USCIS recently updated the lockbox filing location information for th
I am on an L-1 visa, and I am working in the U.S.. My wife is outside the U.S. Her L-2 visa has expired. We want to get an appointment somewhere to get visa stamping together. I cannot travel without an appointment, or else I will be stuck and will not return to the U.S. without visa stamping. The embassy has not opened for more than a year now, and she is stuck, so how can we get appointments? Can this be an emergency appointment case?
We do not have enough information about your case, but generically, it appears that your wife may have the option to go through the dropbox process. Please look into that. Also, emergency appointments are just that: reserved for an emergency. Most consulates are not likely to entertain such a request unless there is a real emergency.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 an approved H-1B petition. Right now, I am in India. However, my spouse also holds an H-1B. Can I apply for an H-4 visa and travel to the USA with my spouse and apply for a change of status in the USA from consular processing and use my H-1B there. Will it affect my H-1B in any way?
Technically, the USCIS can object to applying for a change of status within 90 days after entry, if the change results in activities that are inconsistent with the original visa used for entry, the H-4 visa. The key question is whether applying for H-1B soon after entry into the USA is inconsistent with H-4, a visa that allows work authorization.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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.
We are the parents of a minor (5 months) old U.S.Citizen daughter who is currently in India. We need to take our daughter to the U.S. for her 6-month vaccination doses. My H-1B visa and my spouse's H-4 visa need to be renewed, but unfortunately, there are no dropbox appointments available in any city. Is there a way an exemption can be made for our travel? I am a civil engineer who has built commercial facilities and will be building more commercial facilities in California, USA.
You can try seeking an emergency visa appointment based on medical reasons applicable to your daughter.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 presently in the U.S. and will be visiting India to get my H-1B Visa stamped. As there are travel restrictions for passengers from India to the US, will I be allowed to enter the U.S. on an H-1B visa? Presently I am staying in the U.S. on OPT.
Unless you are covered by an exemption, you will have to apply for a national interest exception. Also, getting appointments for visa stamping is not particularly easy at the moment.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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.
We are currently in India, and one of my daughters is a U.S. citizen by birth. However, our H-1B visa expired a few years ago. So now we do not have any valid U.S. visas. Can we travel to the U.S. now based on my daughter's U.S. passport? Please advise as we heard many such parents are traveling like this, Are there any options for us?
You cannot reenter the USA without a visa. Having a US citizen child exempts you from the travel ban, but not from the visa requirements.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 recently transferred from the U.S. to the UAE office since I was not selected in the H-1B lottery in March. I was then selected in the second lottery and my company has started the H-1B process. Can I do short-term 1-2 week visits on H-1B every few months instead of B-1? Do I need to be employed to enter the U.S. using H-1b?
While intermittent H-1B employment is permitted, it is only for the job for which you have an H-1B approval. You cannot use an H-1B visa to travel to the US intermittently without that job.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 F1 OPT and in the U.S. My OPT started in Jan 2021. My wife is in India and just got her F-2 visa. We both are Indian and haven't been able to meet. Would you please tell us if she can travel to the U.S.? Most places say that the program needs to start on or after August 1st, but I am very confused, given that my OPT began in January.
OPT is considered an ongoing program. She can travel now, subject only to the Covid-19 related health directives.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 my OPT period (June 1st, 2021 - May 31st, 2022) and am working for a company in the USA. I plan to travel to India for my sister's wedding from December 18th, 2021, to December 28th, 2021. The following are my questions for travel in these COVID situations:
1. I wanted to know the details for entering the USA. What documents should I have while entering the USA?
2. Does the USA allow OPT holders to enter?
A1: You will need to contact your DSO for endorsement on your I-20 to travel, evidence that you have been working (like pay stubs), and a letter from your employer confirming that you will be returning to your ongoing employment.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 a Slovenian citizen, and I plan to do a 3-month student internship in the USA in December. I have everything arranged with my employer. The only question I have is, can I travel from the Schengen area on my J-1 visa? And if not, how can I come to the USA for my internship?
J-1 exchange visitors will be able to travel only if the visa is approved and they qualify for a national interest exception (NIE).
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 parents are both U.K. citizens and don't have any visas apart from just an ESTA; they are in the U.K. However, my wife is American, and I am now a U.S. citizen, and we both live in the U.S. permanently. We just had a baby a few days ago, and we want my parents to travel from the U.K. to the U.S. to help with the baby. Is this possible for them to travel on the ESTA they have? If not, can we apply for a different visa, so they can come to the U.S.?
It appears they will be able to travel only if they travel to and stay for two weeks in a third country from which travel to the USA is allowed.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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.
What are the consequences if we extend parents visitor's visa's stay for more than 1 time? Will it be a problem when they come back to US again? Is the minimum time to come back again still 6 months?
The first consequence is coming too frequently. So, then stay away for one year. The second is you have to keep daisy-chaining your extensions. Three if you leave without an extension result, it's okay as long as you're leaving within the time that you asked for and lastly, if the extension is denied you may have to apply for a new tourist visa. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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 spouse has her green card from 2014 and she has been travelling regularly to India to take care of her ailing Father.
She had been coming back to USA within Less than 6 months and staying in the US for a few months
and travelling back again. This has has been going on for the past 6 years. In between she got a reentry permit for 2 years which has expired.
recently she travelled back to the US after 8 months and had a tough time with the immigration officer who questioned regarding the
extended stay in india and finally she was allowed in with the regular stamp in the passport. No comments/special notes were made in the passport.She has now applied for a new re entry permit and waiting for its approval.
she co owns the house and a partner in the LLC and has been filing US resident taxes and I have
been working and staying in the US during the entire period .
