Guestbook Entry for Alex Lopes , United States
Name
Alex Lopes
Country
United States
State
Ohio
Search
Guestbook Entry for Jim Chundevalel , United States
Name
Jim Chundevalel
Country
United States
State
VA
Comment
After a painfully agonizing wait of 3 1/2 years, I finally got my labor certification approved. Rajiv's team did a fantastic job in filing my labor certification application. The whole process was executed in a very professional and timely manner and I never received any queries or RFEs. Rajiv's team kept me posted through out the certification phase and he personally took charge when there was a need to amend my petition due to a promotion that caused a change in my job description. The result - the amendment process could not gone smoother.
Without doubt, Rajiv and his team are the best in the field of immigration law - a fact proven by his 100% success rate. Thank you Rajiv.
Guestbook Entry for Ramadas Satya, United States
Name
Ramadas Satya
Country
United States
State
Texas
Comment
My family and I received our GC on August 2005.
I started the whole process in April 2005 with Rajiv Khanna as my attorney. He is an efficient lawyer of great standing and he has done an excellent job at every point in the whole process. I must mention here that the paperwork done under his guidance has been perfect. This substantially reduced the total time of this lengthy process and we received our GC in record time without any problem. I am specifically mentioning this because I have seen some of my friends they haven’t got their GC yet because of improper paperwork. I found the staff in his office very co-operative and with a special mention of Diane Lombardo she is very efficient and one of the best paralegal he has.
Thanks to Diane, Rajiv Khanna and his staff for the excellent job.
People can contact me as a reference.
Guestbook Entry for Vijay Mittal , United States
Name
Vijay Mittal
Country
United States
State
Virginia
Comment
Finally, got my green card. Thanks for all the extra effort and personalized attention that your firm provided. I have dealt with some big law firms before but unfortunately I have to tell them some things which they never heard of. Sometime I thought I have better knowledge of their profession, because my desire of getting green card forced me to learn more about the process. The promptness of the response that you provided while I was in India was really amazing. Your colleague set up me on phone call with you the very next morning.
I will be short of words to appreciate your colleagues. Special Thanks to Mathew Chackoo, he is incredible. He made extra efforts to help me out. Contacting my employer from time to time, responding to my calls promptly. His personalized attention is highly appreciated.
Thanks to all your team members for helping me getting through this long process. I have always recommended your services to my friends. Feel free to use my name as reference.
Benefits of Dream Act
Email
ssharmee@hunter.cuny.edu
I am 19 years old and I have been living in this country for 14 years. Due to my status I am struggling in college. I cannot pay my tuition and I am forced to work full time. I have a 3.8 GPA but no scholarship or loans to show for it. My goal is to become a doctor. I volunteer countless hours at hospitals because I enjoy helping people and I love being around doctors. Although many students get paid to work in laboratories and conduct research, I do it for free because I am not a permanent resident or a citizen.
Taxonomy upgrade extras
I-765 Ead Online Application Guide
The process of E-filing was easy !!. The ASC took only 10 min for the photos and Finger Prints.
Advantages of E-File:
- Enter the data yourself => so NO chance of Typo errors by TSC. Make sure YOU do not make typo / name swapping errors : See : http://forums.immigration.com/
- Pay by CC ; => you can immediately see that the Money has safely been charged. (Hey earn some credit card miles ..or points !! See Below : about Security Code when using Credit Card ) http://forums.immigration.com/
- Get Recipt # instantly.
Green Card
H-1 Visa Interview in Canada
State
Texas
Email
qanne_22@hotmail.com
hi all,
i think my experience might help others so i m writing it down.
my husband and i came to toronto canada on sep, 6th 2005 (yes
2 days ago).
we had our interview appointment on sep, 7 9:00 am.
my husband came to US from pakistan in 1999 on a student visa. He did his masters and then got a job in Houston. He is a mechanical enigineer.
we got married in 2002 and got our first H1 stamped from islamabad, pakistan.
