A message for new immigrants:
You now have the option to create a USCIS online account when you pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee. A USCIS online account will let you easily track the status of your Green Card, receive electronic notifications and case updates, and change and update your mailing address.
Although anyone can pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee on your behalf, only you can create a USCIS online account. Creating a USCIS online account is voluntary.
My H-1B visa is going to expire in 01-Jan-2018 and if my employer submits my PERM application in the month of June (i.e. before 6 months of my current 6 years of H-1B visa duration).<br>
1) If my PERM gets approved before my current H-1B visa expires (i.e. before 01-Jan-2018).<br>
Would I be eligible for a H1B extension for 1 year since my PERM was approved before the current H-1B expiration?<br>
2) If my PERM gets approved after my current H-1B expires can my employer file for H1B extension of 1 year since my PERM is approved now.<br>
3) If my PERM is not approved before my current H-1B visa expires.<br>
Would I need to go back to India?<br>
4) I spent about 2 months (on vacation) in India. Can these 2 months be added back to my current H-1B visa? or this can only be added if my current employer files for my green card?
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 am a permanent resident, a citizen of Poland. I want to study medicine in Poland. The program lasts 6 years. I don't want to abandon my status and want to understand if such long-term abroad is possible. If I am not mistaken GC holder can be away 6month-1 year. But, since I'll be out of US on regular basis, so it's best to apply for a reentry permit?
Video 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 am in I-485 pending status based on EB2 and have been working on EAD since 2012. Under the new rules effective January 2017, I understand that I can file for EAD extension 180 days prior to expiration. Will EAD be considered extended automatically if the approval doesn't come before the expiration of my current EAD?
Video 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 am a US citizen and would like to sponsor my brother for Permanent Residency. How long would it take for him to get Green card.If I file green card for him, does his family (His wife and kids) automatically get green card or should I file for each of them? I think I should for all. Just a question? He gets a EAD (so he can start working) when I file Green Card?
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.
How do we keep up with the rumors and changes in the laws? My I-140 is approved in 2013 and priority date is on 2013. Do you have any inside on country quota elimination bill?
Watch Video on this FAQ: How do we keep up with the rumors and changes in the laws
Video 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.
This has been quite an amazing journey towards my citizenship. People have been super nice and responsive.
I arrived in the US in Jan 1995 (so I have lived here in the Cleveland area since then, roughly 21 years - went to College of Wooster). I got my greencard in 2001 (had it for the past 15 years) and now I am ready to be a US citizen!
They received my package on March 14.
My biometrics was on April 12th (29 days from application)
My interview is on May 23ed. (2 months and 10 days since application)
On October 12, 2017, USCIS will change the direct filing addresses for certain petitioners of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. The changes are as follows:
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.
In the USCIS Visa bulletin along with the Dates of Filing chart for Employment-based Category the following there is a link to visa bulletin info
<br>
Purpose of this link:<br>
This page will tell if the Dates of Filing for Employment-based chart is valid or not. If it refers back to visa availability dates chart for Employment-based Category then Dates for Filing of Employment-based Category is no longer valid for the current month of publication of USCIS Visa bulletin.
Watch the Video on this FAQ: How to read the visa bulletin?
Video 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.
It was a pleasure to work with attorney Rajiv Khanna and his dedicated team members, specially Diane. They have helped filing my green card application effectively, cleared all the queries on time, and provided appropriate guidance at every critical moments towards the approval of our immigration visa in the EB1A category (now E11). We filed the I-140 petition from India in Oct. 2016. I was kind of nervous when got the I-140 RFE. However, the excellently drafted RFE response was sufficient to convince the USCIS personnel to get approval of I-140 in Feb. 2017. Consequently we applied for immigration visa to National Visa Center (NVC) through consular processing and finally the immigration visa got approved in Oct. 2017. So it took exactly 1 year from the filing of I-140 to the approval of immigration visa. During this period, I contacted Rajiv, Diane and Suman (another dedicated team member) hundred of times and got the necessary and effective suggestions promptly. They were also available for multiple video calls through Skype for discussing the major issues. I never felt I am outside of US. I'll highly recommend 'Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna' if you are planning to apply for US green card (immigration visa) or even other types of visa, either from US or even from outside, like me. Thank you very much Rajiv Ji and the team :)
Discussion Topics, Thursday 2 November 2017:
-H1B Amendment Approved without I-94 attached
-Changing from Non-Profit (Cap-Exempt) H1 to Profit (Cap-Subject) H1 and GC filing
- Family based second category GC (F2A)
- Transfer J-1 Visa
- H1 and H4 Extension approvals
- Upgrading H-1 B to premium processing
I am now in the last stage of Green card and attending interview in Consulate in India for Employment based green card interview.<br>
I have the recent offer letter from my employer. I saw from your 2012 blog you have mentioned that the employment based consular interview is difficult from foreign country consulate with some example.
Has it improved anything better recently. What type of questions can I expect. Also I have recently relocated to another city in India because of which I have resigned my current job and at the same time waiting for this green card. I have not worked with the prospective employer till now but have the offer with recent date. So did not try for any job. I am an experienced person of 15 yrs exp and just out of job for the past 5 months. Will that hurt anything? Do I need to have one on one consultation with attorney better to be safe?
Video 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 got a speeding ticket ( It is not related to DUI and no arrest, just a ticket) recently. I didn’t contest the ticket and plead guilty by paying fine of 170$, I have receipt of payment. Do I have to wait for another 5 years from the date I got a ticket (Good moral character period of 5 yrs as per USCIS) to apply for US citizenship to show good moral character?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Effect of a speeding ticket on green card or naturalization/citizenship
Video 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 am staying here in the US from last 4 years 10 months and have I-140 approved (Received approval Jun '17). To fulfill personal commitments, I am going back to India in Dec '17 for some time however my H1B extension is still in progress (Filed in Aug '17). I am not sure whether the result will be out before my travel.
My question is -<br>
1. If I change the employer in India, is there any way I can come back? What all options I will have?<br>
2. Can my new employer eligible to transfer my H1B from India in case current extension gets approved or RFE or Denial?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Effect of moving abroad while still on H-1B visa
Video Transcript
1. Yes, I think you can keep that H-1B alive as long as that job is there.
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.
1. I have joined a company based on H1b transfer receipt and have got RFE of LCA wage level 1. If, by any chance, the petition gets denied then can the same employer file for new h1b transfer with LCA wage level 2, right after the denial? <br>
2. Is it advisable to find another employer and start a new h1b transfer processing while the current one is still under RFE received/response status?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Denial of H-1B on Level 1 wage issue
Video Transcript
1. Now if somebody's H-1 gets denied for level 1 job the same employer can file for level 2. But there should be a good reason or explanation if the government asks questions like: why are we going to level 2, why did we not go with level 2 the first time around.
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.
PERM Processing Times (as of 10/31/2017)
Thanks to Rajiv and Heather for successful approval of my I-140 approval. Journey started with some questions as student visa holder where Rajiv answered all of my questions with full patients and at the end of call he Refunded my fees bcoz he doesn't charge any fees to students. Next was H1b process where my chance of approval was very slim and the company was at its starting phase. Having no options on table we took a chance, with Rajiv's skills and tremendous experience he made the case that no one can deny it and we got it approved. Same thing with I140 stage where also chance of approval were very slim due to change in conditions of business, he offered me to abandon the case in middle and save his fees which I think no one in his profession would do that. Then we decided to put some faith in god and Rajiv' S expertise as we already knew he can make the case with any situations. and here we go I140 approved.............Hoorey.............he did it. Thank you you are the best ...