Archive-name: us-visa-faq/part1 Last-Modified: May 30, 1994 Currently, the alt.visa.us FAQ is maintained by B.G. Mahesh [mahesh@evb.com] Frequency: This will be posted twice every month [1st and 3rd week] on news.answers, alt.answers and alt.visa.us. This may be posted often on alt.visa.us every month. Many FAQs, including this one, are available via FTP on the archive site rtfm.mit.edu in the directory pub/usenet/news.answers. The path for this faq is /pub/usenet/news.answers/us-visa-faq/part1. To get this FAQ by E-mail, you should send a message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with send usenet/news.answers/us-visa-faq/part1 in the body of the message. Make sure you don't have a signature in body of the message. To get the entire FAQ [which includes the answers to the questions from this FAQ] by email, you should send a message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with send usenet/news.answers/us-visa-faq/* in the body of the message. Make sure you don't have a signature in body of the message. The above instruction *work*, I have tried them, if it doesn't work get local help before sending me an email. IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT NOTE !!! -------------------------------------- If you don't have access to alt.visa.us and you wish to ask a question related to immigration then send your query to alt-visa-us@cs.utexas.edu Please try to be brief and try not to exceed 72 columns when you type in the message. Mention in your message that you don't have access to alt.visa.us newsgroup and people should respond to you directly. Individuals are encouraged to submit corrections, questions and answers to mahesh@evb.com directly. In many answers below, submitters are noted in parentheses at the beginning of comments. (Comments may be slightly edited.) Please note that my employer has NOTHING to do with this FAQ and is in NO WAY responsible for the info in this FAQ. Myself and other submitters are in no way responsible for the info provided in this FAQ. It is not legal advice and should not be construed as such. Contact your foreign student office, the USIA or competent legal counsel. *** Corrections to the information below is highly appreciated. *** This article includes answers to the following questions. Questions marked with a + indicate questions new to this issue; those with significant changes of content since the last issue are marked by *: Welcome to alt.visa.us, a newsgroup for discussion of non-immigrant and immigrant visas to USA. This message is followed by five others, each summarizing a set of "frequently asked questions" (FAQs): FAQ 2: General questions (part2 of 6) FAQ 3: H-1B visa (part3 of 6) FAQ 4: J Visa (part4 of 6) FAQ 5: K, L & Visitors Visa (part5 of 6) FAQ 6: Green Card, GC Lottery & Citizenship (part6 of 6) General ------- Q. What is this FAQ about? Q. Is their a internet site from which I can download any info regarding immigration? Q. Are there any books regarding Immigration? Q: What does XX non-immigrant visa mean? Q. Are there any lawyers who can be reached by email? Q: Are there any mailing lists? Q: How to select an immigration lawyer? Q. Is there a list of "recommended lawyers" ? Q. Are there any lawyers you don't recommend ? Q: What are the numbers for "Ask Immigration" Telephone Information Systems operated by INS. Q: Which is the best time to change this maiden name to the married name and how to go about it? Q: What is form XXX ? Q. Wish List H-1B Visa -------- Q. Do I need to hire a lawyer for H-1B/GC? Q. How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for a H-1B visa? Q. Does the lawyer need to reside in the same city/state where I live? Q. What forms are needed for H-1B visa and where can I get it? Q. Can I get a H-1B visa for a part time job? Q. Having H-1B visa with one company, can I work some where else also, like part time job ? Q. During the process of H-1B visa, suppose if I get a better job what happens ? Q. Should I wait for my H-1B approval before I join the new job? Q. I am coming up on the second three year extension on my current H-1B visa. If I change employers 3 months into the extension, will I be able to use the remaining 2yrs 9 months with another employer on a new H-1B ? Q. My H-1B is up for renewal after three years . It was received without the DOL Clearence that is required now a days. Will the renewal need such a clearence from DOL ? Q. How many days/weeks/months does it take to get a H-1B? +Q. I have a H-1B visa and I want to change jobs. Is it possible for my new employer to file for my H-1B without my original H-1B document which is with my present employer? Q. How much is the fee for H-1B, H4. Q: I did not get a "Blue" form with my H1B visa approval notice. Why? Q: If my company is bought by another company is my H-1B visa still valid? Q. Can I re-enter US if my multiple entry H-1B is denied in Jurez, Mexico or Canada? Q. What documents are needed to get a multiple entry H-1B visa? Q. What documents do I need for H4 visa when applying at US consulate ? Q: For how many months are the papers sent for H4 valid? Q: Documents for H4 have been sent. If I change jobs should I resend a fresh proof of employment from my new employer? Q: Can I renew my multiple-entry visa stamp by mail? Q: What are the different types of H-1 visas? +Q. What is the difference between Labor Certification and Labor Condition Application? I do understand that one is for H-1B and the other is for Green