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?
I hired the services of Mr. Rajiv Khanna's law firm after a so-called big shot immigration attorney here in Dallas proved to me that his incompetence & sheer lack of knowledge came at an exorbitant price. Being a perfectionist by nature, I decided not to go in to the H1 process with that conman and chose to go with Mr Khanna's law firm instead after thorough research. Can easily say that it was one of those decisions for which u pat yourself on the back. The sheer promptness, professionalism and clockwork precision exhibited by Anna Baker, Rena Waddell & Charu Bhagat was exemplary. At the same time, they were very patient with my constant complex queries. I never felt a lack of warmth in my interaction with them, which is pretty uncommon otherwise, especially when it comes to law firms. The processing & paperwork was super-quick and the ball was always rolling. It was hardly any time after my case was filed that I got a call one morning informing me of my approval. And to think that I have never even seen or met any of these wonderful people. One word to describe these guys. Brilliant.