Greetings!
Please forward this newsletter to persons you think will be interested. |
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Challa Law Offices Celebrated 10th Anniversary
I would like to take this time to personally thank you for your continued support. We have reached a significant milestone and could not have accomplished this task without your loyalty and trust.
Challa Law Offices opened our first office in Richmond, Virginia in December 2001.In the last ten years, we have opened an office in Virginia Beach, Morrisville, North Carolina, and an overseas office in India. We could not have accomplished this type of growth and success without the continued patronage of my friends and business associates.
Thank you again for your support, loyalty and trust and we look forward to serving you and your employees with all your immigration needs for many more years to come.
Managing Partner
Lakshmi Challa |
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Lakshmi Challa to receive Richmond Bar Association's Pro Bono award on January 19, 2012
Our Managing Partner, Lakshmi Challa is the 2011-2012 recipient of the John C. Kenny Pro Bono Award. The award is presented annually to an individual or law firm that demonstrates a dedication to furthering the delivery of pro bono legal services to the poor and underserved in the Richmond Metro area. The Richmond Bar Association will convey the award to Ms. Challa on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the RBA's monthly luncheon meeting at the Omni Hotel.
In 2009, working with the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Ms. Challa established the immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Project. This project provides pro bono legal assistance to undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic or sexual violence in obtaining legal status in the U.S. without reliance on their abusers.
Since the clinic's inception two years ago, Ms. Challa and those attorneys she has recruited and trained to assist her in the clinic have helped over fifty women remain in the United States, work legally, and provide for their families and their children.
Since 2009, Ms. Challa and the Challa Law Offices have dedicated over 1,000 hours to the success of this program. Ms. Challa has changed the lives of victims of domestic violence, giving them an opportunity to lead a life free from fears of domestic violence and deportation.
Ms. Challa has also been of great assistance to Commonwealth Catholic Charities, an organization offering numerous support services to individuals and families throughout Virginia. Ms. Challa offers her support specifically with respect to unaccompanied minors who are brought into the United States. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Poverty Law Center and has done pro bono work for the Red Cross.
Congratulations to Lakshmi Challa and her team for this outstanding public service. |
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Consulate Holiday Updates- Christmas & New Year
Most of the Embassies/ Consulates/ VFS remain closed on 26th Dec
2011 & 02nd Jan 2012 on the occasion of Christmas & New year respectively. Please call the Consulate/Embassy before going. |
STEM Green Card Bill Introduced
Rep. Tim Grill of Arkansas is reportedly pushing hard to introduce STEM green card bill which is similar to Rep. Zoe Lofgren's bill, under the pressures from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, IEEE-USA, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Semiconductor Industry Association and others.
These groups have written a letter to Rep. Lamar Smith urging him to take action on the upcoming bill. Report indicates that Rep. Smith backs this move. Unlike H.R. 3012 that does not increase high-tech green card annual quota, this bill would seek increase of employment-based immigrant quota adding STEM high tech foreign brains including not only STEM Ph.D. degree holders but also STEM Master degree holders in the United States. This bill will be named "BRAIN" bill.
When the Congress returns next year, the Congress will face these two bills under the high tech industry pressures and it is not clear at this point how these two bills will be accommodated by the labor union backed Democratic Senate. We will keep you posted on the outcome of these two bills.
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Dominican Republic - New Law
Beginning in early December, all immigration applications for the Dominican Republic will need to be filed by a registered attorney and accompanied by a notarized power of attorney.
This is the first of many upcoming changes to the Dominican Republic's immigration system under recently-enacted legislation that is expected to be completely implemented following the country's presidential elections in May 2012. In general, the legislation is expected to expand the government's role in immigration processing through both the creation of new agencies and the addition of existing agencies to the adjudication process. It is also expected to modify procedures for foreign nationals seeking to change from temporary to permanent status and introduce more stringent medical insurance requirements for all foreign workers.
The situation in the Dominican Republic will remain fluid until authorities begin to formally implement the new legislation, and additional requirements and changes are possible. Employers should take these possibilities into account when planning assignments to the Dominican Republic over the coming months. Call our office and talk to one of our experts.
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India/China EB-2 Priority Dates Advance While EB-3 Shows Continued Modest Advancement
EB-2 priority dates for India and China will make a significant advancement of four and one-half months, to March 15, 2008, according to the Department of State's December Visa Bulletin.
EB-3 priority dates for professionals and skilled workers will advance by 10 days for India, to August 1, 2002, and by 17 days for China, to September 8, 2004. EB-3 priority dates for professionals and skilled workers will advance by 24 days for all other countries to January 15, 2006.
EB-3 priority dates for other workers will remain at April 22, 2003 for China, and advance by one month and seven days, to July 22, 2002, for India. All other countries will advance one month and 17 days, to January 1, 2006.
The December 2011 EB immigrant priority date cut-offs will be:
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
India: March 15, 2008
China: March 15, 2008
Current for all other countries.
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
India: August 1, 2002
China: September 8, 2004
All other countries: January 15, 2006
EB-3 Other Workers
India: July 22, 2002
China: April 22, 2003
All other countries: January 1, 2006
EB-5
Current for all countries and subcategories.
If you would like to know about your case status, please call our office 8043608482 and ask your attending paralegal/attorney or email them directly or send an email to our office at info@challalaw.com and someone will be able to help you. |
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Disclaimer
This newsletter has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No information included herein shall create an attorney/client relationship or constitute an invitation for such a relationship. This newsletter is not intended to be an advertisement. You should always seek professional, independent legal consultation before taking or refraining from any action. |
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Sincerely,
Lakshmi Challa
Challa Law Offices
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Lakshmi Challa's Upcoming Events:
Receiving the
John C. Kenny Pro Bono Award presented by Richmond Bar Assocaition
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the RBA's monthly luncheon meeting at the Omni Hotel in Richmond, VA
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Challa Law Offices After Hours Drop Box
For you convenience we now have this facility at our Richmond office.
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Our Office Locations:
RICHMOND, VA:
5040 Sadler Place
Suite 200
Glen Allen, VA 23060
804-360-8482
VA BEACH, VA:
4445 Corporation Ln. Suite 291
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
800-913-4122
MORRISVILLE, NC:
5105 Grace Park Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-380-4044
HYDERABAD INDIA:
Challa Legal Services Pvt. Ltd
401 Flora Apartments
Road Number 3
Banjara Hills
Hyderabad, AP. India
91 40 23352295/6 |
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