USCIS Forms Update Notice
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
I am working on H-1B for Employer A. I want to switch jobs and need a study time for about 3-5 weeks full time. I was thinking if I could go an unpaid leave from my current job for 5 weeks, and use this time for my preparation? It gets tricky as I cannot tell my current employer the actual reason for my intended leave. How will my H-1B status get affected due to this? Can I be in the US during this time? If yes, under what conditions?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: H-1B unpaid leave or time off
Video Transcprit
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.
I am on H4 EAD working in a full time job .Now as their are news coming to revoke H4 EAD, if the H4 EAD rule revokes, what might be the other options for me to continue my job? If I join masters, will I get the CPT if I change to F1 visa in the final semester. Is it valid like that?
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.
I have been working on H1B for a IT consulting company ( employer A), at a client location. My employer will file for I 485 in about 2 months. I am thinking of a few alternatives and wanted to understand the scenarios in which my GC petition might get cancelled or denied by the USCIS or considered abandoned by me. What precautions I need to take if I follow any of the below scenarios.<br>
1.Take a job with a different employer ( may or may not be same/similar to the job with employer “A” )<br>
2. Leave and join a graduate program full time ( may be after I get EAD, so that I do not have to change to F1 student visa)<br>
3. Leave the employer A and leave the USA, go to home country, India. I may or may not take a job in India which may or may not be same/similar to the job with employer “A”
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.
My Employer has filed my GC in 2014 and I got my I140 but if I want to change a different role within my organization (Changing Cost center), will that impact my current GC processing. Should they start the GC processing from the begining ?
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.
"Having these three organizations to intervene in the case is a good development for students,” says Rajiv Khanna, Managing Attorney at Immigration.com.
At present I am working in OPT ( expires in June 2020). I have an unused stamped H1B visa which I got in August’ 2013 and my visa stamped in my passport on August,2014. However I never traveled/ worked with this H1B visa and expired in October’2016 without using or entry. I came to USA in January’2016 in F1 Visa. My question is can I use this unused stamped visa for cap exempt as transfer of employer from F1 visa to H1B visa now? or do I need to apply in Master’s cap next year.
In your case if we counted from six years from August 2013 when your H-1B was approved, you are then okay or cap exempt till August 2019. But again, the policy has been that they count the six years from the date your H-1B expired which is 2014 not 2013. Policies can change overnight so I think you can apply for an H-1B exemption as an H-1B exempt worker.
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Immigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Rajiv Khanna Blog: http://www.immigration.com/blogs
Twitter: https://twitter.com/immigrationcom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immigrationd...
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivskhanna
Release Date
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reminds affirmative asylum applicants that, starting Sept. 13, 2023, you must bring an interpreter to your asylum interview if you are not fluent in English or wish to proceed with your interview in a language other than English.
FAQs: Do Canadian citizens need US visas? Canadian citizenship and F-1 Exploring permanent work and stay options in the U.S. for Canadian Permanent Resident Preparing for birth certificate issues in USCIS applications: Affidavits, DNA tests, and timing considerations H-1B approved after the lottery, can we change employers? Multiple employers in H-1B lotteries Paystub requirement for H-1B transfer eligibility: Is it mandatory? Delays in marriage-based immigrant visa processing: Expedite options and travel issues
Number 82
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during October for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.
Release Date
Weeklong celebration highlights naturalization ceremonies and new initiatives
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by welcoming more than 6,900 new citizens in over 130 naturalization ceremonies across the nation between Sept. 17 and Sept. 22.
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
Immigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Rajiv Khanna Blog: http://www.immigration.com/blogs
Twitter: https://twitter.com/immigrationcom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immigrationd...
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivskhanna
Source: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/COVID19_FAQs.pdf
Also useful: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/stem-opt-hub
Processing Queue | Priority Date |
---|---|
Analyst Review | October 2022 |
Audit Review | June 2022 |
Reconsideration Request to the CO | December 2022 |
I will be eligible for my Canadian citizenship in March 2024 and will be pursuing a master's in the US for the fall 2024 intake. Do I have to get the F1 student visa stamped on the Indian passport (as the Canadian passport will take some time to process)? If yes, do I need to go to India to get the F1 visa stamped, or can I get it from a US consulate in Canada?
