Student? Don't miss the F-1 benefits

[sanereddy]

[ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2004 02:44:34 AM ]
65,000 visas under family 4th preference. How many visas are issued every year under the Family IVth Preference category of USA?
Mr A, Via e-mail
Under this category, which is meant for brothers and sisters of US citizens, 65,000 immigrant visas are issued in a year.

My son has recently gone to USA to study. Can a student legally work there?
Hotchand Jain, Kanpur

A foreign student on an F-1 visa is prohibited from working in USA. However, an F-1 student is permitted to work on campus for 20 hours in a week. He is also allowed to work after taking necessary permission to work off campus. A student may also work under the curriculum practical training programme.

Who can be called an immediate relative of an American citizen?
Manoj Pandey, New Delhi

A spouse, unmarried minor children below the age of 21 years, parents, widow and widower of a US citizen who was married to the US citizen for at least two years at the time of the US citizen’s death, minor/unmarried children of such widows and widowers are included in the definition of immediate relatives of US citizens.

Next month the quotas for H-1B visa for 2004-2005 would be released. If a petition for H-1B visa is filed today, can the beneficiary receive the visa on October 1, 2004 and travel to the US immediately?
Dinesh Ajmera, Kolkata

It is possible to file petition for H-1B visa today. However, normally it takes two to four months or more for such petitions to be processed by the USCIS. Thereafter, if the said petition is accepted, the beneficiary can apply for H-1B visa in his/her home country.

I am getting married to a US citizen. Thereafter, I desire to have my petition filed through my husband at the American Embassy in New Delhi. Is this possible? Also, what is the address of the American Embassy?
Preeti Joshi, Ahmedabad

Your husband can file petition for your immigrant visa after marrying you if his stay in India is for a minimum period of two months. The petition has to be filed with the USCIS at its office in New Delhi. The address is Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110 021.

(The writer is a Mumbai-based immigration attorney.)