As of November 20, 2009, approximately 56,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. USCIS has approved sufficient H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap. Any H-1B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H-1B cap of 65,000.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has established a streamlined, standardized process for receiving requests for accommodations from customers with disabilities. Customers in need of accommodations from field offices and Application Support Centers should now call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD: 1-800-767-1833).
I got my GC yesterday. I am still waiting on GC for my wife because there is an RFE on her case.I didn't get the RFE information yet on my wife. This is my case ============ -US Masters Degree - EB2 , Priority Date Nov 2004 - Applied for EAD in Sep 2009. - Received EAD in three weeks and AP in four weeks. - Received GC yesterday after 70 days for my application date. I want to thanks Prerna Mehta for all her efforts. She was very patient, informative and supportive.
Q: Is there anything that can be done for I-730s and I-485s that are placed on hold for material support issues—i.e., should we send in a declaration stating that the client did not participate in any violence, does not believe the organization was violent, and did not provide material support to support violent activity? Or should we just wait for further guidance?
A: USCIS is open to inquiries regarding these cases that are on hold.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officially opened a new Verification Operations Center in Buffalo, N.Y., today. The Center employs about 135 people and is dedicated solely to USCIS’ verification mission. The ceremony included a tribute to Medal of Honor recipient, Major John Farquhar, a Scottish immigrant who served with the Union Army during the Civil War and returned to Buffalo representing the city for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advises its customers that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2010, signed by the President on Oct. 28, 2009, extends the following USCIS programs until Sept. 30, 2012:
Buffalo, N.Y. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding travelers planning trips across the border into the United States to make sure they have the proper documents this weekend in conjunction with the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. As a result, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials want to remind the traveling public that there are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate their arrival into the United States.
Travelers are reminded to check traffic at all local border crossings within the Buffalo/Niagara region and select the crossing that is least congested.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program office has a new mailing address! SEVP recommends that all correspondence be mailed to the following mailing address: Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Attn: (Branch Name or Job Title), SEVP MS 5600, DHS/ICE, 500 12th Street, SW,; Washington, DC 20598-5600. The new main telephone number is (703) 603-3400.
My wife is on TN (expiry date : Oct/2019) and my two kids are on her TN as TD visa holders (expiry date : Oct/2019).
I am on TN Visa (expiry date : Apr/2019) and my perm just got approved and am in the process of simultaneously activating my earlier inactivated H1B visa and filing the I-140 with the hope after few months down I will be with an approved I-140 and H1B.
My wife wants to stay on TN (kids on TD) as long as possible because the employer doesn't want to sponsor H1B and moving to H4 EAD doesn't look like a smart option now due to uncertainty surrounding H4-EAD's.
Watch the Video on this FAQ: TN applying for green card
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.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued guidance on October 7, 2009 to clarify for performing arts associations and their members the regulatory requirements for agents who file as petitioners for the O and P visa classification.
O and P visas apply to non-immigrants with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or in the motion picture and television field. O and P petitions may only be filed by a U.S. employer, a U.S. agent, or a foreign employer through a U.S. agent.
Here is a series of questions that should be relevant for many people:
USCIS' Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) office has recently explained the three types of site visits that are currently being conducted:
1. Risk Assessment Program fraud study (RANDOM VISITS). This is a joint study by USCIS and ICE applicable to both family-based and employment-based cases. Cases are chosen for randomly for review and site visits usually after a case is approved. The purpose of this study is to build a profile of the types of cases where fraud is most prevalent.
I have read that in some cases of H1B as follows "They had H1 petition and H1B visa was stamped in 2012 but they never traveled to the US on that. And when a new employer applied for a cap-exempt H1B petition in 2017 they got it approved with change of status to H1 in May 2017...Whereas in my case I also didn't use this H1B visa and I even didn't travel to US i.e. My employer filed H1B in 2016 which got approved in Sep 2016 and after my resignation, they revoked H1B in Nov 2016 (which is > OCt, 1 2016), but I got a Denial. When contacted few attorneys they said I may get "Approvals" Or "Deny" in such cases, nowadays its more of details saying I am NOT cap exempt?
The first principle is if you are in the United States and you do not get a change of status you are not exempt from the quota. The second principle is if you are outside the USA and you don't get a visa stamp you are not exempt from the quota. Now in both these cases whether you join the job or not is irrelevant. So the third principle is whether you are joining the job or not is irrelevant.
If you are in your home country you must get a visa stamp if you don't, you are not exempt from the quota. If you are in the USA you must get a change of status otherwise you are not exempt from the quota. Hence principal number four is that if your approved H-1 is revoked before October 1st then you are still subject to the quota and the last principle is if your H-1 is revoked for error or for fraud or misrepresentation you are still subject to the quota.
I finally received my green card this month after 5 years. Just a little background, I been working with Rajiv ji since 1999 , I almost have 6-7 H1 extensions. I started my GC process before Perm and been through almost all the possible complications one can have. I can proudly say that with help of Rajivji and team I am able to finish that journey without losing the hope. I got an opportunity to talk to Rajivji for than 6-7 times on different problems. I am really amazed the way he handles these repetitive questions with sincerity and in-depth knowledge of his trade.
On one Friday I received a notice that USCIS transferred my I-485 case to AAO by mistake even after they approved my second I-140. I was really upset as it means there will be at least 18 months delay even if my date is current. To my surprise I received CC email from Mr.Khanna on early Saturday morning guiding his team about next step. It clearly shows how closely he monitors most of his cases.
Also many thanks to [b]Sumanji,Anna, Mathew,Rita,Bharthi,subba,Pranita[/b] and other staff members who are very co-operative during this process.
I am greatly thankful to one of Rajivji’s [b]attorney Ms Sheena Gill[/b], with whom I worked for last two years. She is more than one can ask to get[b] best case manager[/b] on your case. Since USCIS send my case I-485 to AAO it was clear that this case will go nowhere. Sheena was super prompt in following up the case during this time. Without her efforts it was not possible to reach at this stage.
I am thankful to Mr.Rajiv Khanna and his staff for all the help during these nine years.