USCIS Forms Update Notice
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
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State Department Announces that Ink Signature No Longer Required on Affidavits of Support
As part of our ongoing efforts to be responsive to customer needs in immigrant visa processing, the Department of State is pleased to announce that original or “wet ink” signatures are no longer required on submitted Forms I-864, Affidavit of Support. This also applies to the I-864A, I-864W, and I-864EZ.
Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday), 1 December 2016
Immigration Law
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 1 December 2016:
FAQ: New I-140 EAD regulations -- Extending H-1 after I-140 revocation, retaining priority dates under new regulations, per country limits, EAD under the new regulations; effective date of new regulations; Visa cancelled CWOP, 214(b) denial; FAQ: Implications of joining an end client where H-1B employer objects, H-1B employer not paying salary - DOL Wage and Hour Division Complaint WH-4; AC21 green card portability, "same or similar" job under old/new regulations, working on 1099 as contractor; Frequency of visits and duration of stay on tourist/visitors/B-1/B-2 visa; Foreign Medical Graduates, Physicians, H-1B for part time jobs, concurrent cap and cap exempt H-1B employment.
Other: Consular processing green card through future employer; Can one start H-1B job before the requested start date? Court orders for migration of child by divorced parent; H-2B extension, denial, 240-day rule; Volunteering on F-1 OPT; Aging out; Name errors on green card; Humanitarian parole, H-1B change of status, etc.
AAO Processing Times as of December 1, 2016
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Case Type |
Time |
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Agency
Immigration Law
Visa Bulletin - January 2017
Agency
Green Card
USCIS Announces Citizenship Resource Center Improved for Mobile Devices
Beginning December 12, the free citizenship preparation and study materials in USCIS’ Citizenship Resource Center will be easier to use from a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. Among the improvements, the new design puts key navigational links inside a single “hamburger” icon like that found on many other mobile sites. This redesign follows the launch of mobile friendly design on other parts of uscis.gov and uscis.gov/es earlier this year.
USCIS Announces Extension of Parole for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
To allow immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and certain “stateless” individuals to maintain legal status in the CNMI, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the parole program for these relatives, effective immediately, until December 31, 2018.
To apply for extension of this parole, you must:
Guestbook Entry for Alok Thakar, United States
Name
Alok Thakar
Country
United States
State
NC
Guestbook Entry for Anonymous, United States
Name
Anonymous
Country
United States
State
CO
Comment
Dear Mr. Khanna: My labor case is certified!!! I am so excited! I would like to thank you and all your fantastic crew for the great job you do. I greatly appreciate all your help and support. Thank you very much and have a great evening!
Guestbook Entry for Vipul Amin, United States
Name
Vipul Amin
Country
United States
State
NJ
Comment
Dear Rajiv, Leila and All, Let me thank you all for such and excellent work done by all of you for my permanent residence application. I am so happy to thank you again and again for wonderful task. With God's grace, I got my permanent residence application approved by consulate general of America at Bombay, India on 27th Feb, 2001. I am really very impressed by good work of your esteemed office. Whole process took place within 14 mos of time. Thanks to great work of you and especially Laila, Richa, Suman and Vijay. I am very much convinced now that any Immigration related work in future, I will be not going anywhere but at Rajiv's Khanna' office. Thank you very much Rajiv. With all respect, Sincerely, Vipul Amin.
Guestbook Entry for Salahuddin Sirajuddin (SIRAJ), United States
Name
Salahuddin Sirajuddin (SIRAJ)
Country
United States
State
VA
Comment
Hello everyone, I am glad that Rajeev and his colleagues (Charu + Rena) are our Immigration attorneys. Why?? (a) Well, we are a startup and definitely in need of expert advise as to whether we can or cannot apply for H1s to the INS. (b) Also, our needs are not just for Software Engineers, but for other skills that require justification to the INS that these are speciality occupations. (c) We have recd excellent service from his team and esp from Charu and Rena. They have always given a small company like us very quick response and turnaround for complex h1 cases. (d) We wish to adhere to the laws of INS and DOL and need expert advise in interpreting these ever changing laws. (e) The website is very useful and our prospective employees like it that our Immigrant Attorney owns and operates "www.immigration.com" . I look forward to using more of their services like GC Processing for our employees, L1s etc.. Thanks Rajeev SIRAJ CEO Kirloskar Multimedia
Guestbook Entry for G. Muhuri, Canada
Name
G. Muhuri
Country
Canada
State
Ont
Comment
Rajiv and his associates processed my Green Card application under NIW category. I got my GC very smoothly. Excellent Service. He is very selective to take the case and doesn't accept it so long he is not fully convinced about the merit of the case. Moreover, he favored me by providing some legal information not related to immigration law. I am very satisfied.
