Please accept this small token of my appreciation for your support and efforts in helping all the way from LC to I485 - for a successful GC application approval. I believe Mr. Rajiv's team of people exemplifies how cooperation can achieve great results. My special thanks to Suman, Homa, Leila, Shivani, Iqbal and Diane Lombardo. I can always count on you to get the legal work done and on time!
I have retained the services of the law offices of Rajiv S Khanna for my Green card processing/filing. It has been over a year since the process started. In one word I would say the services that I received were "EXCELLENT" I would like to express my frank opinion and comments on some of the experiences 1. Even before the process started, Rajiv Khanna replied to my queries, concerns, questions within a few days of emailing him. This was even before the retainer agreement was signed. 2. LC: I was in a real hurry to get the process going since I had very little time on hand. I found that the people I had to interact with were able to put themselves in my shoes and actually try their best to speed up the paperwork required so that the application could be filed at the earliest. 2. I-140: Preparing ahead: On suggesting that we prepare ahead and have the I-140 application ready to be sent when the LC is received, I was happy with the co-operation, advice and support I received. As a result my I-140 application was sent to the INS just one day after the certified LC was received in the offices of Rajiv Khanna!! 3. I am sure the same kind of service will continue all through the process, and if past experience is any indication, I expect that my paperwork for 485 will be ready to be filed the day my I-140 approval is received by the Law office of Rajiv Khanna. 4. As for the fee arrangement, I really like the payment on monthly basis instead of one or two lump sum amount. Overall, based on my experience so far, I would, without hesitation, recommend the services of the Law offices of Rajiv Khanna for a Green card application.
When we were doing our research to find an attorney, Rajiv Khanna's law firm was very strongly recommended by a friend. My friend said that he got great personal attention from Mr. Khanna himself but most importantly, that the law firm was always persistent in getting papers moved quickly through HR departments or agencies. My wife and I have certainly experienced that ourselves. The interview call has come in a record 3 MONTHS!!! Thanks to Homa Naderi who developed a great relationship with us and for staying on top of things, ensuring the forms were filled out accurately, and being prompt in replying to our questions and e-mails. Thanks, God Bless.
Rajiv Khanna's office is very client-friendly and will understand the client's problems and work with them closely. This will ease the tensions/worries. And they are very prompt on updating the information to the clients.
Mr. Khanna's office is working on my GC case through Labor Certification and I cannot say enough great things about his team! I had some really bad experiences in the past with some s* lawyers, and know I can be at peace knowing I am in great and competent hands. Richa Narang was of great help during the 6-month RIR recruiting process, always reminding me to turn in documents ASAP. I have never had this experience before, most law firms don't care about their clients, they only care about collecting their fees. A friend of mine just got his H1B approved with no RFEs and in record time. He and his family are ecstatic and very grateful. And so am I. Thanks for always having the time to talk to me and answer my questions. You guys are great!!
My green card is being processed through Rajiv Khanna's office and I am extremely happy with the services they have provided at various stages. My company was taken over by another company and my company had filed for I-140 amendment for name change. It was approved without any queries. I would recommend anyone and everyone to avail immigration services from Law offices of Rajiv Khanna. They are highly professional.
Hi Rajiv & Team,
My wife and myself finally got our Green Cards approved few days back. It took us about 3.5years from start to end due to broken immigration system. I am very impressed with the services provided by your team during this process.I am particular impressed with the professionalism with which our cases were handled and have processes in place to detect human errors. During critical times like filing I485 in Dec05, your team has prepared&reviewed the forms in 2days and that helped us getting the GC sooner. Personally thankful to Rajiv & Mathew for finding time to call me and answer my questions.
The GC process is unnerving, tedious and complicated. Choosing you as my lawyer gave me peace of mind and confidence that I will be able to file in time - I filed my labor only in mid-July, but was still able to file 140 and 485 concurrently well within time.
Before this blog, I used to ask questions from all my friends to understand the processes. This blog was just great helping me to be so well informed that I started giving suggestions to my friends. The information was accurate and quickly delivered straight by Rajiv, so I knew I could follow it with confidence. I was really amazed by the quick turnaround on almost all questions posted.
Special thanks to my case manager Heather for giving personal attention, being very responsive and working so many late hours to help us out. I want you to know that your work has helped me and my family very much. The past 2 months have been really taxing for you. I feel you really deserve a good vacation after August 17
Continue the great work. Expand your firm and help more people. Many Thanks.
My O petition was approved through your help and when I went for O1 Stamping my visa was not issued due to Chennai consulate in patent misunderstanding of the law that being subject to INA Section 212(e) home residency requirement.
