A J-1 exchange visa holder who received graduate medical education or training in the U.S.
As of Aug. 10, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) no longer provides admission stamps on Forms I-20/DS-2019 for prospective and returning international students and scholars (traveling with F, M, and J visas) seeking admission to the United States. This change makes CBP processes consistent with U.S.
The United States Embassy in India today announced it is implementing a new visa processing system throughout India that will further standardize procedures and will simplify fee payment and appointment scheduling through a new website at www.ustraveldocs.com/in. Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, Julia Stanley, announced at a press conference here today that beginning September 26, 2012 U.S.
I received amazing support from your firm with my labor petition. Thanks to you, my labor was filed in the shortest possible timeframe without sacrificing on quality or diligence. My Special thanks to Amrita who was my Case officer and was well and truly magnificent. Hats off.
Look forward to my continued relationship with your firm.
A J-1 exchange visa holder who received graduate medical education or training in the U.S.
Ours is a long story. My green card was filed under EB3 India with a PD of May 2006. My husband's green card was filed under EB3 India in 2005. When our dates became current sometime in 2007, my I-140 was already approved and his was pending. So, we decided to go ahead with my case and filed for I-485 for both of us. However, the dates then retrogressed and our lawyer informed us that my husband's case is no longer valid since his LC expired 3 months after it was approved. We didn't know that LC expires if not used within a specific time frame and the lawyer did not inform us either. Anyways, my husband's GC was again filed, this time through Rajiv's firm with proper guidance and through EB2. Rajiv also guided us to go through Consular Processing instead of I-485 since in our case, my husband could legally work using EAD via the I-485 applied through my case. In all these years, the company I work for has increased in size and wants to promote me. I consulted with Rajiv regarding this and inquired about possibility for porting from EB3 to EB2. Rajiv answered all our questions and guided us appropriately this time too. We are now waiting to hear about the Priority Dates for October 2012 bulletin and will make a decision about EB3 to EB2 porting. It feels so good to be able to talk to Rajiv regarding these questions related to immigration and his knowledge and experience in this field is very very valuable for people like us. Every time we have talked to him we have received excellent response and guidance. My husband and the company he works for had a very good experience with EB2 filing. Everything was very professional and was checked and rechecked before it was sent through. Thanks to Rajiv for all his help with our case so far!
I have looked at this forum a million times throughout my journey and have found it sooo amazingly helpful I thought I would share my experience in the hopes that it might help some people.
On sep 5th, I arrived at the embassy 06.30am for my interview, but waited till 11am before being interviewed as the cashier was not at her desk for me to make my visa payment.Good morning
good morning sir I replied
do you swear that everything you have written in the forms and you will say this morning is true? I answered yes
what is your name? I answered
you are .... Years old right? ..... Yes
why did you apply for dv lottery in the first place.......... I answered
where were you when you applied.... I answered
EB3 to EB2 conversion
EB3 to EB2 porting
EB3 to EB2
Good afternoon, everyone. This is US Immigration Attorney, Rajiv S. Khanna for immigration.com, the Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, P.C.
This is a community information call. It is not intended to create an attorney/client relationship. Whatever we say here remains merely an informational conversation.
This is a follow-up to the August 30 Community Conference Call.
We are talking about issues related to converting from EB3 to EB2.
What is this idea of EB-3 to EB-2 conversion?
Most of you know that EB-3 for countries like India and China are very backed up and EB-2’s are better. Actually, for the rest of the world also, EB-2 is much better. So sometimes even though you have obtained a Labor Certification (PERM certification) and then you obtained an I-140 approval or you are on the path to that, you feel, “Oh, maybe I should have filed an EB-2, or maybe circumstances have changed and now I can file under EB-2.” So, in those cases, when we get the priority date from an EB-3 case and put it on top of an EB-2 case, thereby essentially converting an EB-3 case to an EB-2 case, we refer to that loosely as a conversion. Really, it is not a conversion. It is a new case filed under EB-2, and essentially the priority date is being transferred.
