[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 72079-72081] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2015-29373] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [Docket No. DHS-2011-0108] RIN 1601-ZA11 Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible to Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.
DO: Houston
2.26.14 : N400 Couriered to Lewisville, TX
2.27.14 : Package Delivered
2.28.14 : USCIS Priority Date
3.05.14 : Check cashed
3.05.14 : N400 accepted - Email Notification
3.06.14 : NOA received
3.07.14 : Online Status FP appointment notice mailed
3.13.14 : Received FP Notice - 03/25/14
3.14.14 : FP done - walk in
3.19.14 : Status changed to In Line for interview scheduling
7.11.14 : Status changed to Scheduled for Interview
7.21.14: Received Interview Letter
8.19.14: Interview
8.19.14: Oath Letter
02/06/14: N-400 couriered to Phoenix, AZ - Santa Ana CA DO
02/07/14: Delivered
02/07/14: Priority Date
02/12/14: Check Cashed
02/14/14: Received NOA letter
02/21/14: Online Status FP appointment notice mailed
02/24/14: Received FP Notice - 03/04/14
02/25/14: FP done - walk-in Santa Ana CA
03/03/14: Online Status Changed to "In Line"
07/18/14: Received Interview Letter
08/20/14: Interview
USCIS seeks your input on the draft policy memoranda listed below.
Employers and refugees should be aware that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has automated Form I-94 processing for refugees. The stamped paper form will no longer be provided to a refugee upon arrival, except in limited circumstances.
We have received approval of both an L-1A petition and L-1A visa stamping for a managerial employee of a small business from India. The business in India consists of five employees and is completely different from the business they are starting in the USA. Normally, small businesses present much difficulty for L-1A approvals – the key issue being why does a small business need an employee at the level of an executive or manager. Nevertheless, we were able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of both USCIS and the Consulate that this
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I am contemplating marriage to a GC holder and I have a question regarding I-130 and AOS. My prospective spouse got GC in Jan 2015. I currently hold a valid visitors visa to USA and I have visited USA many times on this visa.Is it possible to get married, enter USA on the existing visitors visa and then immediately apply for I-130 and Adjustment of Status. What are the risks/implications with this approach. What is the best procedure in these circumstances?
See clip from Attorney Rajiv S.
My discussion with Mr. Rajiv Khanna was very reassuring for staying on extended time for personal care of my physically challenged son (F1) pursuing his Masters. I hope we get the extensions as we go forward with our stay.
Rajiv S. Khanna's office was very thorough, professional, and most importantly responsive. We worked with Rena Waddell. She was very easy to work with and knowledgeable. We will definitely use this office for any other immigration issues. Elyse Lazerwitz
I would be glad to recommend Rajiv S. Khanna's law office to anyone, without any hesitation. I have successfully got approval of new H1B visa (premium processing) in a week and services provided by Rena Waddell is excellent, quick and very professional. One of the major benefit is that they exploit the past experiences through expertise of various attorneys working within firm which could reduce chances of RFE/queries from USCIS dramatically and saves time. Thank you.
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My H1B visa application was recently approved and the entire process with the Rajiv Khanna's Law firm was a pleasant and no-stress experience. The team was very professional and I really appreciate the prompt, friendly, to-the point approach of Ms Rena Waddell. She really gave me tips on how to fill out all the long explanations one has to give while filling out the application.She was very helpful overall.It really saved me a lot of headache and everything went smoothly. Wishing you guys the best of luck and keep up the good work. Given the present scenario regarding the H1 application process, this was a welcome experience.
I could not have got a better service with any other law offices. I had no problem and the advice I got was always timely, precise and correct. I had recommended my friends and family and they always got great advice from Mr. Khanna.Everybody in the office is always approachable and helpful. I still visit immigration.com regularly for various reasons and the effort that goes into keeping it up to date is really appreciated.
The Law Offices Of Rajiv Khanna was very efficient in processing my H1-B application, especially Rena Waddell my case manager was prompt and handled my case carefully, she always kept me updated on my case. Lastly they made my case approved in 2 months with normal processing which usually takes 4-6 months these days. I would highly recommend immigration.com.