Card. Beside this, there must be some other difference. What's it? +Q: It is widely understood that a job ad is required for Labor Certification. Some one told me that a job ad is also required for Labor Condition Application but some others told me that it is not necessary. What is the truth? If LCA required a job ad, why is the job ad required one more time later on in Labor Certification? What is the difference? +Q: What is the role of my academic degree in applying for the Labor Condition Applicaiton or Labor Certification? It is said that at present only advanced degree (Master, Ph.D) can have good chance to get approval of the Labor Condition Applicaiton or Labor Certification. Is that true? J Visa ------ Q: On what grounds can I get a waiver? Q: Does marriage to a US citizen help? Q: Who makes the waiver decision? Q: What is USIA's address? Q: What's a NORI? Q: If I get a NORI, will I get a waiver? Q: Is there a threshold of money received below which a waiver is automatically granted? Q: Can I pay back the money I got and get out of the HRR? Q: Can I visit the United States while serving my two-year sentence? Q: Do I have to return to my home country? Q: Can I reside in my home country and work in another country? Q: Can I work for a company of my home country in another country? Q: Does writing to your congress person help? Q: What do I need to show after the two years to prove that I resided and worked in my home country? Q: Can I apply for H-1B, permanent residency, etc. while serving the HRR? Q: How do I go about applying for a waiver? Do I have to work for the sponsoring agency? Q: How long does the whole process take? Q: Do I need to hire a lawyer to apply for a waiver? Q: How often can I apply for a waiver? Q: Does a J1 have any advantages? Q: When can an interested U.S. Govt. agency sponsor me for a waiver of the HRR? Q: Can an interested U.S. Government agency sponsor me for a waiver if I work for a private company? Q: If an interested U.S. Govt. agency sponsors me, will I get a waiver? Q: How long does it take for me to obtain the waiver once I submit my papers to the interested Govt. agency? Q: What is the procedure followed in an IGA waiver? K Visa ------ Q: Who can apply for K visa? Q: How do I obtain a K visa for my fiance(e) (who is not currently in the US)? Q: How long does it take to get a K visa? Q: How long is it good for? What are the conditions? Q: What is needed for the petition? Q: Can I do this myself, or do I need a lawyer? Q: How much will a lawyer charge? Q: How will I know the petition is approved? Q: What is needed after petition approval? Q: What is needed at the interview? L Visa ------ Q. What is L-1 visa? Q. Who qualifies for a L-1 visa? Q. For how may years is L-1 visa issued for? Q. Can dependants of L-1 come to USA? Visitors Visa ------------- Q: What documents should I send to sponsor for a visitors visa? +Q: Can the immigration officer at the port of entry (or any other INS officer) cancel the B1/B2 visa? If so, on what grounds? Labor/GC -------- Q. How many days/weeks/months does it take to get a Labor Clearance for GC? Q. What is involved in the labor certification? Q. Does the employer need to show the company's finances? Q. Should I apply for GC together with the H-1B, or after I get the H-1B? Q: If I one were waiting for a GC date to become current, after one got one's labor certification AND the 6 year limit on H-1B expires while waiting, will one have to leave the country ? Q: Will all the GC wait come to a naught in this case , or can one wait for it outside the country ? Q: When Labor Certification has been recieved, is H-1B still the operating visa, or do you fall under some new status ? Q: Can one apply for GC through an employer while on H-1 for another employer? Q: Can an applicant qualify for a GC without going through Labor Certification? Q: What category spouses of GC holders fall under? Q: What is the waiting period for such cases? Q: And, I had heard that there was a bill up for vote. Do you have any information on this? Q: What is the time-frame to get a GC if the spouse is an U.S. citizen? Q. Does a parent (green card holder) who has filed for a green card for his/her unmarried child who is under 21 years of age, have to file another petition if the child turns 21 while waiting for the green card ? Q: Can GC holders sponsor for their parents GC? Q: If I gained lawful permanent resident status (LPR) through a previous marriage, can I petition for my current spouse to immigrate to the US based on my LPR?" Q: What does "current" mean? +Q: What are the benefits/restrictions of a U.S. Permanent Resident? GC Lottery ----------- Q: What is DV1 [Green Card] Lottery Program? Q: How does it work and who are not eligible from participating in this program? Q: Who would be eligible under the proposed regulations ? Q: What are the proposed procedures? US Citizenship -------------- Q: What is the time-frame to get U.S. citizenship if the spouse is an U.S. citizen? Q: Who can apply for U.S. citizenship? Q: When can I apply for U.S. citizenship? Q: What are the requirements for U.S. Citizenship? Q: Under what conditions can I be denied U.S. citizenship? Q: Can citizenship once granted be revoked? Q: Under what conditions can my citizenship be revoked? +Q. Where can I get some information on dual citizenship? -- B.G. Mahesh | Email: mahesh@evb.com Software Engineer | mahesh@sett.com EVB Software Engineering, Inc. | FAQ maintainer of alt.visa.us -----cut here-----