OASP News Release: [05/13/2010]
Contact Name: Lina Garcia
Phone Number: (202) 693-4661
Release Number: 10-0563-NAT
Online advisor clarifies rights and responsibilities under H-1B visa program
USCIS Processing Times information for all service centers updated on May 14, 2010.
USCIS seeks your input on the draft memoranda listed below. These memoranda are drafts of proposed or revised guidance to USCIS Field Offices and Service Centers. They are not intended as guidance for the general public, nor are they intended to create binding legal requirements on the public. Until issued in final form, the draft memoranda do not constitute agency policy in any way or for any purpose.
The Department's Office of Foreign Labor Certification has established a mailbox for questions regarding LCA policies. Those seeking policy guidance should submit a question to LCA.Regulation@dol.gov. Questions will be answered in the form of FAQs. The interested public should continue to direct all general inquiries regarding the H-1B program to the Chicago National Processing Center at LCA.Chicago@dol.gov.
Let me first thank you for guiding hundreds of us with your valuable advice. My sincere thanks to you. I have a question regarding the inter-changeability of EB2 prority dates. I'm an Indian citizen and my wife is a Russian citizen, born in Russia. She will be filing as my dependent on my green card. I read on some online forums that I can user her country's priority date ("current" as of today) for the green card. Is this correct?
Yes, that is correct. This is referred to as "Cross Changeability."
What is time frame to return to the U.S?
A reentry permit gives you the permission to stay outside USA for up to two years at one time.
Is it a problem if a person wins a green card from the lottery but previously have been in USA with a tourist visa and has worked at the same time? The person have paid taxes and had returned in his country while still had a tourist status. But when he applies for the green card and when filling the forms what should he writes -that he has been with a tourist status but have worked? Is it possible that he may not be approved for the green card?
You have to tell the truth. You have paid taxes and returned within the time permitted on the I-94. I see no reason why it should impact your DV application.
I want to know if I can take the Green Card in my future. I am studing in Nursing courses right now, but can i take green card if I finish my Bachelor's degree? Please send me a response.
That is how most students get their employment-based green cards. Once you become an RN, under the current law, it should be relatively easy to apply for your green card. There may be other options as well.
Documents to submit at VFS office:
If you are applying for a regular H or L visa, please submit the following documents 4 business days prior to your appointment date at the VFS office located in Hyderabad.
Parents were in US July 2008, filed for an I-94 extension end Aug 2008 from Dallas, which was submit to VSC and subsequently routed to CSC their port of entry California. Extension was denied end Jan 2009 (guessing since they had extended 2 months the previous visit in year 2007). They left Mar 2nd 2009 (meeting the 30/31 day exit requirement).
Are they ineligible for GC? If so how long? Is there an alternative?
It does not look like they were unlawfully present for over 180 days. So, I don't see why there should be a problem with the green card.
How will i know if they already recived ( i mean is there a way to trck it) my application for the change of status (I-485). i sent that last april 29, 2010....how long do i have to wait for the responds from the uscis....
You can verify delivery (if sent by Fed Ex, UPS, etc.) and also check with your bank if your fees checks were encashed.
What is the period time, apply for i-130 for brother's with family from India.
Over ten years. Check out the Visa Bulletin .
The elaws Advisors are interactive e-tools that provide easy-to-understand information about a number of federal employment laws. Each Advisor simulates the interaction you might have with an employment law expert. It asks questions and provides answers based on responses given.
Both employees and employers can benefit from elaws.
On Yoga of Action -- Karmayoga
As of May 21, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 19,600 H-1B cap-subject petitions. Also, an additional 8,200 H-1B petitions for advanced degrees professionals have been received.
USCIS reports that as of April 27, 2010, approximately 16,500 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. They have received 6,900 H-1B petitions for advanced degree professionals.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started implementing the automated version of Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, at air and sea ports of entry and will by week’s end include Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, Orlando International Airport in Florida, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Miami International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Implementation will continue across the nation through May 21, to include air and sea ports of entry that support international arrivals.
