Guestbook Entry for Sriman Dhamodharan, United States
Name
Sriman Dhamodharan
Country
United States
State
AZ
Search
Guestbook Entry for Pratik Sheth , United States
Name
Pratik Sheth
Country
United States
State
North Carolina
Comment
I did at least 3 H1s and Green Card through this firm. I never had any glitches (no RFEs..never!)
Excellent courteous staff, prompt response are just some of the things that are so rare to find from other immigration lawyers. Rajiv Khanna himself is always available for advise.
Filed for my Green Card back in April of 2001,
NC State labor approval: May, 2002
Federal Labor approval: May, 2003
140-485 filed: May, 2003
140-485 approval: October, 2004
Fingerprinting: Dec, 2004
Plastic card received: Dec, 2004
Guestbook Entry for Laks Krishnamurthi , United States
Name
Laks Krishnamurthi
Country
United States
State
WA
Comment
I received amazing support from your firm with my labor petition. Thanks to you, my labor was filed in the shortest possible timeframe without sacrificing on quality or diligence. My Special thanks to Amrita who was my Case officer and was well and truly magnificent. Hats off.
Look forward to my continued relationship with your firm.
Guestbook Entry for Lavanya Atthe , United States
Name
Lavanya Atthe
Country
United States
State
Texas
Comment
I would like to thank Mr.Khanna for the fabulous work done on my Green Card.
I started my GC journey in July 2001 starting with Ads for RIR. My case was approved in Dec 2004. I thank all the team members who worked with me: Richa, Savitha, Matthew, Sri & Leila & Suman. They have always promptly answered my questions patiently. I would recommend this law firm to anyone for any immigration matter.
Guestbook Entry for Dr.Venkata S.Nagireddi , United States
Name
Dr.Venkata S.Nagireddi
Country
United States
State
Missouri
Comment
Rajiv Khanna and his team is very professional.They have hot my H1B approved for my new job in time and most importantly, he rescued us from H4 dependents visa mess. I am very happy with him and his team for the services we received.I like people with honesty and sincerity.I highly recommend him.God bless you Rajiv.
Guestbook Entry for Rama Krishna Vavilala , United States
Name
Rama Krishna Vavilala
Country
United States
State
Georgia
Comment
I started my green card processing in February 2003 with when I applied for the labor certification and I got my I485 approved on December 7th. My company was looking for different lawyers and I am glad that the company selected Mr. Rajiv Khanna.
The staff is really very knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful. My special thanks to Prerena Mehta, Vijay Durgham, and Shivane. The staff was always available for clarifications for doubts raised either by me or by my employer.
Thank you so much to Rajiv and his staff.
Guestbook Entry for MURUGESH KASILINGAM , United States
Name
MURUGESH KASILINGAM
Country
United States
State
IL
Comment
I know Rajiv for the last 6 years and I would say " He is one of the Best Attorney for Immigration in U.S"
Murugesh
V.P Multivision
Guestbook Entry for Murthy Maddala , United States
Name
Murthy Maddala
Country
United States
State
VA
Comment
There is not just 6 letter word 'THANKS' enough to describe this office and its experienced and friendly team. I have emailed Mr.Khanna about my case and Immediately I received the call from him the next day morning. He gave me the hope that this case can be resolved.
My special thanks to Jitesh Malik, the Attorney who prepared the legal arguments required for this case. He was very patient to listen to my case and always never let me loose the hope. He has been so responsive in preparing the case. Also thanks to Anna Baker who never got irritated by my phone calls. And of course Joy Sheppard who put all effort in putting all the papers in right order. On top of all this, my sincere thanks to Mr. Khanna, without whom i would not be able to write this appreciation note.
Thank you so much and thanks to all those whom i forgot to mention. You people are the best !!!
Chennai Medical Experience
I got my medicals done in Chennai in early November, thought I would post my experience while it is still fresh in my memory.Note that I am not a Chennai resident - I reached Chennai at 6AM on the test day, and had booked my return the same night. I wanted to finish both the lab and the checkup the same day.
A)Procedure at Lister
Green Card
FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7
Release Date
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each beneficiary.
H-1B Quota 2025
We recommend that the H-1B lottery registration process should be planned and initiated now to ensure that it is ready to be submitted once the registrations open from noon Eastern on March 7, 2025 through noon Eastern on March
Visa Bulletin For March 2025
Number 99
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during March 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.