What is new regulations for H-1 grace period, revocation of I-140 ?
Question details
My I 140 is approved in 2013 and H1-B 5 year and 3 months are completed.
I have important question , after 17 Jan 2016 , my any chance I loose my job and my employer revoke my H1-B and I 140.
1. Will I get some time to find new job and new employee to transfer my H1-B ?
2. after my employer revoke my H1-B what is time line I can still transfer my H1-B visa with new employer?
Government will sympathetically consider unexpected layoffs and should give you consideration up to 60 days each H-1 period. So one 60 day period let say you have taken and then changed your employer another 60 day period kind of like that and there is little more to it but each time there is new validity to H-1 . You will be able to get 60 more days.
FAQ Transcript
Note: 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.
USCIS Publishes Interim Rule on T Nonimmigrant Status
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations governing the requirements and procedures for victims of human trafficking who seek T nonimmigrant status. DHS is also streamlining procedures, responding to public comments, and providing guidance on the statutory requirements for T nonimmigrants in order to ensure that the T nonimmigrant status (T visa) regulations are up to date and reflect USCIS’ adjudicative experience.
H-2B Returning Worker Program Expired
The H-2B returning worker provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-113) expired on Sept.
USCIS Fee Changes Take Effect Dec. 23
USCIS reminds applicants and petitioners to pay new fees with forms postmarked or filed on or after Dec. 23, 2016, or USCIS will not be able to accept the filings. USCIS will only accept previous fees if they are postmarked Dec. 22 or earlier.
Guestbook Entry for Alexander S., United States
Name
Alexander S.
Country
United States
State
IL
Comment
I'd like to thank Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, for all the assistance with my case. The whole GC process through your offices was a real pleasant experience. As I am mentioning below, it took USCIS 6 years to adjudicate this case, when it was transferred from my former company, but it was possible only because of prompt intervention from your side and finding the correct resolution for this problem. I couldn't say that it happened by itself - it was truly a collaborative effort between Mr. Khanna and all other people of Law Offices of R.S.Khanna, my current company, my former employer, and last but not least, support from my family. Unfortunately, it showed how inefficient the government could be in certain aspects, and only diligence and persistence turned this into a success.
There was a complex RFE for I-485 AOS based on employment 2 years ago, which involved a H1-b denial of extension for former employer, handling status during that period, new H1-b, and travel to home country for visa stamping.
I’d like to thank Mathew Chacko for handling my case and all aspects of it.
I'd like to mention the diligence of Bharathi for answering to my emails almost instantenousely.
I'd like to thank Mr. Iqbal for stepping in and making sure about timely communication with USCIS NSC.
I'd like to thank Leslie and Prernaji for helping with other matters.
If you need your complex case done right, don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Khanna and his wonderful team.
DHS Announces Re-designation and 18-Month Extension of Designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has re-designated Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and has extended the existing TPS designation for Somalia from Sept. 18, 2012 through March 17, 2014, allowing eligible nationals of Somalia to register or re-register for TPS in accordance with the Federal Register notice.
PERM Processing Dates (as of 4/2/2012)
According to DOL updates as of 4/2/2012, they are working on PERM application filed in the following months:
Analyst Reviews: January 2012
Audits: September 2011
Reconsideration Requests to the CO: March 2011
Green Card
Immigration Law
My experience!
Appointment: 9:40am
Arrived around 9:15am, there were about 50people in the waiting area, checked in with the receptionist, and sat down for my interview. 30mins, 45mins, 60mins, 90MINS went by still no one called my name. Finally someone around 11am called me, so walked all the way down to the other end of the hallway.
After the formalities, I was asked if I had brought anything that I hadn't already submitted, I handed him proof of selective service registration.
I was asked the following questions:
Citizenship and Naturalization
Finally!
Just wanted to share my timeline and some lessons learned. The whole process took a little over 6 months and now I'm a citizen of the United States of America.
Final Timeline:
Guestbook Entry for Carol, United States
Name
Carol
Country
United States
Comment
We had great advice from Mr. Rajiv, in a few minutes he would provide a precise answer for our questions . Thank you very much.
Got my I-485 approval on March/26/2001, less than 2 yrs from when the labor certification application was sent in. I would highly recommend Rajiv Khanna to anyone looking for an immigration lawyer. Rajiv and his colleagues were all very efficient and prompt in preparing and filing the documents. Whenever I had any questions, they always replied promptly and explained everything clearly. Thanks a lot to all of them!