Question 1:
The husband has a company. Wife and husband are both U.S. citizens, and they want to get her brother over to the United States on some kind of a work related visa. Assuming the husband’s company is small and the brother is professionally qualified can they get him through the husband’s company.
Answer will depend on qualifications of the brother, and what sort of a company that her spouse has. For example: Is the company large or small? How many employees? How long has the company been in business? What kind of work do they do? Does the company have any branches outside of the U.S.?
Answer: If the company's business and the brother’s qualifications are both professionally oriented we could seriously think about an H-1 Visa. If there is a branch outside the U.S., then we could get the brother employed outside the U.S. and think about an L-1 Visa in a year. Also under the new laws, as they are being considered, we should be able to have more options than what I have just discussed. So I am right now I am examining the matter only under the current scheme of laws, and H-1 and L-1 are two obvious options. Of course I am assuming that everybody here is an India born citizen of India because if you are citizen of another country you might have other options like E visa, etc. So bearing this in mind, there are some assumptions I am making and I am also clarifying that I am looking at the current schemes of the laws. Future schemes of the laws might be different and might be much more beneficial for us.
Question 2:
What is the chance of an L-1A Visa holder with nine years of experience qualifying for EB1 category. Can I apply for a Green Card for myself in the EB1 category?
There are three kinds of EB-1's. Let’s start with the EB1 category that is the easiest to understand.
1. Outstanding researchers or professors - given the designation of EB-1-2 or EB-1B.
Under EB-1, the second category is outstanding researchers or professors. Basically we are looking for people who are highly qualified in their own field and there are certain criteria. Look at our website for more information.
http://www.immigration.com/greencard/employment-based-green-cards/emplo…
So one category is for outstanding researchers or professors, for which you need a research or professorial position.
Then there is another category EB-1C or EB-1-3 category for international executives and/or managers. People who are on L-1A can pretty much qualify for EB-1C category. This is another great category.
Then there is the first category, extraordinary ability aliens. This is not for everyone. Here we are looking for sustained national or international recognition. Somebody who is hailed as a leader in their business For example, Bill Gates would qualify, but Rajiv S. Khanna would almost certainly not qualify. So we are looking for people who are nationally and internationally recognized.
So the question asked was can I do it on my own out of these three categories. The only one in which you can apply on your own is the first category EB-1A, which is extraordinary ability aliens. You are nationally or internationally recognized, and you have articles written about you and have international awards. Again there is a list of criteria and you have to meet three out of the ten listed criteria or similar. All this information is on our website as well.
http://www.immigration.com/greencard/eb1-green-card/eb-1-extraordinary-…-
In your situation the best option is to apply for EB-1C if you can get your employer to apply for you since you are already on L-1A getting a EBC green card is absolutely perfect choice and you got your Green Card within a year. EB1 is the fastest way of getting our Green Card.
USCIS is moving the existing online payment for the USCIS Immigrant Fee to its Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS). Customers will soon pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee using USCIS ELIS after they receive their immigrant visa package from the Department of State and before they depart for the United States. USCIS ELIS is easy to use and provides direct access to case status updates. New immigrants will also use USCIS ELIS to file future applications and petitions when they become available in the system.
DV 2013 Program: Entrants from DV 2013 (those who submitted entries during the registration period between October 4, 2011 and November 5, 2011) are requested to check the status of their entry now using their confirmation number through Entrant Status Check (ESC) on the E-DV website, if they have not already. Checking ESC promptly is important for selectees, to provide ample time for next steps in the Diversity Visa application process. ESC continues to be available to entrants through September 30, 2013.
So I just got back from my interview. I passed!! I know I know but one gets so nervous for no reason, even fully prepared. And it does not help when you see someone coming back from the interview indicating they have not passed (even if others who come out did).