A Washington DC Federal court has held that DHS improperly promulgated the 2008 regulations creating the 17-month OPT CAP GAP extension for STEM graduates (strictly speaking, this is not reallly "CAP GAP" issue). According to the court, DHS should have placed the proposed regulation before the public, allowed everyone to comment, considered the comments and then published the final regulation. Thus, DHS violated the procedural mandate requiring "notice and comment." According to the court, there was no good reason to skip the "notice and comment" mandate.
In order to balance workloads, USCIS recently began transferring some cases from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center. The affected cases include:
How You Will Be Affected
USCIS will discontinue its legacy e-Filing system in order to maintain data security standards and focus resources on the replacement Electronic Immigration System. The legacy e-Filing system has offered online filing for several USCIS forms. After the system is decommissioned, you must use paper forms when filing all categories of:
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has extended Haiti’s designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an additional 18 months. The extended designation is effective Jan. 23, 2016, through July 22, 2017.
My experience with Rajiv's organization has been fantastic. His understanding of the nuances of the immigration laws are highly valued by my organization.
My point of contact was Diane who was a delight to work with. She gave me detailed instructions at each stage and periodically followed up when there was any perceived delay.
I would most readily recommend Immigration to anyone who needs any service related to immigration.
Murali
I am a US Citizen residing in the UAE with my Wife and two children. My Wife is a Syrian passport holder. We petitioned her case for residency in the US under I-130. We have received the first notice from the NVC which was on the 24th of June. The letter stated that all documentation necessary to complete the National Visa Center processing of your case has been received, and as soon as an interview date has been scheduled then we will be notified.
How long does it take to receive the second notification with an Interview Date that we are closing on week eight?
Is there a way that you can expedite an Interview Date?
If the answer is Yes, Could we officially request your service?
Case Number: ABD2014671004
Beneficiary's Name: KINANA WARD
Preference Category: IR1
Priority Date: 25-NOV-13
Hi Loay. Times are highly variable from a few weeks to a few months. Expedites are only granted for showing of some sort of urgent humanitarian situation in cases like yours. We would like to help, but I am not sure we can add much value at this stage. Contact us if there are any issues (other than timing).
How does it work with financial co-sponsorship? Can a family member or a close friend co-sponsor a fiancee?
Anyone who is a US Citizen or green card holder can co-sponsor affidavits of support .
USCIS has published a revised version of Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, with an edition date of 09/17/18. This revised version removes the geographic requirement for sending an original notice to a U.S. address for attorneys and representatives that had been added to the 05/05/16 and 05/23/18 versions of the form.
I have an H-1B visa stamped from employer A and the employer B has filed my H-1B (Transfer visa) based on the H-1B petition visa from employer A. Now, my H-1B visa filed by employer B is on RFE and my employer A wants to file the GC based on my previously approved i-140 from employer C. Below are my questions: <br>
1. Can I reject the offer from employer B and still continue to work with employer A on current Visa if my H-1B from employer B is approved?<br>
2. Can I reject the offer from employer B and still continue to work with employer A on current Visa if my H-1B from employer B is denied?<br>
3. In case my visa from employer B is rejected do I need to leave the country and come on the stamped visa which I have now?<br>
4. Can I ask employer A to file my Green Card even if my H-1B from employer B is rejected or approved without any issues or do I need to provide any visa documentation to employer A on my petition from employer B being approved or rejected?
Can I immediately file the Green Card with employer B (after joining the employer B office) if my visa from employer B is approved?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Can I join my old employer if the H-1B transfer is denied?
Video Transcript:
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 38 year old Banker working in Doha Qatar, I have 16 year old son studying in 10th grade in Qatar, Recently I came across radio advertisement from Dubai that to avail Green Card I need to invest 500,000/- USD with projects of those construction companies stating that within 18 months I can avail conditional green card and within the next 24 months, I will have permanent Green card. My investment of 500,000/- USD will be returned back after five years without any interest or benefits. Once I will have conditional green card , will my son be eligible to get admission in US universities under Local student fees structure and not international fees structure.
