Guestbook Entry for Ram N Ramamurthy , United States
Name
Ram N Ramamurthy
Country
United States
State
FL
Search
Guestbook Entry for Irina Pozyvaylo, United States
Name
Irina Pozyvaylo
Country
United States
State
GA
Interim EAD at Houston USCIS office
"Went to the local Houston USCIS office by 4:50 am on friday Jul 11, 2003 and found myself behind 100 people (folks camping out...looked like a slumber party
. They sure let us in by 6:15am and got a number (186) & processed by around 12:45pm.
Rajiv's News Clips - Workers Oppose H-1B Bill - Light Reading
Published by: Light Reading - Date: July 31, 2003
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
"There are eight or nine bills pending with similar provisions [to Tancredo's]," says Rajiv S. Khanna, a lawyer specializing in H-1B visa issues who practices in Arlington, Va. But he thinks the H-1B visa program already has shrunk along with the rest of the economy. "It's down, in my opinion, to 10 percent of what it was."
For more details please see the attachment below.
Guestbook Entry for Balaji , United States
Name
Balaji
Country
United States
State
CA
Guestbook Entry for Gopal Khanna , Canada
Name
Gopal Khanna
Country
Canada
State
Brampton
Guestbook Entry for Francesco Caggioni , United States
Name
Francesco Caggioni
Country
United States
State
CT
Here is our Experience with DORA at Dallas today
Hi all Fellow-Kin ,
I am INDC, my wife USC. We would like to share our experience with you all of DORA Dallas.
Appointment: July 25, 2005
Interview: July 25, 2005
Appointment Time: 12:15 pm
Arrived at DORA Office: 12:10pm
Interview: 2:10 pm
Left DORA Office: 2.15 pm
When we arrived the office, we had to go through general security checks. We handed our appointment confirmation printout from Infopass website: infopass.uscis.gov
Green Card
Finger Print experience in Oakland, CA
Folks,
I thought I'll share my FP experience in Oakland, CA which might be useful to others. I had my FP scheduled for tomorrow but since we have other errands to run tomorrow we went in today at 8:15 AM. To our surprise they did not even question us about the date. They just glanced at our FP notice and gave us a form to fill up. Even before I finished filling my form my number was up.
Taxonomy upgrade extras
SEVP deploys new class of field representatives to work with US schools hosting international students
WASHINGTON — The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) deployed 14 additional field representatives to territories across the country this week. The field representatives serve as liaisons between the nearly 9,000 U.S. schools that enroll international students and SEVP. The program, housed within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), certifies schools to enroll international students and protects national security by overseeing those students for compliance with U.S. laws.
DHS Announces Temporary Protected Status Designations for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone
WASHINGTON— Due to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has announced his decision to designate Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. As a result, eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone who are currently residing in the United States may apply for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna, 20 Nov 2014 (Every Other Thursday)
Substantial transcription for video
The following topics were discussed in today's community conference call. The video is attached below. Discussed: Abandonment of Green Card, OPT to H-1 change delay, immigration consequences of criminal conviction for misdemeanor (petty offense exception), N-470 to maintain residence, EB-2 filing, Investing in stocks while on H-1, delays and difficulty in entering the USA -- TRIP, H-4 visa stamping, getting married to a US Citizen while on H-1, marriage certificate, immigration reform, CSPA, Cross chargeability, Unpaid leave on H-1, H-1 visa stamping, NOIR for multiple H-1 filing through related companies, frequency of visits on B visa, employment verification letters in PERM.
Executive Actions on Immigration - USCIS
On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
Obama's Immigration Action, Discussion with Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
For updates, see my blog page on Obama's Immigration Action.
Takeaway points for legal immigration from President Obama’s executive action:
1. USCIS is “about to” publish the final rule on H-4 work authorization. That will make it possible for certain spouses of H-1 holders to get work authorization.
2. Improving employment-based green card backlogs by:
a. Making visa issuance more efficient so no immigrant visas are wasted;
b. Providing for better AC21 rules and other ways to keep immigrant visas intact after a change of jobs. USCIS will clarify what constitutes “same or similar” job so that AC21 will not stop workers from getting promotions or even changing to related jobs within their field. USCIS must clear the path to career progression for green card applicants.
3. Expandingfurther the OPT time for STEM students, but creating tighter control on which universities/schools/degrees are eligible and ensure local workers are protected (Implement some sort of a “mini PERM?”).
4. Creating opportunities for foreign “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” Unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the following parole program will help:
a. Creating a parole (which is usually a temporary, but very quick measure and could eventually lead to a green card) program so that on a case-by-case bases, “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies can be brought quickly into the USA where:
i.They have raised financing in the USA; OR
ii.Otherwise hold the promise of innovation and job creation through development of new technologies OR cutting edge research
5. Creating guidelines for exceptionally qualified or advanced degreed individuals to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” As noted, unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the parole option above could be helpful.
6. Providing clear guidance on L-1B program as to who can qualify.
Guestbook Entry for Krithika, United States
Name
Krithika
Country
United States
State
California
DOL to Support Of Victims of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes Seeking Immigration Relief
In early 2015, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor will begin exercising its authority to certify applications for trafficking victims seeking T visas. In addition, WHD will expand its existing U visa program by certifying such requests when it detects three additional qualifying criminal activities in the course of its workplace investigations: extortion, forced labor, and fraud in foreign labor contracting.
USCIS Reminder on E-Verify Record Disposal
-
Have you been using E-Verify more than 10 years?
If yes, please download the new “Historic Records Report” before Dec 31, 2014.
Effective January 1, 2015, E-Verify transaction records more than 10 years old will be deleted from the system. You will no longer have access in E-Verify to cases you created prior to December 31, 2004.
Guestbook Entry for Maria Victoria, Teacher at Sallie B. Howard School, United States
Name
Maria Victoria, Teacher at Sallie B. Howard School
Country
United States
State
VA
Guestbook Entry for Yvette Wright, United States
Name
Yvette Wright
Country
United States
State
VA
Had N-400 interview in Portland, Oregon
Hi there,
I had my N-400 interview in Portland, Oregon this afternoon. At the end, the officer printed the N-652 form and checked two boxes: a) you passed the tests of English and U.S. history and government; and b) Congratulations! Your application has been recommended for approval.
The interview was smooth and quick. I had 2 tickets for speeding, which I had included in my N-400 application. He said it was good I had included them because I got a citation (ticket), but that they're only interested in violations that involve arrests.
Citizenship and Naturalization
Had citizenship interview in Denver today
The process was very smooth and lasted for 3 full minutes. USCIS officer was professional and friendly and started the interview right on time. He asked me to take the oath first and then reviewed the application. Then he asked me to write a simple sentense, went through history & civics questions (all from the list of 100 USCIS has on its website) and once I answered first six correctly told me that I passed the exam and the application is approved. He said I will get oath notice in 1 - 2 months.
Citizenship and Naturalization
DHS Publishes Final Rule on Notices of Decisions and Documents Evidencing Lawful Status
On Oct. 29, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule amending its regulations governing when USCIS will
- correspond with,
- issue a notice of decision to, or
- provide documents to
an applicant, petitioner, or requester, and/or an attorney of record or accredited representative.
Reminder for Temporary Protected Status Applicants and Re-registrants - USCIS
Applicants must submit biometrics if the applicant is applying or re-registering for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and over 14 years old.