that offers customer software and technology solutions to the local clientele. USCIS approved the classification portion of the petition, but denied the portion of the petition requesting an extension of stay. USCIS stated that beneficiary had failed to maintain his nonimmigrant status because his H-1B status had expired prior to the filing of the H-1B extension petition and he was only in an authorized period of stay because of a pending extension request from the previous employer.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration.com
Successful response to a Form I-485 RFE for misrepresentation
We responded to a Form I-485 Request for Evidence to prove that approximately a decade ago the permanent residency applicant had, in fact, attended two U.S. universities as he had claimed in previously approved petitions. Both universities had been certified by ICE under its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) during the applicant’s attendance.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
Immigration Law
Immigration.com
Successful lawsuit regarding a delayed H-1B approval notice
We filed an H-1B petition for a company that provides IT related services, on behalf of the beneficiary, a software developer. An RFE was subsequently issued, responded to and then denied as failing to prove that petitioner established that sufficient speciality occupation work was available and that the position qualified as a specialty occupation. We filed an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office, the appeal was sustained and the petition was remanded back for issuance of an approval notice.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Immigration.com
Successful lawsuit for H-1B extension of stay
We filed an H-1B extension petition for a software consulting and professional services firm on behalf of a software architect requesting status and work authorization for a duration of three years. The extension was, however, approved for a duration much shorter than requested and the approval notice was both dated and received after the shorter validity period had already expired, thereby destroying the legal status of the employee and causing him to accrue unlawful presence.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration.com
AAO Processing Times (July - September 2021)
| Form Type | Case Type | Completed 0-180 Days | Quarterly Completions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative total of all completions | 47.50% | 1,061 | |
| I-129CW | Petition for CNMI Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | 100% | 3 |
| I-129E2 | CNMI Treaty Investor | 100% | 5 |
Immigration Law
Obtaining student or visitors visa while a green card is pending
Question details
I am 19 years old and live with my parents in India. I have an approved F3 family based immigrant petition which the National Visa Center has shown as “documentarily qualified” since April 2020 My priority date became current in January, 2021. I am waiting for my interview and have received three emails, each requesting I wait another 60 days for my next reply. This fall I enrolled in an associate degree program at a community college in Maryland. I am studying online from India. Should I apply for an expedited F3 family based visa interview based on my educational needs if I want to go and study in the U.S.?
FAQ Transcript
You can certainly try and then go for the interview once it is scheduled. Although consulates have indicated that they are going to frontline family-based immigration dedicated to family unity first, there are certain categories which you might not fall under. Regardless, it is worth trying to get an expedited interview and then try to get a student visa. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
Continuing to use H-1B when I return on Advance Parole
Question details
I have an approved EAD/AP with my current employer. I also have an H-1B approved until 2024 with the same employer. I have plans to visit India, my home country, in the near future. I am planning to utilize AP to come back to the U.S. and would like to work on the H-1B with the same employer. Is that possible? Also if I do not receive my green card until 2024, can I extend my H-1B with the same employer.
FAQ Transcript
It is great if you have the time and you can actually get the H-1B visa. If that is not possible what you can do is return on the advance parole. If you are coming to take up the same job which you had when you left and that job was an H-1B on a continuing H-1B, the Government will still consider you to be on H-1B. So returning on advance parole to take up the same job which you left on H-1B is considered to be a continuation of that H-1B. You can do H-1B extensions, transfers, etc., once you are in the U.S. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
Nuances of changing employers during the green card process
Question details
My question is related to green card filing. My green card was filed with Employer A. I have an approved I-140. I moved to Employer B, working on an H-1B valid until April 2023. They have not filed the labor for me yet. My priority date is February 2012. As per the latest visa bulletin I can file for EAD but the final date is September 2011. Currently I am not in the U.S. so I can't file for EAD. I hope to be in the U.S. in the next 4-5 months. Do I need to join Employer A for processing my green card? What would be the best option for me to get the green card without wasting time when I reach the U.S?
FAQ Transcript
First of all you have to be in the United States to apply for your Adjustment of Status. Secondly in your case, because no new green card was started, your old employer must offer you the same job which you have to go and join eventually in good faith.