1. My employer filed my I-140 and it was approved. They refused to provide me the approval notice but through InfoPass I was able to get my receipt number and Alien #. To port my priority date, I would like to request USCIS for the duplicate copy of I-140 approval notice.
2. Is it possible to request USCIS a duplicate copy of my I-140 approval notice using either G-639 (FOIA) or I-824 (Action on an approved application or petition) or any other method as I have my receipt#?
FAQ Transcript
Answer 1. People typically file a FOIA request. File the Form G-639 (Form G-639 - USCIS). Often you get copies of all kinds of documents. Government gives you copies of documents they have on you. It is not consistent but people have got copies of their 140 approval notices, copies of their H-1 approval notices, the entire perm package. So it is worth filing a FOIA and it doesn’t cost you anything. It can take a little bit of time a couple of months maybe three months but do file it if you don’t have documentation. You can port the Priority Date with your alien number itself and receipt number as well. It should not need a I-140 approval notice. Remember the government has that information already. They don’t specifically need it from you.
Answer 2. By all means file the form. File G-639 and not I-824. File G-639 and let’s see what they give you.
I have been laid off by my current employer, with severance paycheck coming at regular pay intervals until mid January-2016. Finding a new employment is taking time. I am on H-1B which first started on October 01, 2013, latest I-797 valid until December 2017.
1. How long do I legally have, before I become unauthorized to stay? What constitutes as unlawful presence?
2. My I-94 admission validity is until October 2016; with no employment, does this mean anything?
3. Before I transition into a new H-1B, can I travel outside and into the country, without a Change of Status? Can I use severance pay checks if asked, for entry purposes?
4. Can I use my severance pay stubs as pay stubs when my next employer applies for new H-1B?
5. I am hesitating to inform my next employer about my termination, thinking that this may impact my hiring decision or my ability to negotiate. But not indicating terminated employment, is it possible that my H1B transfer or new petition may be considered unethical?
6. In your experience, how long does the USCIS take to update a revoked H-1B petition in their systems?
7. If my new employer files for H-1B transfer before the update but with pay stubs older than 30 days, do I have to mandatory leave the country for new H-1B stamping before starting to work?
8. If such is the case, is it best to change to a B-2 status and have my next employer apply for new H-1B? If yes, I would assume that I will be cap exempt until September 30, 2019 plus the days spent on B2; would this be a fair assumption.
9. Can my employer continue to pay severance checks when I am on B-2 status?
10. What happens if my new employer applies for H-1B transfer with severance paychecks, after USCIS has updated their records?
11. In your experience, what gap in unemployment is generally ignored by USCIS when filing for new H-1B or transferring new H-1B?
12. What other words of wisdom do you have for me?
If you get laid off on H-1B there is no grace period. You get laid off today tomorrow you are out of status.
Answer 1. Not even one day. However when you are getting paid can you not make the argument that since you are getting paid you are still maintaining status. That’s a slightly unpredictable argument. It can cut both ways. An example: I did a consultation on garden leave. Garden leave is very common in the financial industry. The employer lets you resign or if they lay you off they will pay you for the couple of months but they don’t want you to join another employer. The idea is you should not be able to take their information which is current and apply to a competitor. So in that case those pay checks are strongly set to keep you in status because it is full salary and they are maintaining control over you and they are not letting you do what you please . And that’s the assumption.
However severance pay… government has at one point said that they don’t consider severance pay to maintenance of status because severance pay seems to be a part of an arrangement were this is not salary you are basically just getting paid sought of a bonus to part company and I have doubts about that . I do not believe that to be a very good legal opinion from the government. I feel as long as my salary amount is getting paid, my deductions are being made, it is does not matter if I have a job or not. So you can certainly argue that. Severance pay doubtful, something like garden leave or regular leave coming out your way is probably ok to maintain status.
