USCIS Forms Update Notice
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
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State Department Announces that Ink Signature No Longer Required on Affidavits of Support
As part of our ongoing efforts to be responsive to customer needs in immigrant visa processing, the Department of State is pleased to announce that original or “wet ink” signatures are no longer required on submitted Forms I-864, Affidavit of Support. This also applies to the I-864A, I-864W, and I-864EZ.
Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday), 1 December 2016
Immigration Law
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 1 December 2016:
FAQ: New I-140 EAD regulations -- Extending H-1 after I-140 revocation, retaining priority dates under new regulations, per country limits, EAD under the new regulations; effective date of new regulations; Visa cancelled CWOP, 214(b) denial; FAQ: Implications of joining an end client where H-1B employer objects, H-1B employer not paying salary - DOL Wage and Hour Division Complaint WH-4; AC21 green card portability, "same or similar" job under old/new regulations, working on 1099 as contractor; Frequency of visits and duration of stay on tourist/visitors/B-1/B-2 visa; Foreign Medical Graduates, Physicians, H-1B for part time jobs, concurrent cap and cap exempt H-1B employment.
Other: Consular processing green card through future employer; Can one start H-1B job before the requested start date? Court orders for migration of child by divorced parent; H-2B extension, denial, 240-day rule; Volunteering on F-1 OPT; Aging out; Name errors on green card; Humanitarian parole, H-1B change of status, etc.
AAO Processing Times as of December 1, 2016
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Case Type |
Time |
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Agency
Immigration Law
Visa Bulletin - January 2017
Agency
Green Card
USCIS Announces Citizenship Resource Center Improved for Mobile Devices
Beginning December 12, the free citizenship preparation and study materials in USCIS’ Citizenship Resource Center will be easier to use from a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. Among the improvements, the new design puts key navigational links inside a single “hamburger” icon like that found on many other mobile sites. This redesign follows the launch of mobile friendly design on other parts of uscis.gov and uscis.gov/es earlier this year.
USCIS Announces Extension of Parole for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
To allow immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and certain “stateless” individuals to maintain legal status in the CNMI, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the parole program for these relatives, effective immediately, until December 31, 2018.
To apply for extension of this parole, you must:
What is new regulations for H-1 grace period, revocation of I-140 ?
Question details
My I 140 is approved in 2013 and H1-B 5 year and 3 months are completed.
I have important question , after 17 Jan 2016 , my any chance I loose my job and my employer revoke my H1-B and I 140.
1. Will I get some time to find new job and new employee to transfer my H1-B ?
2. after my employer revoke my H1-B what is time line I can still transfer my H1-B visa with new employer?
Government will sympathetically consider unexpected layoffs and should give you consideration up to 60 days each H-1 period. So one 60 day period let say you have taken and then changed your employer another 60 day period kind of like that and there is little more to it but each time there is new validity to H-1 . You will be able to get 60 more days.
FAQ 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.
USCIS Publishes Interim Rule on T Nonimmigrant Status
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations governing the requirements and procedures for victims of human trafficking who seek T nonimmigrant status. DHS is also streamlining procedures, responding to public comments, and providing guidance on the statutory requirements for T nonimmigrants in order to ensure that the T nonimmigrant status (T visa) regulations are up to date and reflect USCIS’ adjudicative experience.
H-2B Returning Worker Program Expired
The H-2B returning worker provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-113) expired on Sept.
USCIS Fee Changes Take Effect Dec. 23
USCIS reminds applicants and petitioners to pay new fees with forms postmarked or filed on or after Dec. 23, 2016, or USCIS will not be able to accept the filings. USCIS will only accept previous fees if they are postmarked Dec. 22 or earlier.
Guestbook Entry for Alex Lopes , United States
Name
Alex Lopes
Country
United States
State
Ohio
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.
AAO Processing Times as of December 1, 2016
This link below shows the average amount of time it takes to receive a decision in a particular type of case after the case file is received by the AAO. Processing times are directly related to the volume of cases received.
http://www.immigration.com/processing-times-status-checks/aao-processin…
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
Change of Status to H-4 - effect on priority date; maternity leave on H-1
Question details
1. Planning to transfer from H1B to H4, I-140 approved with Jan2015 priority date. Can I keep the priority date after I change to H4? Intend to come back to H1 after few months. 2. Currently I'm 7 months pregnant and I work for a consulting company (employer) on H1B visa, Can I take maternity leave on H1B? If yes, for how long? will it be a paid or unpaid leave? If not do I need to convert status from H1B to H4? If yes, can I change it back to H1B and work again or need to apply for a fresh visa?
Here is an interesting question, if I am on H-1 and I convert to H-4, does that kill or affect my priority date ? Answer is no. If you were on H-1 and you had filed a Green Card, you got a priority date and I-140 was approved now you changed to H-4 that does not kill your priority date. That's not the problem.
And the second part of the question was can I take maternity leave on H-1?
FAQ 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 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.