We won this case following a response to a Request for Evidence. Service requested further clarification on the "permanency" of the job offer, which was with a University. We submitted the HR policies/procedures documentation to show that the position was permanent and met the Service requirements. Letters from the HR as well as the Department were submitted to show that the position would continue and that funding was available to support this position.
"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.
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.
USCIS recently updated the following form:
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
01/20/2025 12:37 PM EST
Edition Date: 01/20/25. Starting July 30, 2025, USCIS will accept only the 01/20/25 edition. Until then, you can also use the 01/17/25 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | February 2024 |
| Audit Review | N/A |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | March 2025 |
Published by: The Economic Times - July 04, 2025
https://tinyurl.com/48ww6hy6
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Business Today- July 02, 2025
https://www.businesstoday.in/nri/visa/story/major-us-student-visa-overh…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Times Now - July 02, 2025
https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/another-blow-to-internati…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: The Times of India - July 02, 2025
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/us-plans-fixed-stay-…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Mathrubhumi English - July 02, 2025
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/us-may-limit-student-visas-t…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Moneycontrol - July 02, 2025
https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/us-eyes-fixed-visa-term-for-foreign-…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Business Today- July 02, 2025
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/us-time-limit-rule-stay-foreign-st…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: NewsBytes - July 02, 2025
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/us-proposes-fixed-duration-visa…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Upstox- July 02, 2025
https://upstox.com/news/business-news/latest-updates/trump-s-fresh-visa…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
FAQs: What are the risks of job seeking while on F-2 or B-1/B-2 status post-H-1B layoff || F-1 COS -- Risks of future denials, job search, and visa stamping with multiple status changes || H-4 extension (I-539) abandoned by travel? Re-filing strategy after re-entry with new I-94
Number 5
Volume XI
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during August 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.
I am currently on an H1B visa and, unfortunately, I’ve been laid off. My last working day will be July 31st. I'm evaluating my options to maintain legal status in the U.S. after that date. The two primary paths I’m considering are:
Filing a Change of Status to B1/B2 (Visitor Visa). Filing a Change of Status to F2 (Dependent on my wife’s STEM OPT)
I saw your post on LinkedIn where you mentioned that USCIS has recently issued RFEs in B1/B2-to-H1B conversion cases, citing that seeking employment while on a B status may constitute a status violation.
My question is:
If I change to F2, would I face similar scrutiny during a future change back to H1B, especially if I'm job hunting while on F2?
Does job searching or interviewing while on F2 (without actual employment) violate the terms of that status? Also, I'd greatly appreciate your insights on the pros and cons of switching to F2 vs. B1/B2 from a strategic and compliance perspective.
Seeking a job while on F-2 or B-1/B-2 status after an H-1B layoff carries no inherent risk, as the prohibition is on doing the job, not looking for one. While some individuals have faced challenges from USCIS when converting back to H-1B, the speaker views such objections as unfounded. Even in a worst-case scenario, an H-1B approval might necessitate a brief departure and re-entry to the U.S.
My question is regarding conversion from H-4 to F-1. I landed in the US on an F-2 visa, which was later converted to an H-4. So I don't have a sticker visa on my passport. Now I'm trying to gain admission to a university and change my status to F-1 again. Would I face any issues in this matter now or later? If I don't manage to get a job later, would I still be able to stay and convert back to H-4, or could I possibly face a denial?
Secondly, if I go back home and get a visa stamp, can I face any potential problems because this is going to be my second master's and I've gone through three visa status changes in a short period?
No, there's no limit to how many times you can change your immigration status within the U.S. As long as the changes (e.g., F2 to H4 to F1) are legitimate and not just for "fun," they should not pose a problem for future denials or visa stamping.