Answer 2. Not really. Understand the difference between out of status and unlawful presence. These are two different concepts. If you are on H-1 and you get laid off you are out of status the next day. But you are not unlawfully present until your H-1 is revoked or until your 1-94 expires. For sure unlawful presence begins when 1-94 expires. So unlawful presence and out of status are two different things. You are out of status the following day but you may not be unlawfully present until you’re I-94 expires or revocation of the H-1 occurs. Consequences of being out of status and unlawful presence are quite different. You are out of status that is no bar from getting another H-1B visa, another H-4, L-1, L-2 maybe a problem for F-1 or B-1 visas that have rather weak basis but for H-,4 H-1, L-1, L-2 or even O-1 or E-3 this is not a problem. On the other hand if you are unlawfully present for 180 days you are barred from green card or work visa for three years to ten years if you are unlawfully present for one year. So you can’t come back without a waiver and waivers are limited.
Answer 3. No because you don’t have a job. If you use the same visa to come back in, that could be fraud.
Answer 4. The answer is yes and why not. Government has never made a formal announcement that they will not accept severance as indicative of violation of status. So definitely use them.
Answer 5. That’s between you and your new employer. Immigration law does not require you to inform your new employer about termination by the old employer.
Answer 6. It can be many months but revocation should be retroactive so if your employer sent a revocation request which reaches USCIS today even if they act on it three months down the line they will back date it to today. Revocation is effective on the date revocation request is received.
Answer 7. It is up to USCIS, they might allow you status if the facts of your case is such that they require some sympathetic consideration but normally if you are out of status even one day government is well within its right to refuse to issue you status within the country. In these cases I always advice people to file premium processing soon so you know rather quickly were you stand.
Answer 8. B-2 application to maintain status is acceptable sometimes and also objectionable by the government. You can try, you can tell them that you were laid off unexpectedly and you have enough money to support yourself and you will not work without authorization, and that as soon as you find another employer you will immediately apply for an H-1. When all these things are said and done I think you can make a case for a B-2.
Sometimes government has come back and said we cannot give you a B-2 but as long as you get it filed before your current H-1 expires at least you have the right to stay in the US. You can argue in what is called authorized period of stay. But the problem is this. Something you need to be aware of. Let’s say your status is expired you have filed for B-2 and it is pending now you found a job remember an H-1 transfer within US will be approved only (most cases) if the pending B-2 has been approved in your favor by the time USCIS decides the H-1 transfer. If the case is still pending they will not give you status within USA, they will ask you to go for visa stamping. That is not a problem. You can do that but be mindful of that. If the B-2 is still pending or the B-2 is denied you will have to leave USA. The only time you get H-1B within USA is if by the time they decide your second H-1and your B-2 is already approved in your favor.
You will be cap exempt. That is not a problem because cap just says if you have been approved anytime in the last six years you are not subject to the quota.
Answer 9. Why not. On the one hand we are arguing that’s keeping you in status. On the other government could take the position that means you are violating status and I would say “no” because that is payment for work already done. They are giving me severance not because I am working for them; it’s because I already worked for them and this is either a payment for work already done or part of the arrangement while I was working. In order for employment to be unauthorized there must be a payment or remuneration as well as work. If there is payment without work or work without payment I think that is a good argument that’s not an unauthorized employment.
Answer 11. There is no consistency. I have seen them ignore not even one day they will come back and say no you were out of status for one day, in some situations they have done for two or three months. Most of the times they are not tolerant of this issue at all.
Answer 12. I think B-2is a good idea as long as you understand the implications of a B-2.
I just got my H-1B renewed for a 7th Year through the Law offices of Rajiv S. Khanna. Rajiv, with whom, I had been corresponding on various issues pertaining to my greencard, H-1B, etc., is always accessible and extremely helpful. He is extremely prompt in responding to the email--usually in a few hours and sometimes almost instantaneous. His promptness had always helped to ease the anxiety levels. I will be always be grateful for that, THANK YOU RAJIV. I also would like to thank Richa Narang, Shivane Sharma for their work and time on my GC case. And, Anna Baker and Charu Bhagat for their time and work on my H-1B 7th Year extension. I had countless conversations with Richa, Shivane, and Anna. They are not only diligent and professional in the work they do, but more importantly all the three have a great human trait: EMPATHY. They are prompt in responding to emails and in keeping me informed of the status. My sincere thanks to all of you and keep up the good work. I have already recommended Law offices of Rajiv S. Khanna to several of my friends. And many are now his clients.