Guestbook Entry for Nikhil Kaushal, United States
Name
Nikhil Kaushal
Country
United States
State
Virginia
Search
Guestbook Entry for Dr. Rajesh Gomtam, United States
Name
Dr. Rajesh Gomtam
Country
United States
State
Pennsylvania
Comment
My wife and I received our ‘welcome notices’ within 1.5 years of the whole process with Rajiv S. Khanna as our attorney. To give you a brief background about our GC journey, my EB1 (OR) was first approved last year. During that process, I received an RFE and Mr. Khanna and his team were very skillful in handling that RFE and got my I140 approved. Later, it was a pain staking journey concerning the I485 and finally I received the email from USCIS indicating that the ‘Welcome Notice’ was mailed and my card production was ordered. During the whole process, Mr. Khanna and Diane Lombardo were very professional and provided me with relevant information concerning all immigration related legal issues, so that I clear the process without any hassle. I strongly feel that Mr. Khanna knows his field and I would recommend his firm to anybody. We are really glad that we chose this Law firm. It’s worth every penny. We are greatly pleased with Mr. Khanna and his staff as far as their professionalism, courtesy and promptness regarding my GC processing.
Guestbook Entry for Sundar narayan , United States
Name
Sundar narayan
Country
United States
State
NY
Comment
Happy to see our 485 approved.
Really appreciate the help, guidance provided by all the staff from Law Office of Khanna's in the process.
Guestbook Entry for Palani Sivaramakrishnan, United States
Name
Palani Sivaramakrishnan
Country
United States
State
Florida
Comment
My wife and me got my green card after 5 years. We are greatly pleased with Rajiv and his staff as far as their professionalism, courtesy and promptness regarding my GC. Some of my friends and employees of our company went through Rajiv and all of them are also happy like me. We are thankful to Rajiv and his staff.
Guestbook Entry for AS and SG , United States
Name
AS and SG
Country
United States
State
GA
Comment
I reserve only the highest praise for Rajiv Khanna and Heather Crump who helped us throughout the immigration process. It is rare to find legal services provided in as friendly and supportive a manner as rendered by Rajiv and Heather. Both Rajiv and Heather gave generously of their time and expertise and answered all our questions promptly, clearly, and completely.
Rajiv's approach is warm and personal, not cold and clinical, and he constantly provided the sort of big-brotherly, yet highly professional, support that put us at ease through every step of our immigration. With Rajiv on our side, we were quite confident of having our family-based green card application approved, even though ours was a somewhat unconventional case.
We were equally lucky to be assigned to Heather whose positive attitude, kind words, and personable nature brightened up many of our days.
Judging from the high quality of legal services we received, it is not surprising that the "Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna" are spoken of so highly.
I strongly recommend the "Law Offices of Rajiv Khanna" to my friends and family for expert legal help! You will be in good hands!
Guestbook Entry for Vikram Deshmukh , United States
Name
Vikram Deshmukh
Country
United States
Comment
We received our green cards yesterday and would like to thank the team at Rajiv Khanna's Law firm. Prerna and Richa were awesome and answered every query quickly and efficiently. I highly recommend this firm and both Prerna and Richa. Thanks again!
Guestbook Entry for Rohit Tandon , United States
Name
Rohit Tandon
Country
United States
State
CA
Comment
I am writing this in testimony of the very professional service that Rajiv Khanna's firm has provided to us for successfully petitioning for our L1A and L2 visas.
I am very happy to particularly mention and thank Savita Krishnamurthy who has been our counsel and point person. Savita has supported us with excellent professional advice on all aspects of our petition. At the same time, she has been very prompt in her responses to all our queries (and those were more than a few!! . Overall she has helped to make it a smooth and painless experience for us to get the approvals.
I strongly recommend Rajiv's firm for anybody looking for prompt effective professional service for their immigration requirements.
Guestbook Entry for Abbas Jafri, United States
Name
Abbas Jafri
Country
United States
State
Texas
Comment
I have been with Rajiv's team for the last 3 years and successfully obtained green card for me and my wife. I must say that I have never seen a more efficient, accessible, effective and excellent firm anywhere else.
I have to say thanks to Rajiv, Mathew, Suman, Subha and Hellen for the excellent work that they do.
I would very strongly recommend their firm for any immigration related matter. They are not just knowledgeable but do so much good to people by their great website and their forums.
Thanks for everything.
Abbas
Interview sucessfully completed ! Here is my story !
I had my Interview today and it went great.
I arrived there at 8.15 AM and my appointment wasn't until 8.40 AM so while I was waiting one of the security officers there tried to calm some of our nerves .....
At exactly 8.40 AM my Name was called, I walked into a area where she stopped me real quick, greeted me and ask me for any kind of ID so it is really me.
Citizenship and Naturalization
My interview experience (Seattle DO)
Allrighty So I had my Citizenship interview today at the Seattle CIS office at 7:30am today (needless to say I was up at 5a on a freeeeeeeezing seattle morning ) . I got to the Seattle office at 7:00a got done with security had a nice chat with the security officers about the thx giving break and then headed up to the second floor to wait to be called. There were quite a few people in the waiting room at 7:30a. Around 7:40a the immigration officers started calling people for their interviews. I was called in at 8:10a and was greeted by the interview officer.
Citizenship and Naturalization
Successful H1 revalidation at Vancouver
If anyone's interested: I had an appointment today for H1B visa revalidation. Overall it was a smooth experience. I was asked for my paystubs though.
Degree etc was not asked for. Total interview time was 2 minutes. The only question I was asked was whether I am working for the same company for which I had received an H1 visa previously. In my case that holds true. I also had an F1 visa previously. US Degree.
If anyone's interested: I had an appointment today for H1B visa revalidation. Overall it was a smooth experience. I was asked for my paystubs though.
Nonimmigrant Visas
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 appreciate all the insight and the help from Mr. Khanna's office in regards to applying and getting my case approved with in one year. Would specially like to thank Mathew, Bharathi, and Rita to answer my queries.