Nonimmigrant Visas
POE experience after succesful CP @ Islamabad
The Immigrant Visa looks like a H1B1 visa stamp but the information is obviously different. The embassy also hands out a packet with top right part perforated. It has a white paper on the front which has your picture and information on it.
I landed at Chicago O'Hare airport at about 3:15 PM. While in the plane, I had filled only the customs forms and not the I-94 white form. After landing, I went to the New Immigrant line. The officer looked at the IV and took the packet from me. He sent me to the NSEERS special registration line.
Green Card
Professionals' self application for green card
I am reporting here comments from and my responses to a member of our community, "Julissa," regarding whether or how she could apply for a green card herself if she has a Master's degree. Do note, if a set of new immigration laws gets passed, all this could change.
Guestbook Entry for Shyam Patil, United States
Name
Shyam Patil
Country
United States
State
NC
Comment
Thank you very very much Rajivji and Vijaybhai for all the help with my PERM process and finally it was certified on Nov 13th(PD 06/25/2014).
SEVP deploys new class of field representatives to work with US schools hosting international students
WASHINGTON — The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) deployed 14 additional field representatives to territories across the country this week. The field representatives serve as liaisons between the nearly 9,000 U.S. schools that enroll international students and SEVP. The program, housed within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), certifies schools to enroll international students and protects national security by overseeing those students for compliance with U.S. laws.
DHS Announces Temporary Protected Status Designations for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone
WASHINGTON— Due to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has announced his decision to designate Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. As a result, eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone who are currently residing in the United States may apply for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna, 20 Nov 2014 (Every Other Thursday)
Substantial transcription for video
The following topics were discussed in today's community conference call. The video is attached below.
Discussed: Abandonment of Green Card, OPT to H-1 change delay, immigration consequences of criminal conviction for misdemeanor (petty offense exception), N-470 to maintain residence, EB-2 filing, Investing in stocks while on H-1, delays and difficulty in entering the USA -- TRIP, H-4 visa stamping, getting married to a US Citizen while on H-1, marriage certificate, immigration reform, CSPA, Cross chargeability, Unpaid leave on H-1, H-1 visa stamping, NOIR for multiple H-1 filing through related companies, frequency of visits on B visa, employment verification letters in PERM.
Executive Actions on Immigration - USCIS
On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
Cross-Chargeability
Question details
I am working on H-1B. This week, I got my I-140 petition approved that was filed in EB2. I am Indian citizen born in India. My marriage is scheduled to happen in Jan, 2015. The girl is citizen of India and was born in Nepal. I have heard that after marriage, I would be eligible to file I-485 for both myself and my (then) wife, based on cross-chargeability rules. <br>
1: Is my eligibility to file I-485 (based on the birth country of wife) and its approval thereafter dependent on discretion of USCIS? If yes, does USCIS generally approve or deny such I-485 petitions filed on the basis of cross chargeability rules? <br>
2: Is there any reason due to which my wife and I would be denied from filing I-485 and there-after getting an approval of I-485 (leaving aside fraud matters)? <br>
3: My fiancée is yet to get her passport made in India. I found that my fiancée does not have her birth certificate from Nepal. Is a birth certificate the only way to prove location of birth? If she gets her birth certificate made now, Does the USCIS create issues about a birth certificate made so many years after birth? <br>
4: In my scenario (EB2 petition, primary applicant India born, wife Nepal born Indian citizen), How long (approximately) after filing I-485 would it take to get the green card?
See clip from Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna's conference call video that addresses this question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujMQ79pgzX8
FAQ Transcript
Unpaid Leave On H-1
Question details
I have a question on the unpaid leaves when outside USA while on H-1. I am on H-1 and recently went to India for stamping which was completed without any problem. I had paid vacation of 2 weeks, which I had already used and stayed in India for a month which is not going to be paid. My employer is saying these will be unpaid leaves and won't be running paychecks for these leaves and is mentioning that this won't be a problem in future as this is legal. I want to take legal opinion from you regarding what the law says in the above situation. <p>
1. If I am out of US on unpaid leaves and won't get paid, will there be any issues on my H-1 status in future for transfer or GC? <br>
2. If due to unpaid leave, W2 is less than the LCA, will it be a problem? If yes, what documentation we can show to USCIS to clarify to them why it’s less?
