The I-94 Web Application has been designed to provide travelers with the I-94 number that is assigned by Customs and Border Protectio or CBP - upon entrance to the United States. The I-94 number may be used for verification with other government agencies. Foreign travelers entering the UnitedStates at air or sea ports of entry will be able to access their electronic Form I-94 by visiting www.cbp.gov/I94
To learn more about this Web Application please visit the link below.
Whom should we contact in the case of an erroneously issued I-94 cards, i.e., incorrect expiration date such as when the expiration date matches the visa expiration and not the I-797 approval notice? How do we reach this person? Which Ports-of-Entry (POE) may correct such a card?
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that, if an I-94 has an error, any POE can correct. If I-94 expiration date is based on the limitation of the travel document (i.e. passport expiration date), then this is not an error that will be corrected.
I have 14 years of overall IT experience and performing Manager, Service delivery role for past 3 years. Planning to enter USA in L-1A visa. I have a team of 30 resources, working in Chennai, Shanghai and San Jose. They all report to me. <br>
My Questions:<br>
1. How long I need to wait to initiate the GC process?<br>
2. Do I have a choice of selecting the type - EB-1 vs EB-2?<br>
3. I don't have bachelors or masters degree. Will that be a barrier for applying GC?<br>
4. Should I apply ONLY through my employer or can I apply myself
1. You can apply for green card without any wait.
2.
It's very nice to be back to the client's feedback section within a year. Do I need to mention that Rajiv & his team are the best in the business and we can not find a more considerate person than Savita at his office. I have no words to write my feelings of happiness working with Rajiv and professional team
I am currently working as a Senior Software developer at a small company (13 employees). It is privately held and I don't have any stake in it. I am on an H-1B visa and my I-140 is approved under the EB-3 category. I see an opportunity to start a team in India for my current company. I can manage the team from India, staying there for a year. After that, I can come back to the US and still manage the Indian team while working in the USA. I will probably have to play a dual role where I am a senior developer and should manage the Indian team. Will I be eligible for EB-1 manager/executive level after 3 years? If not, is there an easy way I can leverage the advantage of working in a small shop to get a green card faster.
You should be able to include the team in India amongst the professionals you manage if the benefit of the work flows to the corporate collective. You don't have to be outside the USA for three years. The required time period is one year. This could work, but you must have a detailed consultation with your lawyers. They should make sure your proposed jobs in India and then in the USA meet the legal requirements for an L-1A/EB-1C.
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.
We successfully assisted the client company, an online retail business, in filing an L-1A “new office” petition to enable the beneficiary to join the U.S. subsidiary temporarily as Chief Executive Officer to lead the development and formulation of the U.S. Entity’s short and long-term strategy. While in the U.S.
We live in Delaware. We had extended my parent's B2 Visa twice in the past. Once in 2016 and it was approved. Second time in 2018, but they went back to India before the decision on extension. For the second extension, we got a letter from USCIS stating, "Since they left the country, USCIS is not approving the extension, However they can travel again"
Again in 2019, they came and left the US in 6 months.
This year, they came last week on Jan 31 2022, but CBP in Philadelphia airport took them for inspection at the port of entry. After a long wait time, CBP came back and told them that they had overstayed and they had canceled their B2 Visa. CBP gave a letter that they can stay for three months and leave the country before April 30.
Though we followed the process defined, we are really not sure why they canceled the visa.
With this situation, Can you please advise what is our option,
1. Can we appeal for visa reinstatement?
2. Can we go back to the country and apply for a B2 Visa again in May ? Or should we wait for some time before applying again?
I think you should bring this up to your congressman's office. Maybe you can even tell them what you heard from me that this is an inappropriate application of 222(g), within the Department of State standard operating procedures that's called FAM (Foreign Affairs Manual) it clearly says if you leave while the application is pending you are not subject to 222(g).
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.
Release Date
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the documentation that certain E and L nonimmigrant spouses may use as evidence of employment authorization based on their nonimmigrant status.
Background: I am currently on L-2 VISA and is going to expire in May. My company is going to file my Canada visa in a month. My spouse's (currently on L1A) employer is going to file her GC soon and she wants to stay with our kids until a decision is made (stay as a visitor or on the basis of GC filing). We decided that I will go to Canada and if the GC processing won't happen or the outcome is negative, she will join me in Canada at a later time.
Now:
I want to apply for the change of status from L-2 visa to visitor visa while I am still in the US, and leave for India while my Canadian visa is in process and travel to Canada directly from India. (I am going to see my parents as it's been years and can't travel to India if I join my company back in Canada anytime soon).
Questions:
1) Is it okay to leave the US while my change of status from L-2 to Visitor visa is in the process?
2) If yes, will USCIS continue to process and intimate me once they approve?
In this case it should be fine, but remember to go through the Section 222 (g;) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Another thing you need to remember is in order for you to get a B-2 visa stamp or a B-1 visa stamp at the consulate you do not need any kind of approval from the USCIS.
