If I may verify the processing times involved in NIW. Since it falls under EB2 category, I am assuming it may be a long time before I can get my EAD card and be able to change employers. Also, I want to confirm if there could be issues if I change employers during the process - If so, I'd prefer to change my current employer before starting with it.
You can change employers any time if you are a self-applicant and will continue to work in your stated area of national interest. But NIW priority date will take the same time as a normal EB-2 application does. See:
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.
Rajiv and his associates processed my Green Card application under NIW category. I got my GC very smoothly. Excellent Service. He is very selective to take the case and doesn't accept it so long he is not fully convinced about the merit of the case. Moreover, he favored me by providing some legal information not related to immigration law. I am very satisfied.
Just received my green card based on asylum approved more than 1yr ago.
See below for my timeline. Feel free to ask me anything. Always happy to help out members of this forum.
# My timeline
- In status, H1B VISA approved in May 2014
- 06/19/2014 - Filed I-589 (Application for Asylum) in Jersey City, NJ
- 06/24/2014 - Received fingerprint notice
- 07/03/2014 - Fingerprint recorded at the USCIS Application Support Center in Elizabeth, NJ
- 07/09/2014 - Received interview notice
Great news!! I got my approval in the mail!
1. I am a Canadian physician on an H-1B (never been on J-1) which expires June 30th, 2017. I am currently doing a 2 year fellowship. I'm contemplating pursuing the physician NIW process vs EB-2 through potential employer.
For EB-2, my understanding is that I need to be eligible for a full-time physician position on the day the employer submits the ad. Since I won't complete my general residency until June 30th, 2016, my potential employer cannot begin recruitment until July 1, 2016, correct?<br>
2. In your experience, is 1 year enough time to complete the EB-2 process?
See clip from Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna's conference call video that addresses this question.
We won this case for the applicant utilizing nine strong recommendation letters from sources around the world which included field experts as well as industry.
We won this case based on the applicant's critical role in a key U.S. Air Force project. His level of expertise in this specialized field was highly sought after and necessary to achieve the military's objectives. We provided letters from experts in the Air Force stressing their need to keep the applicant on the project or else it would fail.
Comments: Rajiv Khanna is an extremely competent attorney and I am extremely pleased by the service provided by his staff. I specially commend Diane Lombardo for getting things done quickly, efficiently and correctly. I would recommend this firm for anyone wishing to hire a lwayer for their GC process. Country of Birth of primary applicant: India Country of Birth of beneficiary: Colombia I-140 NIW Application received by INS on Jan, 13 1998. I-140 Additional evidence requested on April 23, 1998. I-140 Approval received on Jun 13, 1998. I-485 Received by INS on Aug 5, 1998. I-485 RFE sent out by INS on Nov 12, 1999. RFE was for employment letter, original geographical area of NIW approval and birth certificate. I-485 Response sent on December 7, 1999. I-485 Approved on December 23, 1999. Passport stamped on January 3, 2000 using courtesy copy (not original copy). Further, for those who are wondering how I was able to submit my I485 application in August 1998 when my priority date is Jan 13 1998, I qualify since I cross-charged my application under my spouse's country of birth.
Do the 3 years spent in residency training in an HPSA/MUA area be counted towards the five years required for NIW? The residency training (3 years) and subsequent job (2 years) were on H1B visa in two different HPSA/MUA areas but not processed through NIW route. Can the NIW petition be filed now retrospectively for those years already worked in underserved areas? My current GC sponsoring job is in a University teaching hospital (job designation Assistant Professor) but obviously also involves treating patients. The PERM prevailing wage category was teacher/ Professor but job description included patient care. Can the job be changed to that involving only patient care (no teaching) and still be considered same/ similar? How about a job (with patient care only & no teaching) in a private practice (as opposed to hospital employee)?
Watch the Video on this FAQ: Physicians (FMG) NIW, AC21 portability, Teaching to clinical position
Video Transcription
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.
Discussion Topics:
Marrying a Canadian and bring them to USA || I Apply for a NIW through EB2 || COS to L-1A || Can any company revoke I-140 after 180 days || H-1 transfer || 3 year H-1B extension || Fiance visa || H4 EAD and starting a business || EB3 to EB2 porting of priority dates
USCIS Ombudsman’s recommendations on how to improve the asylum clock. Topics include clearly defining the agency roles, improving communication, providing notice to applicants, and more.
Please check the attached memo.
Our client recently received his green card after a long journey with USCIS. He approached us following a denial of his I-140 (NIW, physician in medically underserved area). The applicant had filed the I-140 and I-485 and then moved to a different state while the applications were pending. There had been no action on the file for 2 years. He submitted a service request with USCIS requesting a status update. USCIS issued a Request for Evidence shortly after the applicant’s move, which was sent to the original address and ultimately returned undelivered.
We have recently won a case for a physician working in several rural clinics as well as his private practice within a medically underserved area. We were retained following a denial of the I-140 petition for NIW. We filed an appeal as well as an amended (new) I-140 application to show that the physician had met the 5-year service requirements for an NIW. The applicant had moved from one medically underserved area to another while the original I-140 was pending. The issue was whether an “amendment” could have been filed in this case to notify USCIS of the move without an approved I-140.
Please check the attachment for CRS report.
Discussion Topics:
I contacted immigration.com., and got an email back the next day, and phone consult set up with Rajiv Khanna two days later. He was extremely helpful, explaining to me the weaknesses and opportunities of my case, and actually gave me some reference point to talk to my employer. I am grateful to Rajiv and his staff for their assistance, and would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for quality legal opinion on their immigration cases.
Hi i am from Greece i had a telephone conversation with Mr Khanna about EB1 and EB2 and NIW he was very helpful explaining to me that applications for the above are quite difficult for sb that has only a masters degree hence under his guidance i decided to do an MBA and later with his help to get H1B and apply for the green card. thanks , sotiris
I had a conference call with Mr. Khanna. I from India and have done my PhD. I was interested in filing for Green card through EB1 or NIW category. However, after looking at my CV he advised me that my case is not strong enough for either of the two. He said that whether I get the green card or not the lawyer will get paid, so I should be careful in selecting a category to file my green card under. This honesty really impressed me about him. I will take more legal advise before reaching a conclusion but at least Mr. Khanna was honest enough to give me his frank opinion and not take me for a ride as I have read about other attorneys / law firms. Thank you Mr. Khanna for your time !
Please check the attachment for "Minutes Of Asylum Division Quarterly Stakeholder Meeting".
Dear all
I came to the USA from New Delhi, India with a Master's in Microbiology in 1992 - to pursue a Ph.D. in Biochemistry / Molecular biology specializing in protein engineering. In 2000, started a post doc- 7 months at Brigham and Women's hospital - did not get along with the indian jerk of a boss so changed to the main Harvard medical School quad under a fantastic caucasian post doc mentor and a very good friend, a very liberal democrat (Go John Kerry).
A message sent by the acting director to USCIS asylum officers regarding asylum and internal relocation guidance.
When I applied for the green card, Attorney Khanna was kind enough to spend one hour with me talking about the process and the work that will need to be performed in order to file the papers. We also talked a little bit about the meaning of life which was refreshing. He mentioned that Diane Lombardo who asists him will be incharge of my case and said that she is thorough and there should be no problem. He completely understated the capabilities of Diane. She is very thorough and to say the least one of the most thorough people I have ever worked with. Her attention to detail and thoroughness was impressive. My I-140 had a record turn around of 45 days from the date of mailing to approval notice. My EAD came back for in 14 days. This was mainly due to Diane's hard work. Since my filing I have referred 2 other people to Attorney Khanna.