Immigration.com

Search

Recording for May 04, 2023 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna

2 years ago By Chief Editor

Nonimmigrant Visas

Immigration Law

Green Card

FAQs

- Switching employers while one's spouse is on an H-4 visa and the steps to ensure a smooth return to the U.S.

- H-1B or green card misrepresentation: Legal options and consequences for fighting back against USCIS

- Options for extending stay in the U.S. after layoff as an international student pursuing a Master's in IT

- Potential visa complications for an H-1B visa holder due to past employment with a blacklisted company and alternatives for obtaining an H-1B stamp

.......................................................................

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance Regarding the 2-Year Foreign Residence Requirement for the J Nonimmigrant Classification

2 years ago By Chief Editor

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance (PDF, 275.62 KB) in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the 2-year foreign residence requirement for the nonimmigrant exchange visitor (J) classification.

WRD (Waiver Review Division) and Waiver Application Issues

14 years ago By Chief Editor

Certain exchange visitors (J-1) are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement which requires you to return to your home country for at least two years at the end of your exchange visitor program. This is also known as the foreign residence requirement under U.S. law, Immigration and Nationality Act, section 212(e).

DOS Publishes QAs On New Regulations For J-1 Visa Summer Work Travel

14 years ago By Editor

New Regulations for J-1 Visa - Summer Work Travel
Taken Question Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC

 

Q: Please provide details on the specific aspects of the new regulations for J-1 visas. What is the intention of these new regulations? Are we confident that these new regulations will protect recipients from abuse?

A: The Summer Work Travel (SWT) program has provided thousands of international college and university students an opportunity to visit the United States and experience the American people and culture firsthand.

USCIS Program Extension Alert

13 years ago By Chief Editor

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advises the public that Public Law 112-176, signed by the President on Sept. 28, 2012, extends the following USCIS programs until Sept. 30, 2015:

  • E-Verify
  • Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Pilot Program
  • Special immigrant visa category for non-minister special immigrant religious workers
  • The date by which J-1 nonimmigrant exchange visitors must obtain that status in order to qualify for the Conrad 30 program.

Program Details

Rajiv's Article - Enhanced social media vetting for student and exchange visas - What you need to know

8 months ago By Chief Editor

Published by: The Economic Times - Date: April 04, 2025

https://shorturl.at/xyEtn

Synopsis

The State Department's new social media screening measures affect F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa applicants, requiring mandatory reviews under certain conditions. These include broad interpretations of terrorist support and criteria for hostile attitudes toward U.S. institutions, potentially leading to visa revocations.

For more information on this article, please see the attachment below.

J-1 Waiver Based on Exceptional Hardship Upon a U.S. Citizen Child

12 years ago By Chief Editor

We filed an application seeking a waiver of the foreign residence requirement for our client based on exceptional hardship upon the client’s U.S. citizen child.  We argued that the minor child would suffer extreme hardship if he were forced to leave the U.S. with his mother to fulfill the two-year home residency requirement because of a serious medical condition, for which treatment was not readily available in the applicant’s home country.  We provided ample supporting documentation in this regard.

USCIS granted the waiver.

Nonimmigrant Visas

Immigration Law

Citizenship and Naturalization

US Visa & Social Media: What you need to know about new screening policies and their impact

5 months ago By Chief Editor
Question details

I believe there was a proposal to include social media handles as part of certain visa/immigration applications. Do you know what the consequences of that are?



If one has deleted social media accounts they don't have access to or accounts they don't remember the details for would that negatively impact the application? Also, is it just public posts that get reviewed or do private messages/dms get reviewed also?

FAQ Transcript

As of June 24, 2025, the US Consulates have updated their policies for F (academic student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants. The key requirements are:

Public Privacy Settings: All your social media accounts must have their privacy settings adjusted to "public" so that the consulate can review them.

Disclosure of Usernames: You are required to list all social media usernames or handles from every platform you have used for the last 5 years. This includes accounts, even if they have since been deleted.

Failing to comply with these requirements, including omitting social media information or keeping accounts private, could lead to visa denial. The new policy aims to facilitate vetting to establish identity and admissibility to the United States.

Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, PC



5225 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22205

110 W. Johnson St, Suite 213, Staunton, VA 24401

Ph: (202) 909-1110

Copyright ©1993-2025, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, PC. All rights reserved.

IMMIGRATION.COM is a registered trademark of Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, P.C.