Finally Mr Khanna sent the a brief explanation that "It is long settled law that 212(e) does NOT apply to O-1 visas" and i got the O1 stamping. I am convinced that with the current experience of obtaining the O visa with your guidance, and support of Miss Diane Lombardo and Miss Anna Baker I would definitely be a client for my future needs. I am very pleased with the service and the application was very diligently prepared by your staff with communicating with different parties of my sponsor institution. The staff at the sponsor institution were amazed by the pleasant nature of Miss Diane Lombardo. I was very confident by your mails that my visa will successfully stamped. I whole heartedly thank you Mr. Khanna and your team. I would advise my pears to get the best job done right, is to hire Mr. Khanna. I am eagerly looking forward to working with you in the future. Thanks, Raghava Munivenkatappa
My labor certification just got approved today.We applied for it on June 26th so it took exactly 75 days.I just want to thank Law offices of Rajiv Khanna for their professional services.They have been very efficient and I am looking forward for the rest of the process with them.
I would highly recommend the Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna!!
They are extremely professional, methodical, thorough, and value for money because they get the job done!!
I was on a B1 visa originally and my H1B was approved but I did not receive the document. When I finally did after a year, there was no I-94. I had overstayed in the US and it was a totally mess because of a number of bad advices.
At that stage, I contacted the Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna. I got excellent service considering the fact that everything was done over the phone and via email. It was a pleasure to have had the services of Rajiv S. Khanna, Jitesh Malik, Anna Baker and Rena Waddell.
I thank them sincerely for resolving my issue.
The H-2B visa category is used by U.S. employers to temporarily employ skilled or unskilled foreign nationals in nonagricultural positions for which the employer has a temporary need and for which qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The company must plan to employ the foreign nationals for a temporary period and the employer’s need for the skills of the foreign nationals must also be temporary. In addition, the employer must seek a “labor certification” from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) certifying that:
The following discussion applies to all visas where working is not permitted. Most typical examples of these types of visas are F-2 and H-4. The question often arises whether or not it is legal for such folks to volunteer their time or are they constrained to stay at home.
Quote: Q. May an H-4 (or F-2 type visa) holder volunteer for work to provide charitable service, to gain experience or just to stay busy?
I have a friend who came to US on H4 & was on H4 for 2 years. Then she applied for H1B from 2 companies (A & B) & got approved from both the companies. She got the project in Oct 2008 & started working for Co B .
Now due to bad economy, her Project is ending in January 2009 and she is not able to find any new project.
While working she have been paying taxes regularly.
Pl let us know what needs to be done now:-
* She is planning to go back to H4, pursue higher studies, Changing to F1 & then coming back on H1B work. (H4-H1-H4-F1-H1) or (H4-H1-H4-H1).Will this create Bad impression to USCIS ?
* When next time the H1B petition is being filed for her, will her petition be subject to regular H1 B quota of 65000 & will have to go through a typical process of filing, that means Petition being filed in April & waiting for approval until Oct. to work?
* If in case My friend goes back to H4, Will Co. A & B will terminate H1B petition as per law? & If in case yes will this create any difference?
Changing the way she is planning is perfectly legal. There is no question of a "bad impression."
In my view, she will not be subject to quota unless she is outside USA for a year.
The companies are required by law to revoke her H-1. I see no issues there.
An H-3 classification applies to an alien who is coming temporarily to the United States:
(1) As a trainee, other than to receive graduate medical education or training, or training provided primarily at or by an academic or vocational institution, or
(2) As a participant in a special education exchange visitor program which provides for practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Facts - I am on an L1 visa working for employer A and my wife is on L2-EAD. We both applied for H1 visa through Employer B and it got approved recently. I am not sure if Employer B (Consulting Company) has applied for COS while applying for both of ours H1 visa. Could you answer the following queries for both (COS applied and COS not applied) conditions during H1 application.
Questions
When we apply for Green card under EB2 category, should the masters degree and present job be related? Here is a situation: I have a masters in Agribusiness and I am working as a business analyst. My employer says I am not eligible to apply under the EB2 as my masters is not related to my present job in IT sector. Please let me know the reality.
In fact there is no simple answer. Legally, there is nothing that requires that the degree must be in a related field. But, the employer needs to make sure, under penalty of perjury, that they do require a Master's degree, even if it is unrelated.
I am here on L1b visa from x company. My sister sponsored me Immigration visa in 2006. (File is still in processing). My assignment is going to over here.
Is there any work around or change of status through which i can stay here?
So, the questions is does filing for any green card permit me to stay in USA?
The answer is no.
Only those green card application in which there is no wait for a visa number (example: spouse or parent of a US citizen or EB1 category currently) permit you to stay in USA but only if AOS (I-485) is filed in a timely manner.
That is the reason spouses of green card holders have to wait OUTSIDE USA for many, many years.