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
Trump Administration - What to expect | Immigration updates - H1B Visa, OPT, Green Card
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Starting A US company on OPT | Latest Immigration Updates - H-1B | OPT | Green Card
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Recording for February 06, 2025, Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
FAQs:
1. Laid off on EAD from EB1A, can I start an UNRELATED teaching business?
2. Can I travel on Advance Parole?
3. Can I delay using an H-1B visa to utilize the STEM extension period?
4. H-1B specialty occupation for MS in UX Design (STEM)
Talent Visas Under Trump - EB-1A | O-1A | NIW/H-1B QnA, Feb 5, 2025
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Green Card
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Increased Denials & Delays in some US Visa Categories, Rajiv in QnA, Feb 12, 2025
Nonimmigrant Visas
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
H-1B Visa | OPT | CPT - Latest USA Immigration QnA, Jan 30, 2025
Nonimmigrant Visas
SUBSCRIBE to Immigration.com YouTube Channel for further updates.
mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Recording for February 20, 2025, Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
FAQs:
1. Can I volunteer with a Non-Profit while on any temporary visa (for example, F-1 OPT)?
2. Options after layoff on approved EB-1 - Compelling circumstances EAD and GC EAD conversion
3. NIW I-485 rejected: Refiling options and priority date usage?
Relocating to India with GC, how to apply for US citizenship?
Question details
We primarily have questions on relocation to India and possibilities.
My wife and I want to retain our Green Cards and eventually get US citizenship. We are just 3 years away from getting our US citizenship.
However, we want to relocate to India for our aging parents. We want to be able to relocate to India now for a few years (5 years), but we also don’t want to miss out on the citizenship opportunity when we are this close to getting our US citizenship. Is this even possible without the hassle of staying 6 months in the US and 6 months in India, and would there be any tax implications if one of us continues to work for the same employer in the US remotely from India?
We are aware that we can take 2 years' permission by filing Form I-131 and staying outside the US for 2 years. However, we need more than 2 years to stay outside the US. Also, the citizenship clock resets if we take this option. Is there a way to avoid this?
FAQ Transcript
If you plan to relocate to India with a green card before obtaining U.S. citizenship, it can significantly complicate the naturalization process. To apply for U.S. citizenship, you must meet physical presence requirements: at least 2.5 years in the U.S. over the last five years and no single absence of a year or more. If you stay outside the U.S. for over six months but less than a year, you may need to provide an explanation.
A re-entry permit (Form I-131) allows you to stay outside the U.S. for up to two years without losing your green card, but it does not help with citizenship requirements. Form N-470 can protect your eligibility in limited cases, such as working for a U.S. company’s foreign branch, but it does not guarantee naturalization.
If you stay abroad for more than a year, you will likely need to restart your five-year residency requirement (or four years and one day if a re-entry permit was used). While re-entry permits can be renewed in certain cases, they do not protect your citizenship timeline.
Best advice: Obtain U.S. citizenship first and then relocate, as naturalized citizens can live abroad indefinitely without affecting their status. Please consult your lawyer regarding this.
Gap in approval dates between change of status from one status to another
Question details
I applied for a change of status from an H1B to an H4 visa via I-539 in May 2024 as I got laid off, with my last working date being 3/19/2024.
The document was received by USCIS on 5/10/2024 and confirmed by I-797C, Notice of Action dt 5/20/2024.
On 12/26/2024, my case was approved. I received I-797A Notice of Action with Approval on 1/7/2025. The approval date shows the validity of H4 from 12/23/2024 to 03/13/2027.
On my I-539 I had asked for the change of status to be effective from 05/15/2024 as my 60-day period would run out on 5/19/2024.
However, the H4 approval shows the start date as 12/23/2024. So, my question is, what status was I in during the period 5/19/2024 and 12/23/2024, and will I face any problems if I go for visa stamping? Do I need to write to USCIS and ask for a date to be changed to 5/15/2024 to avoid issues in the future?
FAQ Transcript
If you applied for a change of status (COS) while still in valid status—such as H-1B plus the 60-day grace period—you are not considered out of status while your application is pending. In this case, since you applied for H-4 within the grace period, the period between May (filing date) and December (approval date) is classified as an authorized period of stay, meaning it does not count as unlawful presence.
Even though the approval date is later, you are not subject to the three-year bar because you remained legally in the U.S. while the petition was pending. There are no negative implications for your status.
Can I delay using an H-1B visa to utilize the STEM extension period?
Question details
I am in my first year of OPT and eligible for a STEM extension. If selected in the H1B lottery on the first attempt, can I delay activating my H1B to fully utilize my STEM OPT? Would this be advisable, and what are the potential benefits or risks?
FAQ Transcript
If you have time left on your STEM OPT but have won the H-1B lottery, you can technically opt for H-1B consular processing and continue using your STEM OPT. However, since 2023, this approach has become riskier.
