UPDATE: USCIS to Publish Revised Form I-539 and New Form I-539A on March 8
USCIS has revised Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status and will publish the revised form on the website on March 8, 2019.
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Premium Processing Begins for Certain Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions on May 20
On May 20, USCIS will begin premium processing for FY 2020 cap-subject H-1B petitioners requesting a change of status on their Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. Petitioners who do not file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, concurrently with an FY 2020 cap-subject H-1B petition reque
USCIS Launches H-1B Employer Data Hub
USCIS has launched an H-1B Employer Data Hub to provide information to the public on employers petitioning for H-1B workers.
Filing Employment Based Green Card While Living Outside USA
Question details
I am currently located in India and working as a Technical Architect in software MNC. I had a prior H1B valid from Feb 2008 till Dec 2014 which was sponsored by my previous company and has about 17 days left in it to complete a total of 6 years. After this I have joined a new firm, so wish to know if my current company or a new company can file for a Green Card while I am still in India. If yes , what is the way forward?
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 Reaches FY 2020 H-1B Regular Cap
USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions projected as needed to reach the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap for fiscal year 2020. USCIS will next determine if the center has received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap.
Approved
This forum has been very helpful, and motivational for me. I finally got approved after almost 3 yrs.
Green Card
USCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2020 and Reaches the Advanced Degree Exemption Cap
On April 10, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process to select enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally-mandated regular cap and the U.S. advanced degree exemption for fiscal year (FY) 2020. After completing the random selection process for the regular cap, USCIS also determined that it has received a number of petitions projected as sufficient to meet the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S.
Form I-9 Acceptable Documents - Reminder USCIS
Reminder For Employers: All List B documents must contain a photo of your new hire
USCIS Strengthens Guidance for Spousal Petitions Involving Minors
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced additional guidance (PDF, 222 KB) regarding the adjudication of spousal petitions involving minors, following up on the agency’s February update to its policy.
Visa Bulletin - May 2019
Agency
Green Card
Buy American and Hire American ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As part of USCIS's efforts to fulfill President Trump’s Buy American and Hire American Executive Order, USCIS has taken numerous actions to strengthen policies and regulations designed to protect U.S. workers and their wages, enhance fraud detection and prevention in employment-based visa programs, and increase the transparency of employment-based visa programs.
When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: May 2019
Are you seeking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If you have not yet had a relative or employer file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf, please learn more about the Adjustment of Status Filing Process.
Update to Form I-601A - USCIS
USCIS recently updated the following form.
Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94 and I-94W
Foreign visitors to the U.S.
AAO Processing Times (October - December 2018)
In January 2017, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) modified how it presents processing time information. Previously, the AAO reported, by form type, the average completion time for the month’s cases. But certain scenarios (such as a month with few completions in certain categories) could result in an imprecise portrayal of processing times.
Agency
Immigration Law
Guestbook Entry for Nikhil Kaushal, United States
Name
Nikhil Kaushal
Country
United States
State
Virginia
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!
H Visa Processing times & status checks
Processing Times
- USCIS Service Center Processing Times
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- Nebraska Service Center
- Texas service Center
- Vermont Service Center
Nonimmigrant Visas
H-2 Visa - Temporary Workers
The H-2B visa category is used by U.S. employers to temporarily employ skilled or unskilled foreign nationals in nonagricultural positions for which the employer has a temporary need and for which qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The company must plan to employ the foreign nationals for a temporary period and the employer’s need for the skills of the foreign nationals must also be temporary. In addition, the employer must seek a “labor certification” from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) certifying that:
Can H-4/F-2 holders perform volunteer work?
The following discussion applies to all visas where working is not permitted. Most typical examples of these types of visas are F-2 and H-4. The question often arises whether or not it is legal for such folks to volunteer their time or are they constrained to stay at home.
Quote: Q. May an H-4 (or F-2 type visa) holder volunteer for work to provide charitable service, to gain experience or just to stay busy?
H-1 converting to H-4 and then (maybe) back again
Question details
I have a friend who came to US on H4 & was on H4 for 2 years. Then she applied for H1B from 2 companies (A & B) & got approved from both the companies. She got the project in Oct 2008 & started working for Co B .
Now due to bad economy, her Project is ending in January 2009 and she is not able to find any new project.
While working she have been paying taxes regularly.
Pl let us know what needs to be done now:-
* She is planning to go back to H4, pursue higher studies, Changing to F1 & then coming back on H1B work. (H4-H1-H4-F1-H1) or (H4-H1-H4-H1).Will this create Bad impression to USCIS ?
* When next time the H1B petition is being filed for her, will her petition be subject to regular H1 B quota of 65000 & will have to go through a typical process of filing, that means Petition being filed in April & waiting for approval until Oct. to work?
* If in case My friend goes back to H4, Will Co. A & B will terminate H1B petition as per law? & If in case yes will this create any difference?
Changing the way she is planning is perfectly legal. There is no question of a "bad impression."
In my view, she will not be subject to quota unless she is outside USA for a year.
The companies are required by law to revoke her H-1. I see no issues there.
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.