Have a situation. My company applied for Labor in oct 2007 which got approved and we filed I-140 (EB-2) in april 2008. We got a RFE in Sep 2008 and reply recieved by the USCIS on oct 16th 2008. Mean while my 7th year of H1b was approved and now it expires on Nov 2009. We have not received any updates on my case and its been >90 days. My current lawyer now says that I should apply for EB-2 NIW as a back up. My concerns are:
1. If my current I-140 gets rejected will my 7th year of H1b be revoked? since it was based on labor pending?
2. What will be my options if it gets denied( can I file for Motion to reconsider). Will I still be in Status and work till nov 2009?
3. Will they extend my H1b beyond nov 2009 if the MTR is not resolved by then?
4. If at all everything is rejected what can I do to start residency in july if I match?
If all else fails what are my options to continue working in the US?
My wife is on her independent H1B visa and I have 2 US citizen kids. I also have a US citizen brother( dont know if that would help any)
Generally speaking, NIW is a lousy back up for a number of reasons. But I say this not knowing the merits of your situation, as your lawyer does.
I have recently gotten engaged to a green card holder. We are making plans for our wedding, very likely to happen this year. However, the following questions arose:
1. Does the fact that I already hold another Master and a Ph.D. degrees accelerate my green card application? I understand that the backlog is of 5-6 years, but I wonder if my advanced education will assist my application.
2. My H-1B application last year was approved, but I did not use the visa, as I decided to go back to school for (yet!) another degree. Will the approval of the H-1B be looked at favorably, unfavorably, or will it not make a difference?
3. I am currently an F-1 holder. If I marry my fiance' this year, may I simply maintain my Visa independent of his? I am eligible to an OPT after I graduate (to happen this year or in mid-2010) and I am certain I will be able to obtain an H-1B afterwards. Therefore, I do not depend on my fiance' to keep a legal status in the country. Is it legal (or advisable) to keep my Immigration records separate from his?
4. How about when we file for taxes, after the wedding happens? May we file separately, or do we need to declare we are married?
1. Advanced degrees do not help in a family-based green card.
Dear Mr.Khanna, I have reading all your post and found you quite informative. I will appreciate if you can let me know the possible consequences of my case.
I was in restaurant in Gaithersburg MD on Jan 29 2008 with my boss who was visiting from Atlanta. I had a beer and 2 glasses of wine with dinner came out sat in the car and started backing up. As you know it was winter and had rained earlier the windscreen at the back got fogged out. While backing up I hit a car parked. Police was in that parking lot and arrested for drunk driving. I blew .09. I was given a bunch of tickets after being 30 minutes in the precinct and was released. In the court they dismissed 2 tickets like DUI and DUI par se and convicted me DWI and Failure to control Speed to Avoid Collision. BTW DWI in MD is a lesser offence when you blow less than the state .08 BAC typically .07. And Failure to control speed to avoid collision which is maximum fine $130.00.Now the Judge gave me Supervised Probation till I finish my MADD Class. After that the Probation goes to Unsupervised for 12 Months. Now I am elligible to file citizenship. I have finished 5 years of LPR time with minimal travel aborad.
Now my questions are :
1.) Will I get deported or removed.
2.) Will I have problems while entering POE while travelling from overseas.
3.) Will my Citizenship be denied if I file after my probation gets over.
Please share your knowledge It will immensly help my stress. This one mistake of my life has really taken a toll in my life.
Your earliest reply will highly appreciated.
Let us look at the law for green cards and removal (deportation) first.
Remember the following GENERAL elements of the law (there is more to it).
I obtained my green card 4 1/2 years ago through employment. My former employer sponsored me h-1 visa for 6 years and labor certificate and green card as well.
Unfortunately, I was terminated by the employer last year, which ended my 10 years career at the company. After the termination, I then filed workers compensation claim for the injuries at work, and civil lawsuit for discrimations and under-paid wages through lawyers. The two cases are pending at courts.
Now I have a part time job which is not related to the job that helped me get the green card.
It is almost time for me to apply for citizenship. However I am worried about how much the two cases would affect the application. I will be asked in the citizenship interview why I left the green card sponsor, why you were terminated and so on, so forth.
Please help advise if my worries are correct ?
Is it better to apply for citizenship when the problems above are ended in courts ?
Thank you very much for your help.
I see no reason to worry here. Neither the civil cases nor the fact that you have left and taken a PT job should have any bearing on your naturalization.
Family members of the H-1B foreign worker are admitted to the United States in the H-4 category. Qualifying family members include only the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old. H-4 dependents are admitted for the same period of time for which the H-1B foreign worker is admitted. H-4 dependents may alternatively be admitted in other nonimmigrant categories for which they qualify. H-4 dependents may undertake studies while remaining in the H-4 category, however, they may not engage in any form of employment.
Rajiv & his team did an excellent and thorough job on my green card. The whole process from start to finish took less than an year! Many thanks to Rajiv, Leila, Suman & all the others on job well done! I would be more than happy to provide Rajiv a reference, if needed. Regards & good luck to you all, Ananth