Frequently Asked Questions on US Travel Ban
Note: For the NRI readers, The Economic Times has started an immigration helpdesk. A team of experts which includes Rajiv S. Khanna addresses the most pressing issues. Please see the link below.
Note: For the NRI readers, The Economic Times has started an immigration helpdesk. A team of experts which includes Rajiv S. Khanna addresses the most pressing issues. Please see the link below.
My husband used to have visa O for 2 or 3 years, and we decide to come back to Mexico in 2001, now we want to come back to USA, could you renovate this visa or is easy apply for new different visa? He has a BA in Spanish Literature and I have BA in psychology, we have one eighteen and one 15 years old sons and 1 year old baby girl, and we live in Canada right now.
You will need to have the employer apply for a new O-1 petition with USCIS.
I’m applying L2 for my wife. She is working in India and she is coming here on vacation. Do I need to mention her working details while filling L2? Or shall I mention saying that she is not working?
Tell the truth. I see no reason why you need to worry. An L-2 is permission, not an obligation. She can come and leave as she pleases.
I am in USA on L2 visa and I intend to start interviewing/ working immediately. For the EAD application, do I have to apply it before I interview or does the employer apply on my behalf once they make an offer? What are the processing times for EAD? I still haven't got my SSN but have scheduled the appointment for SSN. Should I apply for EAD after the SSN is approved or soon after SSN application?
You should apply (not the employer) for the EAD ASAP. Processing times are on USCIS web site.
I was on L-2 visa till present. I got my EAD few months back, which expires in April 2013. But I had to Adjust my Status to H-4 as my spouse's visa got changed to H-1.Can I work with my EAD as it has got validity till 2013? Is there any other way that I can work in this country?
H-4 holders can not use the EAD they received while on L-2. If you can, change to H-1.
I am the spouse of an O-1 visa holder and we live in the US (so I am on an O-3). His company is putting together the application for his green card, but do they need to do a separate one for me too? Or do I get one automatically if he gets one? Or do I have to wait until he gets one and then he applies for one for me? And what about our children - too young to work yet, but want to make sure they are ok too.
The way it works is that the company can file everyone's AOS (Form I-485) together OR they can first get your husband's I-140 approval and leave you to file the last step (AOS) for the family.
I came to USA as L2 with my spouse, after leaving my job. Now my parent company is asking me to take up their assignment based at USA. and also asking me to confirm the possibility of starting their office at States.
Is these possible? at least working for them is possible. I have my EAD. Can I work and take salary from outside USA firm?
Once you have the EAD you can work for anyone in USA, including a company that is not in USA.
This Policy Memorandum (PM) provides guidance for processing and adjudicating Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, filed on behalf of O nonimmigrants, with regard to determining the appropriate validity period of an approvable petition when a gap exists between two or more events reflected in the itinerary.
The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.
The O nonimmigrant classification is commonly referred to as:
USCIS seeks your input on the draft memoranda listed below. These memoranda are drafts of proposed or revised guidance to USCIS Field Offices and Service Centers. They are not intended as guidance for the general public, nor are they intended to create binding legal requirements on the public. Until issued in final form, the draft memoranda do not constitute agency policy in any way or for any purpose.
I would like to know the travel restrictions to renew O-1 visa within the US. I heard that it is better to go back to your citizenship country to renew it in order to get the same visa as I have now where I can travel with no restrictions.
You should be able to get an O-1 visa stamping in any country.
I have come here with my husband who is on L-1 visa. I have L-2 visa. What work opportunities are there if I have no EAD. Second,I have gone to the office to get SSN. But the lady there told me that I don't require that and they refused to give me.What could be the reason I didn't get that. Can I apply for EAD if I don't have SSN? I'm here in US for 6 months. I want to work as I have done my MBA.
An Australian Musician that is wanting to come to US for a few weeks to travel and play at approx 15-20 venues across the US. I am willing to sponsor him via my DJ entertainment service, and he will be paid for the shows. He is a professional musician in his country, has been for 15 yrs.
Which visa would be required in this case?
A "B" visa is appropriate if the artist will not be paid in USA, other than for travel and incidental expense.
Please check the link to know more about the O and P visa Reissuance in London embassy.
I am L2 visa holder and a physiotherapist from India. I also have SSN. Do I need to take the EAD or health care worker certificate to work in USA.Or simply credit evaluation and taking the licence is sufficient.
You need complete credentialing including a license.
My company is giving me option of taking a L1 visa or H1B. My wife recently completed a 3 year Bachelors degree in Computer application from India. I want to make sure that she can work once we immigrate to US. Can you suggest what approach should we take? 1) Get myself H1 and then she does a MS from US.
2) Get a L1 visa and she can find a job in US with her 3 year degree.
Personally, I prefer the L-2 option for her. She can work AND go to school. More choices.
We are usually called upon by I visa holders for consultations. Click here to consult us.
I am on an L-1 visa, and I am working in the U.S.. My wife is outside the U.S. Her L-2 visa has expired. We want to get an appointment somewhere to get visa stamping together. I cannot travel without an appointment, or else I will be stuck and will not return to the U.S. without visa stamping. The embassy has not opened for more than a year now, and she is stuck, so how can we get appointments? Can this be an emergency appointment case?
We do not have enough information about your case, but generically, it appears that your wife may have the option to go through the dropbox process. Please look into that. Also, emergency appointments are just that: reserved for an emergency. Most consulates are not likely to entertain such a request unless there is a real emergency.
Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, 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.
As part of the credit card payment pilot program, the Vermont Service Center is now accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for O and P nonimmigrants.
I have reviewed the recent lawsuit settlement where the USCIS has agreed to consider H-4 holders to be eligible to continue working while their timely filed EAD extension is pending. Unfortunately, the settlement seems to state that the right to work is only co-extensive with your I-94 duration. Therefore, you do not have the right to continue working for 180 days; only till your I-94 expires. While it is better than nothing, the settlement is not everything that we would like to see.
I am on my H-1B and my wife is currently on her H-4. With the new bill does she still need to wait for my I-140 to be approved?
There is no new bill, just a policy clarification. And, yes, she will have to wait per the law.
Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments and blog on immigration.com
I am on L-1 and my wife is L-2 with EAD. Can she do a home based business such as selling things on Ebay etc?
With an EAD, an L-2 can work anywhere including operating their own business and work as many jobs as they like.
August 08, Discussion Topics
-DOB in Passport different from Birt Certificate
-Impact on I-140 if company closes
-Change of status from F-1 to H-1 denied
-Difference between AR-11 and I-865
-Investor Visa process
My O petition was approved through your help and when I went for O1 Stamping my visa was not issued due to Chennai consulate in patent misunderstanding of the law that being subject to INA Section 212(e) home residency requirement.
Finally Mr Khanna sent the a brief explanation that "It is long settled law that 212(e) does NOT apply to O-1 visas" and i got the O1 stamping. I am convinced that with the current experience of obtaining the O visa with your guidance, and support of Miss Diane Lombardo and Miss Anna Baker I would definitely be a client for my future needs. I am very pleased with the service and the application was very diligently prepared by your staff with communicating with different parties of my sponsor institution. The staff at the sponsor institution were amazed by the pleasant nature of Miss Diane Lombardo. I was very confident by your mails that my visa will successfully stamped. I whole heartedly thank you Mr. Khanna and your team. I would advise my pears to get the best job done right, is to hire Mr. Khanna. I am eagerly looking forward to working with you in the future. Thanks, Raghava Munivenkatappa