The processing time for the Canadian passport might be longer, so I suggest you check with the consulate. This situation appears unusual to me. In my understanding or recommendation, the law implies that once you take the oath of naturalization, it's the same as in the USA. I'm unsure about Canada's specific rules, but when you take the naturalization oath, you typically cease to be a citizen of any country except Canada.
You may need to explore options to expedite your passport application, perhaps by paying emergency fees or any other required charges. I believe you should be able to enter the United States with a Canadian passport and an I-20 without needing a visa. Canadian citizens usually do not require a visa for entry.
As a Canadian PR and having completed my post-graduate studies in Canada along with five years of Canadian work experience (HR), are there any specific visas I can apply for to work and stay permanently in the US? I will be eligible for my Canadian citizenship in March 2024.
A Canadian immigrant doesn't enjoy any special advantages over others. However, once you attain Canadian citizenship, numerous new opportunities become available. For instance, you become eligible for Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor visas like E-1 and E-2, as well as TN visas. Additionally, for most visa categories, you don't actually require a visa stamp. As a Canadian citizen, you can enter the United States without a visa, except for E visas and K visas. Visas such as F-1 and tourist visas typically aren't necessary; you can simply arrive at the border or airport with your Canadian passport. That's how the process works. It's important to note that being a permanent resident of Canada doesn't provide any advantage in the United States.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is exempting the biometric services fee for Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
My son-in-law was interviewed at the US Consulate in Frankfurt in May 2023 for a marriage-based immigrant visa. They have requested his CV with traveling details for further processing. His case has been in Administrative processing for well over 90 days. I have two questions:
1. Is anything can be done to expedite the process?
2. He has traveled to the US on a B1/B2 visa four times prior to his interview from Germany. Is there any problem with him traveling to the USA to visit his wife while his case is in Administrative processing?
Regarding his previous B1/B2 travel history to the U.S., there shouldn't be an issue with further travel while his case is in administrative processing. Although there's a slight possibility of being turned away at the airport, Customs and Border Protection usually treats spouses of U.S. citizens with consideration.
To avoid potential travel hassles, your son-in-law can clear U.S. immigration at Dublin Airport, which offers a more convenient option.
A general question on birth certificates for any case. If there are issues (like errors in names, spellings, etc.) and we know this upfront during/after the documents were submitted to USCIS, is it better to wait until the application is processed and an RFE is sent to us, or it is better to prepare affidavits from relatives (as secondary evidence) mentioning correct details of birth and keep it ready. The reason I am asking this is, sometimes getting affidavits in a short duration when the RFE is sent might not be feasible as relatives may not be available, maybe in different places, or may have even passed away.
Will USCIS accept affidavits by relatives prepared in the past, before the RFE was sent? Or is it only possible to prepare affidavits based on the specific questions raised in the RFE?
Also, how about a DNA test to prove relationships, can this be done and kept ready even if there is a likelihood of RFE in the future? Is this acceptable or should it be done only after an RFE is received for USCIS to accept the validity of this? This is again to save time, as there may not be sufficient time to get it ready during the RFE period, especially when applicants or beneficiaries live in different countries etc.
It is better to address these issues proactively rather than waiting for a Request for Evidence (RFE). While it's advisable to be prepared in advance, if an RFE introduces new concerns, you'll need to address them. However, this doesn't imply that the affidavits you prepared several months earlier will suddenly become problematic. If the affidavits are relatively recent, say one or two years old, it wouldn't be a problem.
Consider this scenario: If you had a spelling name issue and obtained one or two affidavits explaining it, and then the RFE raises this issue along with another one, you can simply provide supplementary documentation. The documentation you've already provided doesn't lose its validity just because the government posed additional questions.
In our practice, we only resort to preparing for a DNA test if it becomes the last resort because it can be quite expensive. I'm not certain about the exact cost, but we typically wait until the government explicitly asks for it.
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