USCIS Policy Guidance on Customer Service Standards
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance on its standards in customer service in theUSCIS Policy Manual.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance on its standards in customer service in theUSCIS Policy Manual.
U.S. Ambassador to Australia John Berry and Australia’s Minister for Immigration Scott Morrison signed a U.S.-Australia Visa and Immigration Information-Sharing Agreement on August 27, 2014.
The Department of Homeland Security recently achieved two major milestones for its trusted traveler programs. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre✓™ application program, which began in December 2013, has now enrolled more than half a million travelers. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has enrolled more than three million users in their trusted traveler programs: Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI.
My H-1 6 years are about to be over. No way to extend per lawyers. Can I move to CPT?
This is tricky. Usually CPT in the first semester is looked upon with suspicion by USCIS, unless: 1. yours is a graduate program; 2. the practical training is integral to the academic program; and 3. the employer has signed a co-operative agreement with the school.
As a H-4 visa holder in the USA (my husband is on H-1B), and an Indian citizen, I plan on applying for Canadian PR via the federal skilled worker program, to eventually start working there. The question I have is if my PR does come through within a year, will my H-4 visa in the USA get affected or be void immediately? Provided I don't get a job in Canada by then, how long will my H-4 be valid after I get my PR in Canada? Can I choose to live in either country in that case?
Also, while applying for the PR, they asked for sufficient funds. Since I am a H-4 dependent, can I show my husband's funds and income as a source? Because I am not earning here, I will have to have his money transferred. Will that be a problem?
Your H-4 visa does not get affected by PR in Canada, and whether or not you stay in the USA or Canada. The visa stays valid through the date of its stamping, as long as your husband is maintaining status. US immigration laws also should not create any issues with a funds transfer, but check Canadian laws and US Tax Laws.
What is the difference between a blue or black stamp from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)?
As of July 1, 2014, U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began using a new secure blue ink for many of its secure stamps. The older secure red ink will be retired and no longer used by USCIS on the effective date.
USCIS stamps with secure blue ink:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Parole Stamp
Temporary I-551 Alien Documentary Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) Stamp
Refugee Stamp (Section 207)
Asylum Stamp (Section 208)
Initial / Replacement I-94 Stamp
This quick guide is intended for Employers, Attorneys and Agents and their representatives using the PERM system. To enhance PERM Online System security OFLC has upgraded the Account Management features to be consistent with DOL and Federal Government standards. This guide is a quick overview of the account management changes.
Please click the attached guide to learn more.
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 51247-51254] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-20516] DEPARTMENT OF STATE 22 CFR Part 22 [Public Notice: 8850] RIN 1400-AD47 Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates--Visa and Citizenship Services Fee Changes AGENCY: Department of State. ACTION: Interim final rule.
My sincere thanks to Mr Rajiv Ji and Mr Kunal Ji. I got my I-140 denial decision reversed in 7 months. I have this issue since 2012. I-140 originally files in 2007 and since then its been under initial review and received RFE/NOID In 2012. We approached the same attorney who was handling my I-140 and that didnt go well and ultimately it was denied. We approached Rajiv along with my employer and were in discussion for 20/30 minutes and said winning this case is fairly possible. Even I-140 petition wasnt supplied by previous attorney. Rajiv and Khanna briefed their arguement with me and asked me if i have any concerns so that they can add those in their arguement and discussed cons and pros and finally draft been finalized and sent appeal(I-290 B) to the AAO office. Our arguement was purely based on Labor copy and in 7 months appeal sustained and initial decision has been reversed and they approved I-140. We are now waiting for the approval copy so that have to go further and repair few more things. I am happy to say that i am going with Rajiv office to correct other things as well. WIth huge relief -Satish
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…
It was a delightful experience working with Rajiv Khanna's law office and specifically Diane. who is very competent, knowledgeable, experienced, patient and prompt in responding to my questions
Couple of months back I received Employment Based Green Card (H1b to GC) and my dependents received Green Card too (H4 to GC). I had the intention to work for the Employer who sponsored me for the Green Card forever during applying for the Green Card and during the Green Card Interview too. However after working for couple of months for the employer now I am feeling that I should be changing the Employer to a different one near to my home due to the following compelling reasons: I am a Heart Patient and facing Health Issues due to the Travel (4 hours flight travel) that I am making every week to work in the Employer's Client Location for work.
