Rajiv's Comments in the News
Date |
Newspaper |
Article Title |
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Feb 08, 2020 |
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Guestbook Entry for ASHISH KHERA, United States
Name
ASHISH KHERA
Country
United States
State
CA
Guestbook Entry for Prithviraj Chavan, United States
Name
Prithviraj Chavan
Country
United States
State
KS
Guestbook Entry for VITHAL MADHIRA, United States
Name
VITHAL MADHIRA
Country
United States
State
KS
Guestbook Entry for Gurumurthy , United States
Name
Gurumurthy
Country
United States
State
MD
PERM Processing Times (as of 11/30/2019)
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | September 2019 |
| Audit Review | April 2019 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | July 2019 |
Green Card
Immigration Law
Changing Employers Before 180 days of I-485 Pendency
One of the biggest problems in transactions with the USCIS is uncertainty and inconsistency. We are often confronted with decisions that are contrary to long-standing policy and may even be illegal.
Visa Bulletin - February 2020
Number 38
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.
Green Card
USCIS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), have announced the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in 2020. The notice listing the eligible countries will be published in the Federal Register on Jan. 17, 2020.
USCIS Final FY 2019 Statistics Available
WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) final fiscal year (FY) 2019 agency statistics are now available online. These statistics include naturalizations, green cards, employment authorizations and protected populations, among other categories.
USCIS Forms Update Notice
recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
Update to Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition; New Edition Dated 11/08/19.
For more information, please visit Forms Updates page.
AAO Processing Times (October - December 2019)
| Form Type | Case Type | Completed 0-180 Days | Quarterly Completions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative of all completions | 49.70% | 1827 | |
| I-129CW | CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | 100% | 3 |
| I-129E2 | CNMI Treaty Investor | 100% | 4 |
| I-129F | Petition for Fiancée | 62.22% | 45 |
| I-129H1B |
Agency
Immigration Law
Treaty Termination Ends Certain Visa Eligibility for Iranian Nationals
USCIS today announced (PDF) that, due to the Oct. 3, 2018, termination of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights with Iran, Iranian nationals are no longer eligible for E-1 treaty trader and E-2 treaty investor changes or extensions of status based on the treaty.
Rajiv's News Clips - US court sets aside plea, IT service companies will need to file more evidence when hiring H-1Bs
Published by : The Times Of India - Date: January 23, 2020
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Arlington based, Rajiv S. Khanna, Managing Attorney at Immigration.com views that the policy memo threatens not just a few H-1B cases but the very existence of several IT service and consulting companies, because of the atmosphere of high uncertainty of approval of H1B applications.
Jan 23, Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Citizenship and Naturalization
Substantial transcription for video
Discussion Topics, Thursday, January 23, 2020
FAQ: Tourist/Visitors visa for people with special needs or challenges || Risk for green card process in joining a small company, unfamiliar with immigration || Impact of 214(b) denial || Requirements for obtaining green card under EB-1C, International Managers and Executives ||
OTHER: NVC fees issues || USC relocating to India while green card petition for parents is pending || Is original I-140 approval required for priority date transfer? || Effect of subsequent H-1B, H-4 approval on current H-1B, H-4 case || Additional review of a pending I-140, delay || USCIS processing times estimate || 221(g) Administrative processing for H-1B visa || CSPA logistical problems || Carrying cash in and out of the USA || Incorrect DS-160 || List of cap exempt employers || Naturalization of children
PERM Processing Times (as of 12/31/2019)
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | September 2019 |
| Audit Review | April 2019 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | July 2019 |
Green Card
Immigration Law
USCIS Adjusts Process for Managing EB-5 Visa Petition Inventory
WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a process change for Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor, from a first-in, first-out basis to a visa availability approach.
This new operational approach aligns with other visa-availability agency adjudications processes, is more consistent with congressional intent for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, and increases fairness in the administration of the program.
USCIS Issues Updates to Biometrics Collection Guidance
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced updates to its Policy Manual that address mobile biometrics services and fingerprint waivers.
USCIS requires biometrics from individuals who submit applications, petitions, and requests for certain immigration benefits. USCIS uses biometrics to verify identity, produce secure documents, and conduct required criminal and national security background checks.
Mobile Biometrics Services
USCIS Announces Public Charge Rule Implementation Following Supreme Court Stay of Nationwide Injunctions
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule (“Final Rule”) on Feb. 24, 2020, except for in the State of Illinois where the rule remains enjoined by a federal court as of Jan. 30, 2020. Under the Final Rule, USCIS will look at the factors required under the law by Congress, like an alien’s age, health, income, education and skills, among others, in order to determine whether the alien is likely at any time to become a public charge.
Rajiv's News Clips - US extends ban on H-1B, L-1 till March - The Times of India
Published by: The Times of India - Date: January 02, 2021
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Rajiv S Khanna, managing attorney at Immigration.com, said an extension of the travel ban would be challenged in courts and defeated on the same grounds on which the government suffered a preliminary injunction.
For more details please see the attachment below.
USCIS Ending Two Categorical Parole Programs
Release Date 12/23/2020
Haitian Family Reunification Parole and Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Programs to be Terminated
USCIS Extends Transitional Parole for CNMI Long-Term Resident Status Applicants
USCIS announced that it will automatically extend parole, and employment authorization, if applicable, for parolees who timely applied for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term resident status.
Rajiv's Article - Trump's visa ban extension: While the president puts politics over Nation, here's what it means for you - The Economic Times
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: January 05, 2021
Synopsis
The current extension states that “while the November overall unemployment rate in the United States of 6.7 percent reflects a marked decline from its April high, there were still 9,834,000 fewer seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in November than in February of 2020.” This reasoning is factually and logically untenable.
Rajiv's Article - This year's H-1B lottery: The Trump legacy of chaos must end - The Economic Times
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: January 07, 2021
Synopsis
For this year (FY 2021-22), the USCIS has attempted to change the lottery selection process to favor the highest paid employees first. That change is embodied in a proposed regulation, which can be published as a final rule any time.
For more on this article please see the attachment below.