Gokare Law Firm: Immigration & Estate Planning

by Santhosh Rao

State department’s update on visa date movement for EB-1 India

In the last few years we have usually seen full recovery of the EB-1 India Final Action Dates, in October when a new Fiscal year starts. It was anticipated that EB-1 India Final Action visa dates would at least move to

by Santhosh Rao

USCIS issues policy alert redefining “Residence” in statutory provisions related to citizenship

INTRODUCTIONUSCIS issued a Policy Alert (PA-2019-05) on August 28, 2019 to improve definition of “Residence” and also clarify the distinction between Residence and Physical Presence. Many of the statutory provisions related to citizenship require US residence and there were inconsistencies between

by Santhosh Rao

DHS proposes a $10 fee for H-1B fiscal year registration

INTRODUCTIONDHS is proposing to amend its regulations by bringing in a fee requirement for each registration submitted for the H–1B Fiscal Year petition. DHS is proposing a fee of $10 per registration to recover the operating costs that would be involved

by Santhosh Rao

USCIS issues final rule on inadmissibility on public charge grounds

INTRODUCTIONOn August 14, 2019, USCIS published an advance copy of a final rule regarding Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds. This rule amends DHS regulations by prescribing how DHS will determine whether an alien applying for admission or adjustment of status is

by Santhosh Rao

EB-5 investment amounts increasing from November 21, 2019

INTRODUCTIONUSCIS has published the final rule that has brought about significant changes to the existing EB-5 Program. The final rule which was published on July 24, 2019 takes effect from November 21, 2019. The immediate effect of the Final Rule is

by Santhosh Rao

USCIS announces expansion of FOIA’s digital system called “FIRST”

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records System (or FIRST) is an online system for USCIS to process FOIA, Privacy Act, and Privacy Act amendment requests. FIRST is the only system in the U.S. government that allows users to submit and

by Santhosh Rao

USCIS to reject from I-129 for not including petitioner’s address

INTRODUCTIONBeginning August 5, 2019, USCIS will start rejecting Form I-129, Petition for a non-immigrant worker which lacks the petitioner’s primary U.S. office address. USCIS currently rejects Form I-129 based on several reasons which includes but are not limited to: lack of

by Santhosh Rao

Aila issues clarifications on filing H-1B petitions(For a beneficiary with pending case from FY2019) in the current FY2020 H-1B CAP season

INTRODUCTIONAs we approach the FY2020 new H-1B cap season there are FY2019 cap-subject petitions that still remains unadjudicated. These are some of the clarifications given by AILA on whether an employer can file a new petition under FY2020 cap, if the

by Santhosh Rao

USCIS resumes premium processing for H-1B petitions files on or before December 21, 2018

INTRODUCTIONUSCIS resumes premium processing on February 19, 2019 for all H-1B petitions filed on or before December 21, 2018. Those wishing to upgrade their petition to premium must submit the request to the service center that is currently handling the petition.

by Santhosh Rao

USCIS to publish revised I-539 form and introduce new I-539-A form

INTRODUCTIONUSCIS intends to issue a revised Form- I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status on March 11, 2019. USCIS will only accept the revised Form with an edition date of February 04, 2019 on and after March 11. Any Form I-539 with

Author: Santhosh Rao

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