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.
I had L-1B individual visa which was rejected during the extension process about 2 years back and my company filed fresh L-1A individual petition after I came back to India which is approved now. Does my case for L-1A individual visa qualifies for visa waiver? Note that : I also had H1-B denial after it was picked in lottery in RFE process before L-1B was approved.
It appears that you may not qualify for an interview waiver because you had an H one B denial that was never overcome.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, April 28, 2022:
I'm currently on H1B Visa with I-140 Approved. My Employer is sending to Canadian branch to work for 2 years. I have 1 person reporting the work to me (Offshore India). I'm not designated as a Manager. Upon return to US branch after 2 years completion in Canada. Does my application qualify for EB-1C category?
Video Transcript:
Maybe, maybe not. it depends.Looks like you will not qualify, but you never know.
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.
I am currently on H-1B , which expires on 20 Jan 2018 , Instead of filing H-1B extension my employer filed for my COS on L-1A , As i meet all the eligibility criteria. I also have my EB-1C I-140 approved , but we cannot file 485 as the dates are not current. My L-1A COS is rejected (Denied) . Will this impact my already approved I-140 ?
Video Transcription
If your L-1A is denied and not just the change of status, then we have to look at the reason for denial. Typically L-1A is denied if the government feels that you don't rise to the level of an executive or managerial employee for whatever reason, whether it is on the foreign country side or the US side. If you don't rise to that level government can deny your L-1A and if they are denying the L-1A on that basis and your EB-1C I-140 was approved also with the same or similar job description, then obviously there is a potential impact because the criteria used for determining your eligibility for L-1A and EB-1C are the same as far as qualifying as a manager is concerned.
So indirectly because you are using the same job description you could have a problem with the L-1A denial. Yet now, if it is a change of status which can happen because you file your application two days late then the green card I-140 remains unaffected but then you have to worry about the unlawful presence problem. If you have been unlawfully present for 180 days you cannot come back for 3 years, except with a 212(d)(3) waiver and that's always a possibility in cases like these.
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.
I came here on L1A. At the time of petition, my offer letter from my employer had a salary of $120K annually. This is $10,000 monthly. I want to know if running my payroll for less money will affect my GC process which I am planning to apply next year. Considering following situations, Will it affect my GC process which I am planning to apply after 1 year from my arrival date? 1) If my payroll is run for lesser salary e.g. in the range of $6000 to $8000? 2) If my payroll is run with (salary + bonus) to make it a total of $10,000/month (120K annually). For example salary = $6000/month and bonus = $4000/month
Video Transcript
Ideally, you should be paid what is indicated on the L-1 paperwork, but there's certainly no law that I can point to that mandates that result. It is just a general sense of uneasiness because it could go into eligibility. Also, if your payroll is run with salary plus bonus I think then you should be ok although I haven't researched this issue. Have your lawyers look into it.
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.
What is the chance for a L-1A visa holder of 9 years experience (2 years in USA) to qualify for a EB-1 category. Catch here is the original company which provided the L-1A visa will not apply for GC. Can I apply for GC myself in EB-1 category?
You or any company not a part of the L-1A employer cannot apply for green card based upon your international manager/executive status.
FAQs: Traveled on Advance Parole - Maintaining H-1B status without going for stamping and filing multiple I-485 or Interfiling || Green card application for parents during tourist visa || How are PERM minimum job requirements determined? || Extending or Renewing F-1 student visa risks and requirements || Various Interfiling Issues ||
My current visa H-4 VISA is valid till Nov 25 2016.
- I had applied for an change of status/extension of stay (I539) for H-4 status to July 4 2018 (through underlying H-1 extension).
- I had to travel to India while it was pending. USCIS issued an I-797 - Approval for the extension of stay without abandoning it.
- At the port of entry, the I-94 expiry was marked as Dec 25 2016.
- The expiry date does not jive with the original VISA expiry date Nov 25, 2016 that was presented at the time of arrival. Nor does it reflect the I-539 extended date of July 4 2018 (that was not presented at port of entry).
Please advise -
a) What action would I required to correct I-94 expiry date? Who do I contact to correct it?
b) I am filing for a I-485 adjustment as a spouse of EB-3, The forms require to put the status expiry date. Is it OK to use the more conservative Nov 25 2016 date even though I-539 has been erroneously approved till July 4 2018?
FAQ Transcript:
This is a recurring issue, so first of all I want to address the problem and the possible solutions or the lack of solutions. Often times we have a case, we have a case working on right now actually. This lady entered the US on H-4 visa which was good for let’s say till 2017 but her passport was expiring in 2016 or 2015 She comes in and Customs and Border Protection gives her I-94 only till the date of her passport approval. And sometimes they do that; they will give it to the extent of visa approval, which is incorrect. Your visa could be expiring earlier than your approval. They should still give you the I-94 all the way to your approval not till your visa. In this case they gave it only till 2015 and she is been here over a year now in unlawful presence not realizing that she has been given less stay than 2017.