1) Based on the above details is it safe for her to travel once her re entry permit is approved?
2) Should she wait for a specific period of time before she can travel ?
3) Would carrying a copy of the House title,LLC partnership details and copy of the Tax filing help
in case she is questioned at the Port of entry.
In a situation like this you should really talk to a lawyer. The key indicators of a situation like this are does she permanently live in the United States. Doing it repeatedly year after year for six years that does not bode well, but with special circumstances, you could make an argument that she never intended to abandon her permanent residence. More...
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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.
Release Date
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners and requestors who are responding to certain:
USCIS reminds employers of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Transitional Workers (CW-1) that, if you have a currently-approved CW-1 petition with a validity period of six months or more, you must file Form I-129CWR, Semiannual Report for CW-1 Employers, with USCIS every six months after the petition validity start date.
Here are some experiences with regards to my entire track from NIW I-140 petition to I-485 approval. I had somewhat of an unique case, so if anyone here is in the same boat, this may be of help to you. I have done the entire process by myself, without an attorney, and long hours of research in the law library on U.S.C. Section 8.
Arrived to US in 1991 on J-1, not subject to section 212e, changed to F-1 on arrival. Became an H-1 in 2001 and filed for NIW in March of 2002, case was backlogged due to 9-11.
Based on the advice of some of the members at immigrationportal and being an eternal optimist, I went to Vermont Service center on Aug 23rd taking a dayoff. The lady in the counter told me that my file is in queue for FP scheduling. I told her that I got the same reply even two months back when I made senatorial enquiry.
Today I had my interview conducted, and passport stamped as the final result. I finally can draw a closure for this 27-month-long journey. Honestly and surprisingly, I was extremely calm when I arrived USCIS office 4 am today. I was reading one of my favorite authors' (Ann Quindlen) bestseller " One True Thing" while I was waiting in the waiting room so concentratedly that when my name was called, I realized that my eyes were full of tears (yeah, the story's very touching and real. ) Anyway, here's my detail report to all of you who are still waiting:
Thanks to all the wonderful professional staff at Rajiv's Offices. The entire experience from getting a L1 visa to a GC approval within 24 months was awesome. I really appreciated the personal attention and constant updates on status. I also want to highlight the superior service Savita Krishnamurthy extended, many times going beyond the call of duty. You people are A1.
This is to announce to everyone that Offices of Rajiv Khanna extended their service without sparing any efforts to get my green card approved. I was extremely happy with their service and I'm more than willing to answer what I went through and how Rajiv helped me out.. Thanks.. Ram
Thanks for helping me getting my green card. Spacial thanks to Shivani Sharma, Liela Lehman, Sri, Diano Lambardo, Mathew Chacko and Vijay Durgam. Every body did good job in preparing paper work which helped me getting green card earlier than others.
I am working with Rajiv's office for over a year now. Staff is extremely professional and very prompt. I would highly recommend the firm.
My wife and I received our GC approval notices and got stamps on our passports on August 31, 2004. We are thankful to Mr. Khanna and his team for getting our GC approved. The whole GC process was not smooth but Mr. Khanna was very helpful all along. Whenever we wanted to talk to him for the problems we faced throughout the GC processing, he was always kind enough to spend his valuable time to discuss with us about our case. And finally after three years of struggle we have had happy ending. Again, we would like to thank Mr. Khanna and his staff especially Diane for the good job they have done for our GC process.
Dear All,
I want to inform the full story of my GC Episode. I am writing this on Sep-22-2004.
I was planning to apply for my GC during 2001 March. I was visiting many Attorneys office personally in Houston and through phone. I found out that, Attorney Rajiv S.Khanna was collecting the decent fees among all.
Then I checked his reputation. It was amazing. So, I contacted him through email.
Within 24 hours, with free of cost he talked to me. Listened my case and suggested me to apply through EB1 (OR).
I chosen him and his office gave me case number and opened a file for me. Then they assigned me to interact with one of Attorney’s Associates Ms.Diane D Lombardo. A Wonderful lady.
She walked through with me for the entire case (around 3 years). I could have asked at least 100 questions in my full three years, because my case was getting complicated. I lost my Job before I140 approval. I am a software engineer, so it is not a surprise for me. But, INS cannot understand that. I thought I lost my GC almost. But, Diane in continuous consultations with Attorney Rajiv rescued me from the deep problem. My sincere thanks to her.
Next Thankful person is Mathew Chaco. He also one of Attorney’s Associates. Great Person. Free to approach and also fast in responses. When my Finger Printing was not raised by INS. I approached him. He arranged for a talk to INS from Attorney office immediately. Within 30 days I got FP from INS. While many of my contemporary GC candidates are yet to get FP, I got it because of him and my GC also approved within 2 months after FP.
Next thankful Person is Ms.Suman. Over all supervisor. She talked to me several occasions. She is always to the point. If you approach for any issues. She will inform you the time for the reply. Exactly within the mentioned time (after the discussion with Attorney Rajiv or some times she arranged Attorney to talk to me) she will always reply with the possible positive answer.
All these questions I raised with them are free. Because I am a client for them.
Their office people also having excellent hospitality. Polite in answering and approachable.
BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE, ATTORNEY RAJIV AND HIS ASSOCIATES ARE THE BEST LAWYER FOR IMMIGRATION RELATED PURPOSE IN USA.
Email me if you have any questions.
Good Luck.