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 Mike Sehgal, United States
Name
Mike Sehgal
Country
United States
Guestbook Entry for Kalimuthu Kaleesvaran, United States
Name
Kalimuthu Kaleesvaran
Country
United States
State
CT
Comment
I processed my I-140 and I-485 through Law office of Rajiv S. Khanna. I am glad I transferred my case from other attorney who I had lot of problems with processing my Labor. I received great service in applying, responding to RFE and clarifying my doubts. I would like to thank and appreciate the work of Tarun and Mathew. I would strongly recommend to my friends or anybody to use the service of "Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna"
Guestbook Entry for KWG , United States
Name
KWG
Country
United States
State
NJ
Comment
Law Office of Rajiv S. Khanna, PC is REALLY a good immigration firm.
Initially, I doubted this firm because I can not believe its price is only one-third of the fee my friends paid for their cases.
But the staff's work make me comfortable, they actually guide me step by step. No-misleading, always answer my strange questions, provide appropriate suggestions, double-check everything before file out, give me advance notice of next step, etc.
I would strongly recommend this firm for people who is planning to apply his GC, especially in EB category & IT field.
Guestbook Entry for Sreedhar Cherukuri, United States
Name
Sreedhar Cherukuri
Country
United States
State
New Jersey
Comment
Finally me and my wife received our greencard after 5.5 years.
I would like to thank you Rajiv & his team in helping me to achieve permanent status. Rajiv and his firm really helped me getting my greencard, at one point my I-140 is on verge of denial status, Rajiv and his firm helped me out this situation. Once again I would like to thank Rajiv.
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…
Criteria for national interest waiver || NIW for physical therapists
Question details
I am on H-1B working in the IT industry. My wife has H4 EAD, and with the same status, she is working in the hospital as a Physical Therapist.
1. Can her employer file for GC while she is on H4 EAD status?
2. If she is eligible for NIW, could you please let me know if the PWD and PERM are both required if her employer file for GC?
3. Can she use my priority date to file an adjustment of status?
FAQ Transcript
1. Absolutely
2. I doubt it.
3. No she cannot. That is one thing husband and wife cannot transfer to each other their priority date.
FAQ: Multiple companies applying for H-1B Cap registration - H-1B lottery
Question details
I am an international student currently of F-1 visa status and will be graduating in May-23. I have the below questions:
1. Can multiple companies / employers apply for H1-B on my behalf in this upcoming H1-B cap pool?
2. If yes, is there a possibility that the employers might get to know about this?
3. Should my name in the passport and birth certificate match exactly? My birth certificate has an abbreviation my last name but my passport has my complete last name.
FAQ Transcript
When there is no connection between two companies, and they are not colluding to help somebody get an H-1B visa or increase their chances of getting selected in the H1B lottery, multiple companies can file. Interestingly, even different units within the same bigger company could file if they have a genuine need and not face any issues.
I was very thrilled to see that our L Visa extensions were approved today. This was extremely quick - less than 45 days!! Great work and efforts by Anna Baker and Vikas Varma ensured that I would never face any problems. I highly recommend Rajiv Khanna and his capable staff!!!!