One relevant question here. Can priority dates be transferred if an employer revokes my old I-140?
The answer is “Yes.” USCIS has said that they will allow transfers (carryovers) of priority dates even if the old I-140 is revoked, as long as the revocation is not for fraud.
So, when you do this analysis of EB-3 to EB-2 conversion, the first question you want to ask yourself is “Am I currently qualified for EB-2?”
Why is this question important? Remember a Green Card is for a job in the future, which means today I am working as a programmer; tomorrow’s job could be a project manager, and even though I continue to work as a programmer for the next three years or until I get my Green Card, it is not a problem. The future job of project manager can be given to me once the Green Card is approved. Or before. That is up to the employer, but it is not required. So the idea is a Green Card is for a future job. However, you must be qualified for it on the date you filed the PERM application.
So let’s say you have three years of experience after Bachelor’s Degree, and you know that the Green Card will take three or four more years, can you file under EB-2 today?
No, because you are not qualified. You may be qualified in two years or three years, but that does not mean you can file an EB-2 right now.
So are you currently qualified for EB-2?
One of the recommendations I have is for people who are not qualified and don’t have the five-year experience or have a three-year Bachelor’s Degree, you may consider doing a Master’s Degree online. I have a video on this. It’s on my blog. It tells you how to choose an appropriate on-line Master’s Degree program that is accredited and that will help you get into EB-2.
Here is a link to the video and a transcript:
Accreditation of distance education for EB-2
The next question you want to ask yourself is Do I want to process my EB-2 case with the same employer who petitioned the EB-3 or some other employer?
It is a little bit easier to do it with another employer, but given the choice between going with a totally new employer and going with an employer who is totally, solidly behind me, who is going to pay the attorney’s fees. This is a considerable expense. If they’re on my side and they want to cooperate fully with the law, then of course I would stay with the same employer.
The next question you have to ask yourself is Do you need a promotion--present or future?
What does that mean? What if you have three years of experience before you joined this employer, you want to process your Green Card through this employer, and you’ve got two years with this employer now? Now you’ve got five years but two years are with the same employer through whom you are going to file your EB-2 who also did your EB-3 earlier. In order to use that experience, you must be offered a job which is more than fifty percent different than what you were doing before. Let’s say the old job was all coding and the new job is mostly providing project management, so that’s a promotion and then the experience that you have gained with this employer can be applied towards your EB-2.
I hope I’m making myself clear. Most of you already know the concepts, but still I want to put it out there so that you are sensitized to the issues. You can ask your lawyers the right kind of questions and make sure your case is being properly approached. These concepts are difficult. They can be complicated. Even we can make mistakes. Lawyers are not perfect, as all of you know. Be educated and take your lawyers’ help in making these decisions.
It is very important to have a bona fide job.
What does that mean? If you have a three-employee company and the employer says, “I will you a promotion.” That’s a little difficult to establish and believe. It can be true but, if you are a 300-employee company or a 3,000-employee company, probably a better case for a promotion, but of course it all depends upon the facts of the case. I’m just giving you an example. This does not mean smaller companies cannot process promotion cases.
How do I eliminate the risk of problems of EB-3?
What does that mean? I already have my EB-3 approval. I don’t want to do anything that’s going to mess that up.
What you can do is, you can make sure, taking the example of the programmer under EB-3 who wants to go for project manager under EB-2. If your EB-3 was for a programmer, make sure you continue working as a programmer until the I-140 for the new case is approved. So don’t change jobs, because, if you take a promotion to project manager, then the Government could question, "This guy has already taken a promotion, then why would he come back to the lower job which is the Green Card job?” Do not take a promotion until the I-140 for the new case is approved. That would be important.
What if I used AC-21?