So, this is a very complicated issue or problematic issue. They will correct the mistakes they have made. If they have made a mistake giving you a wrong date or giving you the date till visa not the approval date, you can actually go back to the CBP at the airport or any of their offices or nearby posts. They have lists of them at www.cbp.gov website and you can ask your I-94 to be corrected.
But there are certain things they don't consider them as errors, such as approval till the passport expiration that cannot be corrected. Then the question is what do you do then?
You have two choices; either you can do the extension of status or current status by filing the form I- 539 or I-129, if you are H-1, L-1 holder. For H-1, L-1 they do it all over again as new case. For H-4 it’s less complicated or simple or you can step outside USA, showing your visa and comeback and receive your I-94 approval. But if your I-94 is already expired, you must speak with your lawyer before you leave. You could very well subject to the bar which comes from the unlawfully present.
So, in this case what happened is the person who has the above question traveled to India while change of status for H-1 to H-4 was pending.
Now USCIS should have declined change of status because they left US, came back received I-94 good till December 2016. The visa expiration date is November 2016, which is what I gave at the airport he says.
What action would I required to correct I-94 expiration date?
Look you can go back to the CBP, make your case that you have made an error, I don’t see the error. If anything they have given you is more time not less and because you traveled abroad while your change of status was pending , that approval is really not worth anything. That’s the mistaken approval.
I am filing for a I-485 adjustment as a spouse of EB3, The forms require to put the status expiry date. Is it OK to use the more conservative Nov 25 2016 date even though I-539 has been erroneously approved till July 4 2018?
I would use the date which they have given you in I - 94 and I would attach an explanation saying that this date maybe incorrect but you don't know. According to your calculation it should have been November 2016.
I always like to make full disclosure to the government, so that they don't come back and create a problem with the discrepancy.
FAQ: What happens to H-1B after Green Card approval? || OPT eligibility requirements, F-1 status for one academic year, and Change of Status or visa stamping from back to H-4 || PERM issues for a green card for remote jobs - headquarters || Can an H-1B visa holder rent via Airbnb? Is this a violation of status? || How long does it take from PERM to Green Card, and difference between NIW and PERM Labor Certification? || Applying for E-2 Visa with a pending family-based Green Card; who can be the main applicant for an E-2 visa? ||
I had filed for my parent's green card in July' 2022. It is concurrent filing.
The I-130 filed by me shows processing times of 4 weeks and 6 months for my dad & mom respectively.
The Advance Parole shows processing time of 11.5 months and I-485 (Minneapolis-St. Paul field office) is almost 2 years.
Their I-94 is expiring on the 30th Nov. What is the process to withdraw the application so that they can return back to India legally before 30th Nov?
Also wanted to know:
Will I need to withdraw the I-130 petitions that I had filed for them ?
Will this impact their existing B-2 (visitor) visa? Will it still be valid?
1. There is no need to withdraw the application, but if you want to withdraw you will have to send a letter. Even if they leave without getting an advance parole the I-485 is deemed to be abandoned but the I-130 can still go on. You will have to call USCIS to open a customer service request and convert the I-130 to consular processing. Even though the I-485 is abandoned the I-130 is put in the consular processing queue.
2. If they leave before November 30th their visitor visa should not be affected.
FAQ: Explaining PERM Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) and its elements || Recapturing H-1B unused time (Remainder Option); Changing H-1B field; USCIS’s stand on combining degree and work experience || H-4 EAD visa holders opening an LLC in the U.S. and employing their H-1B holding spouse on concurrent H-1B || Gap in status, for instance, H-1B and H-4 status issues || Eligibility for EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)
I was on H-4, and it was valid till Jan 2023. I got my h1b approved via the Change of Status application and it came along with a new I-94 date. My employer is saying that they need some time to onboard me. They are working on finding a suitable project for me and it is going to take some time. Is it ok to defer the joining date and should my employer or I file any application to let USCIS know that I am not starting the job right away?
That is not your problem, they should be really paying you. It is illegal. They cannot keep the employee out of a payroll. Employers cannot stop paying you merely because they don't have a project.
Parents came to the USA on a B-2 Visa in March 2021. I have requested an I-539 extension in August 2021 due to COVID and they stayed till Jan 2022. Eventually the extension got denied. Is this a problem?
The government will say as one has overstayed their I-94, they will now be subject to section 222(g). If you overstay your I-94 the visa stamp on your passport is automatically canceled, so you have to apply for a new visa. For more details on this issue, visit my author page on The Economic Times.
Release Date
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:
We would like to thank The Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, specially Savita for helping us get through our green card journey. They were very helpful, courteous, prompt and knowledgeable about the whole process.
The whole experience was very smooth, we just had to provide the required documents and information. It is very important to have a highly qualified and professional Law Office on your side for such a critical process.
I would highly recommend them to everyone for all immigration related matters.
Thank you so much to Rajiv, Savita, Leila, and everyone else who handled our cases.