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Green card based upon investment – EB-5
Video Transcript:
When you are doing an investment based green card first of all you have to look at these moving parts:
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 & my wife are completing 5 years now on US Green Card, but are apprehensive to go ahead and file for our US Citizenship under the current circumstances. We also read that PR's who are using state or federal benefits are more susceptible to denials. I am making close to 200K salary and not dependent on any govt sponsored benefits or funds. But our kid has been diagnosed for Autism and he is receiving services from Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The State alone is not paying for his services but we are primarily being billed on our private medical insurance for his therapy sessions every week. The school he is attending may be getting some funds for his additional care at school, considering his medical condition. Our questions are: Since we have been using DDD services for genuine medical reasons and I am in the higher salary bracket, would this be an issue for us in getting our Citizenship? Are the denials only for low income groups who are getting benefits from the government? Should we wait for some more time to apply for Citizenship?
Video Transcript:
Under the current regulations the prohibited benefits are:
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.
USCIS is proposing to revise our Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, to remove the receipt of means-tested benefits from the eligibility criteria. A means-tested benefit is a public benefit where eligibility for the benefit, the amount of the benefit, or both, is based on an individual’s income level.
F-1 students who have an H-1B petition that remains pending on Oct. 1, 2018, risk accruing unlawful presence if they continue to work on or after Oct. 1 (unless otherwise authorized to continue employment), as their “cap-gap” work authorization is only valid through Sept. 30.
DATE | Chart for all Employment - Based I-485 Pending Inventory |
July, 2018 |
Mr Khanna provided great advice regarding my petition as it was complicated. We had to apply for an amendment while current H1B extension was pending. Mr Khanna made all the right arguments and we were able to get an approval. All along the process I've been working with Kalpana and Bharathi on regular basis and had calls scheduled with Mr Khanna when needed. They were very detailed and current in terms of documentation.
I would like to thank them once again and highly recommend "Law Office of Rajiv S. Khanna".
I am currently working with employer A on H-1B visa with I-140 approved for over 180 days. My wife is on F-1 EAD. I am planning to move her visa status from F-1 to H-4 EAD AFTER I join Employer B next month based on my approved I-140 from my employer A. <br>
My questions are:<br>
1. Once I join employer B, will I be able to apply for my wife's H4 EAD based on approved I140 which I have from employer A? Can I apply both visa status change (F1 to H4) and application for H4 EAD concurrently?<br>
2. In other words, will changing my employer impact my wife's eligibility to get H-4 EAD based on my approved I-140 from previous employer?<br>
3. Can I change multiple employer based on I-140 approved from employer A? If yes, what if employer B has already started green card process (PERM)?<br>
4. If I get I-140 approved from employer B also then what will happen to I-140 approved 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.
PERM Processing Times (as of 08/31/2018)
As of September 4, 2018, USCIS transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Potomac Service Center and the Nebraska Service Center:
On Sep. 10, USCIS changed the filing location for Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. This form was previously filed at the California and Vermont service centers. Now, petitioners must send Form I-751 to a USCIS Lockbox facility. However, the California, Nebraska, Vermont, and Texas service centers will be the adjudicating offices.
Number 22
Volume X
Sept 13 Conference Call, Topics of Discussion
Travelling outside the US when H1 is pending, but already have a valid H1 and stamping, SEP-11-2018 USCIS PREMIUM STOPPAGE / NO MORE RFE'S ON OR AFTER SEP-11-2018
On Sept. 6, 2018, the CIS Ombudsman (CISOMB)1 held a stakeholder teleconference to discuss the USCIS “Issuance of Certain RFEs and NOIDs” policy memorandum (PM) that was issued on July 13, 2018. USCIS representatives provided an overview of the memorandum and addressed many questions submitted in advance by the CISOMB. The updated policy went into effect on September 11, 2018. Below is the link of the summary of the PM and the advance questions and answers from the teleconference.
A real great experience working with Mr. Rajiv Khanna. Very thorough in his approach and explanining his thoughts in an easy to understand, non-overly legal language. Crisp, precise and friendly, his opinion has been valuable in my preparations in acquiring for a US visa.