This is a very tricky situation. You are one of the lucky ones who’s got your I- 485 pending and I-140 is approved under EB-3. You changed from IBM to Sun Microsystems. You changed employers. Your job was programmer. Now, for AC-21, the job that Sun gives you has to be the same or similar to the job IBM gave you. So it’s got to be a programmer or thereabouts. Now the problem here is this. In order for Sun Microsystems to process your case under EB-2, they have to assess whether they have to promote you so that an EB-2-level job can be given to you or can they use the same job. This can be tricky.
So for AC-21, the key question is can the same job which was the subject of AC-21 be used to file an EB-2 case?
Tricky question. Depends upon the facts of the case.
Now, to the posted set of Questions from the Community Conference call of August 30th.
First Set of Questions
Question: I have an I-485 pending on EB-3. I have been with my company for 12 years. They are planning to apply for EB-2. Same company. I have a Bachelor’s four-year engineering degree from India. Can I qualify for EB-2?
Answer: Yes if the job that is being offered to you is sufficiently dissimilar from the EB-3 job.
Question: Is there any audit risk?
Answer: No. Filing for a conversion (again, I am using the term “conversion” loosely) does not create any additional audit risks.
Question: If we apply in EB-2, will my EB-3 application processing stop?
Answer: No, it does not stop.
Question: What happens to the EB-3?
Answer: It goes on. Don’t take up a promotion. I just mentioned that.
Question: My wife is working on EAD. Will her EAD be affected?
Answer: No, not at all. No problem at all.
Question: If I get EB-2 I- 140 approved, can I use EB-3 priority date?
Answer: Yes.
Question: At that time, will I get another EAD from EB-2 processing?
Answer: No. What you do is, you take the EB-2 I-140 approval and put it on top of the existing I-485. So your old I-140 gets knocked out and the new one now sits on top of your I-485. So I-485 does not need to be re-filed.
Second set of questions
Question: He is preparing for his I-140 for EB-2. Can this be done premium processing?
Answer: Sure.
Question: Do we have to specify the pending EB-3 case information?
Answer: You will have to, because if there is an I-140 approved or pending under the old case, you have to mention that. There is a question I think on the form.
Question: Should we do it during the I-140 filing?
Answer: Yes. On the form itself, there is a question. If there is only a Labor Certification pending, there is nothing to say. If the I-140 is either pending or approved from the old case, you have to say it in the new I-140.
Question: When I started filing for my EB-2 case, my attorney mentioned not to file AC-21.
Answer: I think that’s a personal choice. I like to file AC-21’s and then I like to assess whether I would need a promotion case or I can go ahead with the same AC-21 job for EB-2. I would like your lawyer to decide that as I do not know the case.
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 54944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21975]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 8016]
I would like to thank Mr.Khanna for the fabulous work done on my Green Card.
I started my GC journey in July 2001 starting with Ads for RIR. My case was approved in Dec 2004. I thank all the team members who worked with me: Richa, Savitha, Matthew, Sri & Leila & Suman. They have always promptly answered my questions patiently. I would recommend this law firm to anyone for any immigration matter.
USCIS and the Office of the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles are committed to strengthening immigrant integration efforts in Los Angeles through proactive citizenship awareness, education, and outreach activities.
The partnership between USCIS and the City of Los Angeles was first established in January 2010 when the two parties entered into a Letter of Agreement for a two-year period. Launched initially as a pilot project concluding in January 2012, USCIS and the City of Los Angeles renewed the agreement for an additional year in April 2012.
Well, interview was short and pleasant like everyone here experienced.
Officer went through the details in application under Oath.
Didn't ask for any docs.
Asked few simple history/civics Q's :
Who Signs bills into law
Where does Congress meet
.......
( every question was from the list of 98 Q's online )
alright... then when it comes to english test, I warn you not to feel insulted when officer asks you read a simple sentence out loud. He/She is doing his/her job. You may feel insulted to read and write such a simple english sentence.
