Should H-1 be renewed while the AOS is pending?
Bottomline - I think H-1 should be renewed.
A little more info: A few months ago, I used to feel strongly that AOS applicants should keep their H-1 active for several reasons. Two of these are:
One, EAD issuance was erratic and CIS had discontinued issuance of interim EAD's (that is, if in 90 days your EAD is not issued, you could walk with a infopass appointment to your local CIS office and get an EAD). Thus, EAD's were unreliable and given for only a year. You could have interruptions in your work.
Rajiv, this month’s visa bulletin shows our category is current. What does this mean for people who have already applied for 485. Have AP and EAD. And now their dates are current again? Does it mean they will get a GC via mail? What if I haven’t had my FP done yet?
As of July 2008, this is how the system works.
First, let me provide a little background. Priority Date is the date your PERM is filed (in Case of EB-1 or NIW – the date your I-140 is filed; in case of Family-based petitions – the date your I-130 is filed.).
Rajiv, this month’s visa bulletin shows our category is current. What does this mean for people who have already applied for 485. Have AP and EAD. And now their dates are current again? Does it mean they will get a GC via mail? What if I haven’t had my FP done yet?
As of July 2008, this is how the system works.
First, let me provide a little background. Priority Date is the date your PERM is filed (in Case of EB-1 or NIW – the date your I-140 is filed; in case of Family-based petitions – the date your I-130 is filed.).
The attached PDF document contains information from DOL on PERM backlogs, program future and other pertinent matters. Enjoy. Regards to all. Rajiv.
I am trying to take an appointment for my wife to renew her H-4 visa since the dates are available right now. She came here on H4, switched in between to F-1 (change of status) but did not leave US, then got the new approval for change of status to H4 (after we filed for green card) and wants to get it stamped now. There is a bit of confusion on the DS-156 form that I have to fill out.
If someone came to the US on a J1 visa with a residency requirement of two years and that person returns back to the home country and then would like to return to the US on an F1 visa to continue a master's degree, can a visa be issued before the residency requirement is completed and does the new F1 visa if given, get rid of the J1 residency requirement?
The two-year home residency requirement does not prohibit issuance of F-1 visa. That can be tried any time, even before the HRR is completed. Ultimately, F-1 visas are discretionary. But there is no law that prohibits their issuance in these circumstances.
Issuance of an F-1 does NOT waive the HRR. You will stay subject to it.
My status: on H1, visa expiring in September 2007. Rajiv's team applied for my H1 extension and I had I797 approvals till 2010. I had an H4 extension approval done for my wife as well. There is no employer change from first 3 years on H1 to second approval.
Here is another set of questions that may be of interest to you folks.
Facts from one of our clients
I have applied for 485 as the primary applicant and my wife is the secondary applicant. Right now both of us are on H1 visa. We had applied for EAD and AP and intend to apply for renewal soon as we near 120 days.
I am on my 7th year of H1 and my wife is on 2nd year of H1 and 3 year of (H1 and H4 combine). Her current H1 expires on April 2010.
I intend to remain on H1 itself and have no intentions of using my EAD.
I normally do not answer questions about filling out forms. But in this case, one of our community members has raised issues that I think are generic enough to be generally applicable. I am posting this for all of you who run into a similar situation. Regards to all. Rajiv.
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Here is another question from one of our clients posted in our extranet forclients.com.
Qo. My Priority date became current as per August bulletin.
I and my wife are applied for I-485 on July 2007 (PF is done and got EAD and AP docs). At that time my son was in India and i could not apply for him.
Right now i am working on his I-485 paperwork and targeting to send his application to INS/Nebraska on August first itself (through your Law firm).
Hey Everyone!
We got approved in Atlanta today. Everything went really well, but anyways I wanted to share my experience with all of you:
Left from Alabama at 7:30 AM. Took us about Two hours to get there.
The DO is a 3 story building with the USCIS logo and name... impressive and yet scary.
We entered they building at 11:23 AM and went through the security (metal detector and x-rays) Make sure you empty your pockets!
My packet was received on August 7th by USCIS.
I would like to thank Roopa and Mathew for promptly responding to all my calls and emails. I also thank the whole team for working deligently for all your clients. I never expected my packet to reach USCIS this soon. Excellent service...
Mathew, your entire team is the Best.
Thanks once again
Really you are a STAR for me. I like the way you work. You always understand client situation better than any one. I know there might be lot many people like me, who troubled you by sending so many emails. you are always prompt in responding to client emails and phone calls.For all Immigration matters ,I am telling all the people to go to Rajiv Khanna's office & Must get Amrita as their case manager. I feel lucky to get you as case my manager.I am very very Happy..