And if I continue to perform my job this way I will affect my health. All the efforts I made to request a work near home did not materialize.
I am planning to search for a new job near my home and if I get it I am planning to put in a Resignation to the present Employer stating the facts about my Health Problems and join the new one.
My Question:
1. Will I face any issues now or in near future during I submit my Citizenship Application due to my employer change just after 2 months of getting the Green Card? If so what are the steps I should take to avoid it?
2. I am planning to save my Payslips / W2 of the Present Green Card Employer and my Heart Health records. Is there a Minimum duration that USCIS expects a Green Card Holder to work for the Green Card Employer?
Video Transcript:
1. No.
2. Duration is not reliable.
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.
Release Date
On Aug. 19, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it no longer recognizes the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting agency. This determination immediately affects two immigration-related student programs:
My parents who are green card holders applied for the i-131 travel document in Sept 2021. They finished their biometrics in Oct 2021 and left the USA on Nov,14th 2021.
There has not been an update to the case after the biometrics. Do they need to return to the US by Nov 14th, 2022? Or can they wait till the I-131 application is processed before returning to the US?
If they can come back before November I think that would be a good idea just to be safe.There is no guarantee that the reentry permit will be approved, although it is very rare for reentry permits to be denied at least for the first two years.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I am currently on STEM Extension and my visa expires in July 2023. I also have a masters degree here in the states. I wanted to know what my options are..
If the suggestion is Day-1 CPT, I wanted to know how safe/legit it is! I have heard that going on Day-1 CPT can cause some issues when your H1 gets picked and may lead to RFE?
It is legal and so far it has been safe. You know that the rule for Day 1 CPT requires that when you join, you are associating with a graduate program otherwise you cannot get a Day 1 CPT. The Curricular Practical Training is an integral part of your degree. You cannot finish the degree without the practical training. The other thing is the employer signs the cooperative agreement with the university. The only additional suggestion I have is if you are going to do Curricular Practical Training make it as an adjunct to your profession.
For more information please check my blog.
https://immigration.com/blogs/curricular-practical-training-cpt
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I have worked in the U.S. under L-1\H-1B from June-2015 to March-2020. I have been in India since the last 2 and half years (Not working for any US based company). Now I have got Job offer from a US company and the H-1B I-797 petition is approved. I have a previous employer's H-1B Visa stamp (which expired last month) in my current passport, and B1/B2 Visa stamp(got in 2013 and valid till Sep-2023) in my older passport. I also have approved I-140 (EB2) from my previous employer.
My Question is due to the high wait time for Visa appointments, in worst case, if I can not secure a visa appointment anywhere close to joining date, can I travel to the US with a valid B-1/B-2 Visa and approved I-797 and later change status to H-1B and join the job? If yes, would it impact the GC process in future?
I would strongly recommend against it. I think you would do a lot better trying to get an H-1B Visa stamping in a third country. People are going to places like Singapore, Hong Kong and Maldives. Look around India and you might be able to make an appointment.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
1. My I-485 was filed in August 2022. Priority Date: 2014. Lost a job. H-1B withdrawn and offer is canceled. Current H-1B remaining till January 2023. If I-485 is denied do I have to leave the country? Can I work for the remaining 5 months?
2. After retrogression, can I transfer H-1B?
1. You can finish your H-1B term.
2. I don't see why not.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I am in the 1st year of my 2-year STEM OPT after completing Bachelors Degree. Can I do another set of OPT + 2 year STEM OPT if I complete my Masters Degree? Does the Masters also have to be in STEM field to utilize the post Masters OPT+2 year STEM OPT?