I am happy to share the good news with all of you that my wife and I became citizen's yesterday. The process was very easy. We had interview appointments at 10:05 am and were called in before 10:15. The interview lasted 5 mins and the officer did not look at any documents I took. I spent last two weeks trying to collect all kinds of documents mentioned on another thread. Anyway here is my timeline:
RD: 3/08/2006
FP: 4/18/2006
Interview/Oath: 5/24/2006
Just wanted to share my and my wife's experience during the interview process. Our appointment was around 10 am in Atlanta DO. There was not much traffic (around 8:45 am going 75 "S" from vinings). Also was a public parking opposite the federal bldg for $4.00 per day.
Rajiv Khanna and his team is very professional.They have hot my H1B approved for my new job in time and most importantly, he rescued us from H4 dependents visa mess. I am very happy with him and his team for the services we received.I like people with honesty and sincerity.I highly recommend him.God bless you Rajiv.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is aware of current difficulties that some F and M students have when applying for a Social Security number (SSN) or driver’s license. SEVP and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program are working on a solution that they will implement on September 14, 2012.
Number 49
Volume IX
Washington, D.C.
We first contacted Rajiv in 2011 while seeking an expert advice on our Green Card (GC) options. We were in fact looking to file under EB-1 (a) and most of the attorneys we contacted gave us a postive nod. However, I thought it was only Attorney Khanna who gave us a very honest opinion based on my CV. He told me very clearly that it is better to file under EB-1 (b) and that EB-1(a) could be long shot. He also said that the attorney will get paid irrespective of whether the GC petition is approved or not. And that is what we wanted to avoid and Rajiv was right to point that out. You cannot ask for more honesty in a person especially when it comes to complex legal matters. So it was then upto me to see if my employer is willing to support my case. And there were many issues and Rajiv was there to help me clear every questions that my employer had. I remember sitting in a conference call with at least 6 people from various offices and Rajiv answered every question they had with great patience. And what is humbling is that he did this all for free and without any contract signed. We signed a legal contract with the Law Offices of Rajiv Khanna in the month of June, 2012 and started preparing for filing I-140. You cannot ask for a better case manager than Diane who is always there to help you. You send her an e-mail and there will be a reply before you sign out. It is very important to have a good case manager like her while going through this arduous process of collecting documents, especially reference letters and various other documents (Our I-140 petion weighed at 10.1 Kg :)). Anyways to make the story short, the I-140 petition was filed premium on August 27th at Texas Service Center and we got an approval dated September 6th, 2012. An approval without any RFE is defintely credited to the professionalism that went into preparing the petition. This would not have been possible without the expert guidance and help from Rajiv. So let me take this opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude to Rajiv and his staff, especially Diane.
I have H-1B visa and my husband has H-4 visa. If my husband is going to file H-1B from US, will it be a COS. If so, is there a timeline before he has to come to India to get his Visa stamped? I heard many H-4 to H-1B petitions are getting denied. Is that true?
It can be a COS. If a successful COS is obtained, there is no deadline on getting a
I have had several consultations with Mr. Rajiv Khanna. I have always found him to be very professional,knowlegeable, courteous and patient. His advice has always helped me a lot. I would highly recommend his professional services to any one who is looking for a top class Immigration lawyer.
I started my green card processing in February 2003 with when I applied for the labor certification and I got my I485 approved on December 7th. My company was looking for different lawyers and I am glad that the company selected Mr. Rajiv Khanna.
The staff is really very knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful. My special thanks to Prerena Mehta, Vijay Durgham, and Shivane. The staff was always available for clarifications for doubts raised either by me or by my employer.
Thank you so much to Rajiv and his staff.
I did at least 3 H1s and Green Card through this firm. I never had any glitches (no RFEs..never!)
Excellent courteous staff, prompt response are just some of the things that are so rare to find from other immigration lawyers. Rajiv Khanna himself is always available for advise.
Filed for my Green Card back in April of 2001,
NC State labor approval: May, 2002
Federal Labor approval: May, 2003
140-485 filed: May, 2003
140-485 approval: October, 2004
Fingerprinting: Dec, 2004
Plastic card received: Dec, 2004