The safer option is to proceed with an H-1B change of status. If you delay the H-1B activation and later face job loss, transferring the H-1B could be more complicated. While consular processing is still possible, it carries uncertainties. If it were my case, I would choose the change of status for a more secure transition.
Laid off on EAD from EB1A, can I start an UNRELATED teaching business? Can I travel on Advance Parole?
Question details
I have an EAD from an approved EB1A petition (priority date: Apr 2022). I recently got laid off and am thinking of starting a business ( related to K-12 education.) MY EAD is based on an advanced degree in Operations research with publications and related work experience in data science. Is there a risk to justify 'teaching' or running a tutoring business based on this EAD? If so, can you keep looking for related jobs and teach on the side without incorporating this as a business in the interim? On an unrelated note, in your opinion, what is the risk of traveling out of the country in this situation? (I have an advance parole in hand as well.)
FAQ Transcript
If you have an EB-1A-based EAD and a pending I-485, starting an unrelated business (such as teaching) is risky. Your EB-1A petition asserts that you intend to work in your field of extraordinary ability. Shifting to an unrelated field could raise questions about your original intent and impact your green card application.
Additionally, traveling on Advance Parole in this situation may pose some risks. It’s advisable to either have a job offer or a clear plan to work in your field (such as consulting with clients) before traveling. Proceed with caution.
Can an H-1B holder start a company with a full-time job?
Question details
As per the new 2024 H1B Rules, can an H1B holder start a company with 100% ownership (possibly working on out-of-office hours/weekends) while holding a full-time job at another company?
FAQ Transcript
Yes, an H-1B holder can start a company while maintaining a full-time job, but there are key conditions:
- Concurrent H-1B: You must file for a concurrent H-1B for your own company.
- Ownership: You can own 100% of the company; USCIS allows majority ownership.
- Job Role: At least 51% of your work must be in your H-1B specialty (e.g., software development), not just as a CEO.
- Salary & Compliance: Your company must pay you a prevailing wage and follow all standard H-1B rules.
While legally possible, the process is complex and must be carefully structured to meet all H-1B regulations.
H-1B cap exempt visa pros and cons
Question details
I am on OPT, which started on 19th February 2024. I joined my first job on OPT on 8th July 2024 and lost one attempt at the H1B lottery. I work for a research foundation, and they can sponsor me for an H1B-exempt visa. I have a degree in computer science, and I ultimately want to work in corporate America, which means I need to get an H1B cap-subject visa.
My question is whether I should get this H1B exempt visa through my current organization or if I should try to switch to a different company and use my remaining two attempts at the lottery. I ask this because once I get the H1B exempt visa and change my status from F1 to H1B, I won’t be able to switch to a for-profit organization and would be stuck in H1B exempt visa category. H1B-exempt visa jobs are less and pay less. And though the option of an H1B concurrent visa is there but I feel in reality, it will be challenging to get a company to allow me to work for another company due to NDA requirements and also allow part-time work. (But I would appreciate your advice on this since you must have had client experience.)
Can you advise me on how to get the H1B exempt visa now? Does it have any advantage, given I want to transition to a corporate company? What options will I have if I switch to a for-profit organization? Also, I am currently funded through a grant, and it has runway till July 2026.
I have seen people saying not to get an H1B exempt visa as you will be stuck in that category, but I also feel that any H1B visa will be better than F1.
FAQ Transcript
If you have the opportunity to get an H-1B cap-exempt visa through a research foundation, you should take it. Having cap-exempt H-1B status does not prevent you from continuing to apply for the regular H-1B lottery.
Additionally, you can hold both a cap-exempt and a cap-subject H-1B concurrently as long as you maintain your cap-exempt job. If you win the H-1B lottery through a for-profit employer, you can easily switch to a regular H-1B.
Taking the cap-exempt route ensures immediate work authorization and does not limit future opportunities. The idea that you’ll be "stuck" in cap-exempt status is incorrect.
I would like to thank Khanna's Law office in every stage. Now he helped to cross the first stage. My Federal Labor certified. Even though we are client's to Rajiv, He treats clients as friend and some one very close to him by giving personal care and attention. Also his personnel's are also doing good job particularly Subha(Case Manager). I felt that my case has been taken with close personal care by Subha. You will feel, if you are dealing the case through Subha. I appreciate Subha's immediate response and perfect guidance, by treating us like a family member. I have no words to thank her. Also the follow up by Rajiv's office is excellent. I would like to thank Suman(Supervisor),Bindhiya and Mathew Chacko also in this time. Once again my heartful thanks to Rajiv for bringing my case to this level. I am also least bothered about my next stage, as I have good group of people like Rajiv and Subha with me. I strongly recommend every one to process through Rajiv's Office to get success.
I wish a very Happy and Prosperous New Year for Rajiv and his Team.