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USCIS Extends Initial Registration Period for FY 2025 H-1B Cap
Release Date
03/21/2024
USCIS has extended the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap. The initial registration period, which opened at noon Eastern on March 6, 2024, and was originally scheduled to run through noon Eastern on March 22, 2024, will now run through noon Eastern on March 25, 2024. USCIS is aware of a temporary system outage experienced by some registrants, and is extending the registration period to provide additional time due to this issue.
SCOPS Update – 07-13-2011
Filing location for concurrently-filed I-140/I-485 petitions
Unless there is an accompanying I-907 all I-140/485 concurrent filings must be filed at the lockbox addresses. Depending on the jurisdiction the filing must be sent directly to TSC or NSC.
Employers who are cap-exempt under INA § 214(g)(5)(A) or (g)(5)(B) filing H-1B petitions
Recording for March 28, 2024 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Discussion Topics:
FAQs: Staying outside the US on Re-Entry Permit Validity, Usage, and Multiple Entries for Green Card Holders || Unemployment Benefits for H-4 + EAD Holders with Previous H-1B employment
Recording for August 22, 2024 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
FAQs: EB-1A Use Case -- STEM OPT cloud solutions engineer at a nonprofit university || Layoff on H-1B, Changing status from B-1/B-2 pending to F-1 || Impact of layoff on green card status and future naturalization || H-1B laid off: Second B-1/B-2 visa extension
Recording for October 10, 2024 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Nonimmigrant Visas
Topics Discussed:
Increased Denials & Delays in some US Visa Categories, Rajiv in QnA, Feb 12, 2025
Nonimmigrant Visas
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mmigration.com, Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna PC, US Immigration Attorney
H-1B cap exempt visa pros and cons
I am on OPT, which started on 19th February 2024. I joined my first job on OPT on 8th July 2024 and lost one attempt at the H1B lottery. I work for a research foundation, and they can sponsor me for an H1B-exempt visa. I have a degree in computer science, and I ultimately want to work in corporate America, which means I need to get an H1B cap-subject visa.
My question is whether I should get this H1B exempt visa through my current organization or if I should try to switch to a different company and use my remaining two attempts at the lottery. I ask this because once I get the H1B exempt visa and change my status from F1 to H1B, I won’t be able to switch to a for-profit organization and would be stuck in H1B exempt visa category. H1B-exempt visa jobs are less and pay less. And though the option of an H1B concurrent visa is there but I feel in reality, it will be challenging to get a company to allow me to work for another company due to NDA requirements and also allow part-time work. (But I would appreciate your advice on this since you must have had client experience.)
Can you advise me on how to get the H1B exempt visa now? Does it have any advantage, given I want to transition to a corporate company? What options will I have if I switch to a for-profit organization? Also, I am currently funded through a grant, and it has runway till July 2026.
I have seen people saying not to get an H1B exempt visa as you will be stuck in that category, but I also feel that any H1B visa will be better than F1.
If you have the opportunity to get an H-1B cap-exempt visa through a research foundation, you should take it. Having cap-exempt H-1B status does not prevent you from continuing to apply for the regular H-1B lottery.
Additionally, you can hold both a cap-exempt and a cap-subject H-1B concurrently as long as you maintain your cap-exempt job. If you win the H-1B lottery through a for-profit employer, you can easily switch to a regular H-1B.
Taking the cap-exempt route ensures immediate work authorization and does not limit future opportunities. The idea that you’ll be "stuck" in cap-exempt status is incorrect.
Recording for November 07, 2024 Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
FAQ: H-1B layoffs: 60-day grace period, visa options, and transitioning to study || Employer and agency verification requirements on the most recent I-94: Is this new note typical? || H-1B stamping delay and administrative processing in India: Payroll gaps, re-entry concerns, and expediting Options
L-1B Specialized Knowledge Worker
Over the last few years, approvals of L-1B cases have become particularly difficult. An L-1B (Intra-Company Transfer Visa) petitioner retained us after receiving a Request for Evidence from USCIS requiring additional proof that the beneficiary had specialized knowledge and that the job duties required an individual with unique knowledge of the petitioner’s complex technology. We provided documentation to show that the beneficiary had skills that could not be obtained in the open market. We were also able to show that, within the petitioner’s employee pool, the beneficiary
B-2 extension/F-1 Change of Status: Can I stay in the U.S.?
My H-1B to B2 status change (I-539) was approved, and the I-94 expiry date on my B2 approval notice is 21 April 2025.
Now, if I apply for a B2 extension or F-1 change of status, then can I stay in the USA after 21-Apr-2025 while my decision is pending?
Yes, you can generally stay in the US while your B-2 extension or F-1 change of status application is pending, provided you file it before your current status expires. This applies to most applications filed while still in status (e.g., H-1, B-1, B-2, L-1, E-1, E-2). If your I-94 expires on April 21st and you apply for a B-2 extension or F-1 change of status before that date, you can stay in the US while your application is pending because you filed it timely.
Guestbook Entry for Arun Thapar, HR Manager, QSSI, United States
Recording for May 29, 2025, Conference Call with Rajiv S. Khanna
Immigration.com
Agency
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
FAQs: New 5% remittance tax bill for non-US citizens: Will it pass and are non-citizens eligible for tax credit?|| Will admitting to an unsuccessful job search affect my B-2 visa extension approval?
USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2026 H-1B Cap
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2026.
USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap. Petitions filed for current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap, and who still retain their cap number, are exempt from the FY 2026 H-1B cap. USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions filed to:
Another Problem for Legal Immigration - NTAs (Removal/Deportation Despite Legal Stay)
Another Problem for Legal Immigration - NTAs (Removal/Deportation Despite Legal Stay)
July 24, 2025
Community members and our lawyer colleagues have shared their stories. It appears:
1. The NTAs are getting resolved quickly, where you are still in the grace period and/or have a B-type petition pending. Motions to terminate are working.
2. The hearing dates are also being given in a few days or weeks.
3. The percentage of NTAs is relatively small.
Does Unlawful Presence Continue to Accrue While Fighting an NTA?
Can I receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) for deportation even if I have legal immigration status or a pending application?
This question is particularly important because continued accrual of unlawful presence during removal proceedings can trigger the three-year or ten-year bars, severely limiting future immigration options.
General Rule: Yes, Unlawful Presence Continues
DOL Issues Clarification on L Visa Fees and Reciprocity Fees
- State department's cable clarifies how reciprocity fees are affected when consular officers collect anti-fraud fees and border security fees.
- Please check attached file.
EAD for a L2 Visa
I had applied for an EAD for a L2 Visa. Although I entered the information correctly, USCIS rejected the application stating that I applied under a wrong category. I called them multiple times to explain this and there was no proper response. Some even suggested me to reapply and start all over again. I sent a mail to Rajiv and he suggested contacting the local Congressman's office. I explained these details to a member of my local congressman's office and she was able to contact USCIS and get the EAD approved.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Taxonomy upgrade extras
Executive Actions on Immigration - USCIS
On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
USCIS Posts Updated L-1B Adjudications Policy for Public Feedback
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director León Rodríguez today announced the release of an updated policy memorandum on the L-1B nonimmigrant visa classification for workers with specialized knowledge.
H-1 Lottery Over
We have just received our first H-1 quota receipt notice. That indicates the H-1 lottery is concluded.