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Recording for March 09, 2023 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
FAQs: Volunteering on a non-profit board committee while on H-1B or H-4 visa: Implications for visa stamping and green card process
USCIS Issues Guidance on Analyzing Employers’ Ability to Pay Wages
Release Date
03/15/2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued policy guidance (PDF, 313.21 KB) on how USCIs analyzes an employer’s ability to pay the proffered wage for immigrant petitions in certain first, second, and third preference employment-based immigrant visa classifications.
March 3, 2023, Rajiv in QnA on behalf of students and young professionals
Nonimmigrant Visas
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Immigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Rajiv Khanna Blog: http://www.immigration.com/blogs
USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp
Release Date
03/16/2023
Lawful permanent residents may receive temporary evidence of their lawful permanent resident status by mail rather than physically visiting a field office to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp (also known as an I-551 stamp).
Lawful permanent residents are entitled to evidence of status and may require temporary evidence of their status in the form of an ADIT stamp if:
Update to Filing Location for U Nonimmigrant-Based Form I-485
U nonimmigrants applying to become lawful permanent residents must now file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, only at the Nebraska Service Center and not at the Vermont Service Center.
USCIS Nebraska Service Center
U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS
P.O. Box 87426
Lincoln, NE 68501-7526
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
P.O. Box 87426
Lincoln, NE 68501-7526
March 10, 2023, Rajiv in QnA on behalf of students and young professionals
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
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Immigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Rajiv Khanna Blog: http://www.immigration.com/blogs
Recording for March 23, 2023 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Discussion Topics - March 23, 2023
FAQs: Handling H-1B visa and layoff : What happens if I get laid off before or after stamping my visa in India? || Marriage and relocation to the U.S. : Quickest path for prospective fiancé of U.S Citizen living in India || AC21 AOS portability: Pending AOS I-140 withdrawn before 180 days || What to do if one is in India during the PERM and I-140 process ||
FY 2024 H-1B Cap Season Updates
Release Date
03/27/2023
H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Completed
March 25, 2023, Rajiv in QnA on behalf of students and young professionals
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
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Immigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
Rajiv Khanna Blog: http://www.immigration.com/blogs
Updated Policy Manual Guidance on O-1 Nonimmigrants of Extraordinary Ability
On Jan. 8, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued guidance in the Policy Manual, Vol.
H-1B Chaos | Trump & Immigration Updates
Nonimmigrant Visas
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mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
H-1B Visa 2025 Changes - H-1B Modernization (How will this impact you?)
Nonimmigrant Visas
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H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Friday, Jan. 17
The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on Friday, Jan.
F-1 visa stamping and stamping in third-country; Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR)
I am in the US with an approved COS from B2 to F1, so my F1 visa is yet to be stamped on my (Indian)Passport.
1. My STEM masters program is for 9 months, and my I20 has a start and end date of 2 years(2026). Do I have to stamp before the end of 2 years to avail myself of the OPT and STEM validity?
2.I might have to visit a family member in Canada sometime in mid-2025 after my master's program has started. Is it advisable to go to Canada since I do not have the F1 stamped on my Visa? If I can visit, then will I require a different visa?
3. Is it possible for me to schedule my F1 Visa stamping in Canada during the visit? Or would you advise something different here? Or is it better to get it stamped in Mexico?
If you are on an F-1 visa converted from B-2, your visa stamp is only necessary if you plan to travel outside the U.S. While in the U.S., your status is governed by your I-94, which typically says "DS" (duration of status) and remains valid as long as you maintain your student status.
If traveling briefly to Canada or Mexico for under 30 days, you can use Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) to return without a visa stamp, provided you haven’t applied for and been refused a visa during your visit. Scheduling visa stamping in Canada is risky—if denied, you lose AVR eligibility and must return to India to reapply.
H-1B transfer: Managing multiple offers and timelines to avoid future green card complications
I have accepted the first company’s offer, and it has filed for my H1B transfer. Now, I want to sign an offer from Company two and potentially join it. So, should I make the company speed up the process and delay joining the company in order not to get issues during the green card process? What if the company forces me to join?
You can file multiple H-1B transfers simultaneously, and it's legal. Approval of one transfer doesn’t obligate you to join that employer, nor does it affect your existing H-1B status with your current employer. You can choose to join any employer whose transfer gets approved, provided all transfers were filed while you were in valid status with your current employer.
However, if your H-1B validity is close to expiring (e.g., within 6 months), later-filed transfers may require "bridge petitions" to maintain continuity of status. Consult an immigration lawyer to ensure proper handling and avoid complications.
Can L-1A holders or applicants also apply for the H-1B lottery?
I worked in the US for the last 3 years on STEM OPT but did not get selected in the H1B lotteries. I returned to India in June 2024 and have been working with the same company since then. My employer plans to file my L1A visa petition after July 2025.
Can I also participate in the upcoming H1B lottery?
Would applying for the H1B affect my L1A petition?
Additionally, given that I have worked outside the U.S. for a year within the last five years with the same company, is it possible to transition from H1B to L1A status?
Yes, L-1A holders or applicants can also apply for the H-1B lottery. Filing for H-1B will not impact your L-1A application unless there’s a discrepancy in the job descriptions for the two applications.
Additionally, if you’ve worked outside the U.S. for at least one year in a managerial role, you can transition from H-1B to L-1A later.
H-4 working in the US on her Indian business
My status: H1B + i140 approved (6 months completed)
Wife's status: H4 (applied for H4-EAD in July 2024)
My wife has a small business In India that she operates from here. She is currently in India (has been in India since Nov'24) and is traveling back to US (Jan'25) via Abu Dhabi.
1. Is she allowed to work for her India company in US? Everything she earns is in INR
2. If asked at port of entry, do you work in India, should she say yes or no?
An H-4 visa holder operating a small business in India from the U.S. could potentially violate their visa status, even if earnings are in Indian rupees. At the port of entry, honesty is essential—lying could lead to a permanent U.S. entry ban, which is hard to waive.
While it's unclear if this constitutes a status violation, it’s a borderline case. To avoid risks, it’s advisable not to engage in such activities while on H-4 status.
Traveling Under Trump Administration | H-1B Updates, Immigration QnA, Jan 29, 2025
Nonimmigrant Visas
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