You can actually have I-485 filed through a job offer from employer A, the same job which was the basis of your green card. If you don't have that, you cannot file I-485. You can only file for I-485 /Adjustment of Status when your priority date is current and the job that is the basis of the green card is available to you right then. After 180 days of the I-485 pendency, you may never have to join the old employer because you can take a same or similar job anywhere. Just make sure that you have the good faith, honest intention of joining the old employer when you file the I-485. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
F-1 OPT travel
Question details
I am currently working on a F-1 visa and started my OPT in June. My employer would be applying for my H1B in 2022. Is it ok for me to travel to India right now? Will I face any problems while returning back? Also, for traveling to India what legal docs or formalities are needed?
See this blog entry. https://www.immigration.com/blogs/f-1-students-travel-during-opt-or-h-1…
FAQ Transcript
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
How long can green card holders stay outside the U.S.?
Question details
How many days can a green card holder stay outside the U.S. continuously per year and non-continuously per year?
FAQ Transcript
Anytime you have been gone for six months or more you could be questioned very closely. Your permanent home must be in the United States. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
Effect of a career change on naturalization process and timing
Question details
I am in field A and have received my green card, still working with my sponsoring employer. I am contemplating a career change to field B that is totally unrelated to field A due to personal dissatisfaction with field A on the whole. Is there a safe time frame to do this without repercussions to my current green card and the naturalization process?
FAQ Transcript
I personally think you should wait as long as you can and then change careers if that's what you want. There is no rule of thumb in these cases. Each case is unique. What is most important is that you should not have a preconceived intention. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
Day 1 CPT F1 - Renewal
Question details
My wife is on Day-1 CPT and went for F1 renewal , without asking much question she got 214B denial. So there is an option to re-apply, do you think we should apply again and produce document which shows she got tie ups in home country ?
You can try. 214(b) denials are difficult to overcome and highly unpredictable.
FAQ Transcript
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
Visa Bulletin For November 2021
Number 59
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
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
Oct 14, 2021 Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Green Card
Discussion Topics, Thursday, October 14, 2021:
FAQ: Reentering the U.S.A. on a Visitor’s/Tourist Visa Soon After Leaving || Can GC-EAD holder start business and what impact on the pending I-485? || FAQ: Can GC-EAD holders start a business and what impact on the pending I-485? || Is there a problem listing one location in a PERM application while living and working remotely in a different location? || EB-2/EB-3 Options in PERM Filing and EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade and upgrade
Guestbook Entry for Best Immigration Attorney- Your life is in good hands, United States
Name
Best Immigration Attorney- Your life is in good hands
Country
United States
State
Virginia
Comment
We all know USA is land of Immigrants. Choosing a right immigration attorney is the key in shaping the future of an immigrant. Vast knowledge on the practice and experience of working on many cases is the key in this industry. I did my best in choosing Mr Rajiv S Khanna Law offices for processing of my H1B and Green card application. I only have compliments and a great respect from the bottom of my heart for taking my application to the next level and getting approved. Every day when I woke up, I enjoy the freedom of happiness, freedom of living to me and my family. Without he and his team support, carefully checking the applications, getting reviewed before submittal this would have not been possible. All I can say is when you hire an attorney, you are putting you and your family life in their hands. When Attorney thinks the same way as you think, and knows the human values, you are in good hands. Mr Rajiv's team are always available any time when we had question/questions. Thank you so much to Art, Anna, Kalpana, Bharathi and others who are behind the scenes and helping others like me. I sleep peacefulness and wake up with a smile. This is the beginning of new life. Thank you very much for providing your services and being part of integral role of my life journey.
I got my Immigrant Visa thru Consular Processing on August 2000. Law Offices of Rajiv Khanna helped me through the process. His staff were generally helpful and knowledgeable. Among other things one I most appreciated was the fact Rajiv made time to reply every e-mail queries I sent and return every phone messages I left. That was re-assuring during various stages of the process. I will certainly refer them to anyone who wants immigration/non-immigration services.