I would like to thank Ms. Shivane Sharma for her follow up with INS almost everyday for last few weeks. INS has misplaced my file and lost one of the important forms. Ms. Sharma has done a very great job by communicating with INS and at the same time giving me the status from time to time. She is very professional at her work and prompt in replying an email or returning a call. This is another Green card story: We never received any Receipt from INS after filing my I-140. Ms. Shivane Sharma contacted INS to get the status and noticed that INS cashed the check, but could not find my file. In order to track my file, INS told Ms. Sharma to get the copy of Front & Back side of the check, sent by my employer to INS. (INS prints Receipt # on back side of the check and sends it back to the bank) Ms. Sharma contacted my employer and explained the situation. My employer then obtained the check from the Bank and gave the necessary information to her. Ms. Sharma again contacted INS and furnished the Receipt #. This time INS tracked my file, and informed that they have sent the Receipt to some unknown Lawyer in Connecticut. INS also informed Ms. Sharma that they did not receive form G-28 along with the application (God knows how it was lost?). Ms. Sharma again contacted my employer, got the signature on the ‘new’ Form G-28, and faxed it to INS on very same day. Finally she contacted INS again to confirm that INS received everything required to process my application. Thank you Ms. Shivane Sharma for everything !!!
I started my association with Rajiv's office way back when I had questions about my F-1 visa in 1997. Since then, Rajiv and his remarkable office staff have helped me first with my H-1B and then my EB-2 green card. While these cases were all very different and I had the chance to deal with many people at Rajiv's office, there was one thing that remained a constant: meticulous attention to detail and prompt, courteous help. Of course, with an attorney of Rajiv's stature, you will benefit from the best legal advice possible. If your case is even slightly complex, you will NEED this expertise. Unlike other big-name law firms, Rajiv's office has a certain cohesion and close-knit touch to it. This helps greatly whenever you have questions. You never get a runaround and always get timely help. I had the opportunity to work with Rajiv, SumanJi, Leila, Homa, Diane Lombardo and LakshmiJi during my various cases and they were all GREAT!! I would highly recommend Rajiv and his law office to others.
As usual, RK & Co. has done excellent job helping get my H1 extension. It was done professionally and expeditiously. The extension was approved without any problem. Good job!
When I applied for the green card, Attorney Khanna was kind enough to spend one hour with me talking about the process and the work that will need to be performed in order to file the papers. We also talked a little bit about the meaning of life which was refreshing. He mentioned that Diane Lombardo who asists him will be incharge of my case and said that she is thorough and there should be no problem. He completely understated the capabilities of Diane. She is very thorough and to say the least one of the most thorough people I have ever worked with. Her attention to detail and thoroughness was impressive. My I-140 had a record turn around of 45 days from the date of mailing to approval notice. My EAD came back for in 14 days. This was mainly due to Diane's hard work. Since my filing I have referred 2 other people to Attorney Khanna.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved at your law firm for taking a meticulous and methodical approach to do a good job. Your firm managed to do Labor Certification to I-485 approval in 25 months. No RFE at any of these crucial stages. Diane Lombardo, especially, is very knowledgeable and her quick responses to my innumerable queries were highly appreciated. I would also like to mention a terrific 'customer service' by Leila Lehman, Richa Narang and Nimia Arnibar. The discussions on your website are also extemely helpful. I would recommend your firm any day for my company's immigration needs. Keep up the good work, Rajesh
The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State. Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants” from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For Fiscal Year 2017, 50,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available. There is no cost to register for the DV program. Applicants who are selected in the program (“selectees”) must meet simple, but strict, eligibility requirements in order to qualify for a diversity visa.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is creating a parole program to allow certain family members of Filipino and Filipino-American World War II veterans to receive parole to come to the United States. This parole program was announced in November 2014 by President Obama and Secretary Johnson as part of the executive actions on immigration and is detailed in the White House report,
My H-4 visa extension has been approved, I mean the USCIS has sent me an approval notice with the I-94 record card. Now it clearly says, this is not a visa. What do I need to do in order to travel to India, do I have to go to a US consulate here, to get a visa stamped in my passport, because in order to travel through Europe we need a valid US Visa or travel through Dubai , which doesn't require any visa, and then get stamped in the US consulate while coming back? I am confused and do not know what is the next step after approval notice. By the way my spouse H-1B visa was also extended while in US by the Employer. But, my spouse hasn't gone out for visa stamping yet, will this effect my visa stamping?
When you travel abroad, in order to return to the USA, you must first obtain a visa stamp from a US consulate in (any) country that you are visiting. Check the consulate web site to make an appointment and what documents you should bring for H-4 visa stamping. H-1B visa stamp is usually not a precondition to H-4 visa.
H-1B and L-1 petitions filed on or after Oct. 1, 2015, should not include the additional fee that was previously required by Section 402 of Public Law 111-230, as amended by Public Law 111-347, for certain H-1B and L-1 petitions. The additional fee required by Public Law 111-230, as amended, expired on Sept. 30, 2015.