You can get a STEM OPT extension twice in one academic life cycle. Even if you did a STEM degree and never used stem opt extension you should be able to reuse it.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I would highly appreciate it if you could share any insights for my case. I hold H-1B working for MNC in Seattle, USA. I applied for Canada PR and it was confirmed. I will travel by car to Vancouver Canada and work in Canada remotely with a Canadian house address. At the same time I want to maintain my H1B visa. Is that possible and how? I got to know H1B is valid as long as we work on US soil.
Sure, but maintaining an H-1B simply means that your H-1B is not destroyed just because you are not working here all the time. Also remember that you can recapture the time spent outside.
For more on this topic please visit my author page.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/etreporter/author-rajiv-khanna-479254772.cms
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Would there be any issues with parents reentering the country after filing for GC application? Say the parents entered the US on a B1/B2 visa but applied for GC while they were visiting (not for the first time). They were going to file for it once they were back in the home country anyway, but decided to submit the application now than at a later date due to some health situation that came up during the visit.
Are there chances of the application being denied/or will the parents not be allowed to reenter the country because there have been some medical emergency that happened during the visit? Should those factors need to be addressed before exiting the country before the 6 months stay time is up? And would it still be a problem if that has been addressed with the provider, given it will all be in the history file now? Would there be some state assistance that anyone can get some help with in terms of financial and patient well-being and all?
I have known many immediate relatives of the U.S citizens and they have never had a problem. However, theoretically the problem exists. It would be right to do an immigration pre-clearance somewhere close to home.
Regarding your query on medical emergencies, you could tell them that your parents took the medical treatment. As long as there was no government funding I do not see any problem.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
My uncle has been a US Permanent Resident since Apr 2021, and recently he got into trouble with Shoplifting Theft (Misdemeanor B). The prosecutor is ready to lower the punishment to Misdemeanor class C theft along with 6 months of unsupervised deferred probation (fine of 99$) with NO CONVICTION. Also, after 2 years, he will have the option for the case to be expunged from the records.
Question: Will this create a legal problem with his current immigration status (LPR), and also, will he face issues after 4-5 years when he is ready to apply for his US citizenship considering the case has been expunged from the records?
These cases do not worry me much as it looks like a minor offense. Although I recommend you speak with a lawyer who practices deportation defense in the state in which the crime occurred. They would know the local criminal statutes. Also remember expungement has no meaning under immigration law. Even if your record gets expunged and if there is ever a question as to your arrest you have to say yes, because the expungement under immigration law has no meaning.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Can an H-1 VISA (Resident tax alien without a green card) Holder set up an LLC in the USA? If yes, can his spouse on H-4 VISA with EAD work in that LLC?
The problem with H-1Bs is that you cannot be working for any other company including your own. The smart thing would be to let your wife start her own business. She can manage, run and own the business. You could be a passive owner without any active participation.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I'm on H-1B, can I work for a startup on a volunteering basis for a technical engineer role? The work is done remotely and the owner of the startup is based in Russia.
I do not see why not. Let the company look into the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and under the Fair Labor Standards Act there are restrictions on free work being taken by for-profit companies. Non profit companies are a different matter. For-profit companies could have a violation of labor laws if they take free work. That of course is not your problem, that is the company's problem.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
DataStaff, Inc. is a proud client of Mr. Rajiv S. Khanna. We have received invaluable assistance from Rajiv and his team. They make you feel like family. When we have a question big or small, they take the time to answer. There has NEVER been a time when I felt like I wasn't on the top of their list, even though I know they are super busy with cases from other clients who trust them. We trust them implicitly...from the front desk (Angela & Heather) to our H-1 A-Team...Anna & Judi...to Green Card Gurus (Heather R. & Art S.) we have always received EXEMPLARY service. Then there is Rajiv who is so sharp and too funny! It's weird to say that you miss your attorney's office when things are going smoothly, but we do. This is an AWESOME firm and we always recommend anyone who is not getting outstanding results to call and talk to our immigration attorneys - Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, PC!! Thanks Team!