See clip from Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna's conference call video that addresses this question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujMQ79pgzX8#t=1516
FAQ Transcript
If you are on H-1, sometimes people ask me, I want to maintain status even though I am getting laid off. Can I be on unpaid leave and does maintain status?
Obama's Immigration Action - EB-3 Quota
Question details
Does this impact EB-3 India wait times and also does this lift counting on family members/dependents for visa numbers /quota ?
Obama's Immigration Action plan could impact all waiting time for EB categories. We are not clear how far or how quickly. There is no indication that the method counting green cards will be changed to One per family, instead of one for each family member in an employment-based case. President has asked for recommendations for improvement within 120 days. We shall see.
Obama's Immigration Action EAD At I-140 Stage
Question details
I am on H-1B Visa, got my I-140 approved in EB-2 Category and waiting for the dates to get current. Based on Executive Action, shall I be given any EAD ? Or at least any other forms so that I can travel and need not go for Visa Stamping and all the additional paper work.
I have heard that there is a proposal to allow filing of I-485
Concurrent AOS filing for EB-2 Physical Therapist
Question details
Is this true ? - "If the ‘Schedule A’ application falls into the “EB-2” or Employment Based Second Preference category (the employer requires a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy or a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy + 5 years of experience), then the Adjustment of Status application can be submitted simultaneously with the Form I-140".
Concurrent filing is possible ONLY if your priority date for EB-2 is current, and not backlogged.
Obama's Immigration Action, Discussion with Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
For updates, see my blog page on Obama's Immigration Action.
Takeaway points for legal immigration from President Obama’s executive action:
1. USCIS is “about to” publish the final rule on H-4 work authorization. That will make it possible for certain spouses of H-1 holders to get work authorization.
2. Improving employment-based green card backlogs by:
a. Making visa issuance more efficient so no immigrant visas are wasted;
b. Providing for better AC21 rules and other ways to keep immigrant visas intact after a change of jobs. USCIS will clarify what constitutes “same or similar” job so that AC21 will not stop workers from getting promotions or even changing to related jobs within their field. USCIS must clear the path to career progression for green card applicants.
3. Expandingfurther the OPT time for STEM students, but creating tighter control on which universities/schools/degrees are eligible and ensure local workers are protected (Implement some sort of a “mini PERM?”).
4. Creating opportunities for foreign “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” Unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the following parole program will help:
a. Creating a parole (which is usually a temporary, but very quick measure and could eventually lead to a green card) program so that on a case-by-case bases, “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies can be brought quickly into the USA where:
i.They have raised financing in the USA; OR
ii.Otherwise hold the promise of innovation and job creation through development of new technologies OR cutting edge research
5. Creating guidelines for exceptionally qualified or advanced degreed individuals to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” As noted, unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the parole option above could be helpful.
6. Providing clear guidance on L-1B program as to who can qualify.
Guestbook Entry for Krithika, United States
Name
Krithika
Country
United States
State
California
Comment
Excellent service.Tried approaching many attorneys who were either busy or not responsive.But Rajiv was not just responsive but also humble and the consultation was free of cost!
DOL to Support Of Victims of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes Seeking Immigration Relief
In early 2015, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor will begin exercising its authority to certify applications for trafficking victims seeking T visas. In addition, WHD will expand its existing U visa program by certifying such requests when it detects three additional qualifying criminal activities in the course of its workplace investigations: extortion, forced labor, and fraud in foreign labor contracting.
I thank Rajiv and his staff, especially Hellen Anchillo, Richa Narang, and Suman Bhasin, for their help in getting me through the GC process. It is clear Rajiv's office has the whole process nail down and they were very prompt in answering my questions. I always felt I was knowledgeable of my options and the costs and benefits involved in each course of action. I have recommended Rajiv's office to some friends and I will continue to do so in the future.