On Oct. 5, 2015, USCIS began applying secure laminates to certain secure forms that authorize travel to the United States. The affected forms are:
To improve efficiency, USCIS recently rebalanced the workload distribution of certain Form I-140 petitions and employment-based Form I-485 applications between the Texas Service Center and the Nebraska Service Center. Unless you are submitting a Form I-907 together with a Form I-140 petition for a worksite in one of the states listed below, please continue to file your forms as indicated on the form instructions and at:
PERM Processing Times (as of 10/05/2015)
I went through security and was directed by the lady at the front desk to sit in the waiting room if I was there for the Oath Ceremony and told to have my green card ready. I was about 30 minutes early (my appt was for 1:30).
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We discussed these (and other) issues of US immigration:
FAQ: Can a J-2 holder get a HRR 212(e) waiver without J-1?
Other: Retaining green card while in Canada; Starting my company, violation of status; I-140 revocation; Unused H-1B for quota exemption; H1B to H4 COS without latest Paystubs; EAD renewal separated from spouse; H-4 EAD approved in error; Effect of salary reduction; H-1 transfer, OPT travel; Visa Waiver apply for AOS; Retaining priority date; Visa stamping for H-1B amendment; Arrest without conviction; Reentry permit, etc.
My wife is working here in the US on J-1 visa as a Post Doctoral Fellow and She is subject to 2HRR requirement.I came to United States last year on J-2 visa from India and after few month I applied and got the EAD card and now I am also working for XYZ IT company here in the USA and I am subject to two HRR requirement as well. My employer wants to file H-1B visa for me but my wife does not have an offer for H-1B visa so in that case Can I (J-2 visa holder) file a waiver petition independently of the J-1 Principal?
See clip from Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna's conference call video that addresses this question.
https://youtu.be/XAfykYM-cUQ?t=89
FAQ Transcript:
Since Oct. 1, 2015, the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) no longer issues final approval of Forms I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, filed on behalf of children from the Republic of Korea (ROK). Instead, NBC will transfer cases that appear to be approvable to the USCIS Field Office in Seoul (USCIS Seoul).
My wife's I-485 got rejected because of priority date not current. My application was delivered early by FedEx(Sep 29). Her priority date is Sep 2014 so as per Oct 2015 guidelines I believe she has the eligibility to apply.
Can I re-apply same documents, and also do I need to apply for her Visa extension too because it will expire in 1 week from now. Will she be considered in status with her I-485 receipt number and in process of re submission?
An untimely filing based denial does not invalidate the documents, and, a pending 485 keeps her in authorized period of stay. Nevertheless, I advise people to keep their status (like H-1, H-4) current, anyway. By the way, a B-2 to AOS application is FULL of potential problems. Make sure you consult a lawyer.
I have a question on EAD validity for the below scenario. <p>
H-1B holder got I140 with Employer A and applied EAD for H-4. H-4 is valid until MM-DD-YYYY 10-29-2018. Now H-1B holder moved to Another Employer B, then at this point he doesn't have Approved I-140. Will EAD which received using Employer A valid until MM-DD-YYYY 10-29-2018? I knew for renewal of current EAD after 10-29-2018, we need approved I-140, but not sure exiting EAD is valid until 10-29-2018 if H-1B holder moved to Employer B.
USCIS has said that revocation of I-140 does not automatically invalidate an approved H-4 EAD, but they reserve the right to revoke such an EAD.
So I had my interview on Sept 3rd and I went in without the Original Country of Citizenship Passport however as my previous posts state that I had made color copies of each page in my Passport book. Furthermore, I got each page notarized by a Notary Public and obtained a letter from Swiss Embassy that my original Passport (number xxxxx) is with them with effect from data xxxx for Schengen visa processing etc. So I was ready but still I was hoping that the I/O wont ask for my Passport and I don't have to bring all of this up.
My appointment was scheduled at 7:15 am. Yes, 7:15 in the morning. I arrived the USCIS office on W. Badura Ave. at 6:45 am. There were about eleven people waiting by the front door already. The guard opened the door at 7:05 am. After I went through the security and set in the waiting area, it was twenty after seven. There were five people waiting in the interview area. The rest was in for info pass or fingerprint.
Truly a remarkable and very well informed team! My fiancee and I were thoroughly impressed with the level of knowledge and insight the Khanna firm provided us. Talk about a 15 minute call can save you thousands, this could not have been more true. What was the best part was while the initial consultation was gratis, the level of service and dedication was as if I was paying hundreds an hour! I would highly recommend anyone with any immigration issues, questions and/or concerns to make this your first stop - you will NOT be disappointed! Truly a first rate customer service experience!
USCIS offers immigration relief measures that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances, such as disasters like the recent severe flooding in South Carolina.
These measures may be available upon request:
Mr. RS Khanna’s team is very efficient, knowledgeable, prompt, and I am running out of words to praise them. I had filed my I485 (May’01) in Nebraska and currently waiting for my GC. Mr.Khanna, Leila, SumanJI, Diane Lambardo are all great and prompt. I have been his client for well over 3 years. Over this period I had relied him and his team for several (non) immigration related questions and every time my call was returned within 24 hrs. Even in my dead sleep, I will recommend Mr.Khanna for anyone. Just trust him and his team, and rest assured well. Hats Off!! Mr.Khanna.