Tx
I'd highly recommend this team to anyone who needs immigration works to be done. They are highly knowledgeable, know what they do and what to do.
Richa Narang was handling my case and did an excellent job. My labor certification was denied just few days before one of the paper ad expired. It was denied because my employer did not respond to the questionnaire sent from USDOL. Based on Richa's advise we were able to give an ad within next couple of days. She also find that my wage was expired just before refiling. She talked to concerned people and got one for me just few minutes before their COB that day (next day was a national holiday) and refiled successfully late in that evening. And my labor certification was approved within next few days. I had been waiting for several years to hear this news in this country.
I really appreciate and thank Richa and her team for this excellent work.
I would like to thank and appreciate the help and dedication showed by Rajivji, Sumanji, Mathewji, Richaji, Prernaji and Vaniji for their tireless support and excellent suggestions during the whole green card processing, SPECIALLY during I-485 filling.
May God Bless You All!
Thanks and regard,
Soumyendu Choudhury
Excellent work and service from Rajivji's team:
My case reached the NSC on Aug 6, first of all I have to thank Richa, Prerna, Rita and Mathew who called me periodically to followup regarding my I-485 filing and also reviewed my documents without any delay. Turnover time was 2 days which is excellent and we cannot expect better service than this and I whole heartedly thank Rajivji and his team.
Hi Rajiv,
Thank you very much to you and to your wonderful team for helping me out. Pramita was my case manager for Labor application and I could not have asked for more. She helped me so much in all aspects of my processing and was very very prompt to respond to any queries. Tarun worked on my I-140/I-485 and he was very efficient and very helpful. Everytime I called Mathew, he answered all my questions patiently and precisely. Team was simply superb !
THANKS very much for all the good work and help
You guys are the best !
Amirta and Rita were so helpful in filing my case on time under pressure. They both are very proactive and very high quality of work!!!
RFE In short:
1.Petitioner’s employee-employer relationship with the beneficiary which may include
- Contracts or letter from end-client.
- An itinerary with name, address and duration of work.
- Certified planning documents from County showing the Business is in Commercial Lot
- Documentary example of petitioner’s products or service.
- H1-B employees routinely met conditions of employment, including work
hours and invoices etc
-Petitioner works on Speciality Occupation mentioned in the labor
We received an RFE for evidences from end client. Anna and Rajiv submitted all the needed documents to USCIS and after a week, we got an email from Anna Baker saying that, USCIS approved my H-1 application with the I-94 attached to it, as well as the H-4's for his dependents.
On reading the message I was so excited as It has been a struggle for all 4 months with RFE for 8th year extension. Anna and Rajiv sincerely worked on the case to make it successful. Especially with complications in my cases, as there were vendor layers involved to the end client, atleast 30 to 40 people from my parent company, vendors and end client including Rajivs staff were directly or indirectly involved at each step of scrutiny on my documents and they all deserve my thanks too. Special Credits to Anna and Rajiv as they did a Great Job. Hurrah!!!!!!!!
I am very greatful and obliged to Prerna, Mathew, Rajiv and his wonderful staff from bottom of my heart for being with us through this entire procedure.
Thanks is a very very small word to show our gratitude to you.
I got my I-140 approval in 1 day and I-485 approval in 6 months with no RFE's.
I proudly say that one of the best decisions we made was to choose Mr.Rajiv's firm for our immigration matters.
At the end of the day, that we were in safe hands and it worked out absolutely well.
It only happenned because of the excellent paperwork and guidance done by Prerna and Mathew.
Mathew and Prerna has always dealt us with patience and almost immediate prompt emails answering our indefinite questions
and provided comforting words, that they will take care. It was overwhelmingly good.
Several times,I was really AMAZED at how Mathew can respond to emails and phone calls in spite of his busy schedule in this busy month July.
I thank again Prerna from bottom of my heart for being my saviour through this entire process and making the experience very friendly.
I would recommend any one going through immigration process, to choose Mr.Rajiv and his team, for they are excellent in handling the cases, as well as very prompt and caring as they take up cases very personally and work through it, to set everything right. This would help the case to not reflect back with RFE's.
May GOD bless you and your TEAM with the BEST of the WISHES so that a LOT many souls like us, can see their DREAMS come TRUE.
Rajiv ji , you and your staff are the best of the best.