Greetings!
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Challa Immigration Law Office in North Carolina Celebrating its Second Anniversary
We are proud to announce that our office in Morrisville, NC (outside the Research Triangle Park) is celebrating its second anniversary today.
We want to thank all our clients, friends, organizations and other well-wishers who have dearly supported us in the last two years and we want to assure you of our high quality service in the years to come.
We are located at 5105 Grace Park Dr, Morrisville, NC.
If you need to reach us at the NC office, please call 9193804044 and ask for Valerie Marshall or send her an email to
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The H-1B cap was met last week.
What does that mean for your filings?
MASTER CAP FILINGS
If you filed your petitions as Master's Cap, this year, the special 20,000 cap numbers for U.S. Master or higher degree holders were also exhausted in the first five days of the FY 2014 H-1B cap season. For the reasons, the USCIS is required to run the computer random selection process first for the 20,000 special cap U.S. Master degree holder H-1B cap applicants. Possession of U.S. Master or higher degree is not enough for this special opportunity, unless they requested in the H-1B cap petitions the Master Cap Exempt option. Those who did not seek the Master Cap Exempt option will not be able to request the USCIS to include them in the H-1B 20,000 special cap random selection process. They will be limited to the opportunity of "Regular Cap" random selection opportunity. Once the U.S. Master Cap random selection is completed, those who sought the U.S. Master Cap Exempt option but failed to be selected in the computer random selection process will be automatically added to the pool of Regular Cap filers who will go through another random selection process as described below. Therefore, those U. S. Master degree cap filers who failed to be selected initially will have another opportunity to win in the following computer random selection process, enjoying double dipping opportunities to be selected in the H-1B cap selection process.
ALL OTHER FILINGS
If you filed your petitions as Bachelor's Cap, the H-1B cap filers who sought "Regular Cap" options in their H-1B cap petitions plus U.S. Master degree cap filers who failed to make it in the foregoing U.S. Master degree lottery process will then go through the computer random selection process to pick at least 65,000 Regular Cap winners. The total cap of 65,000 includes 5,800 special numbers for H-1B petitions for Singapore and Chile, but usually, the USCIS gets approximately similar number of spill over's for the Singapore and Chile from the previous fiscal year and the USCIS was able to use almost entire 65,000 cap numbers for the H-1B Regular Cap filers.
On April 7, two computerized lotteries were used to choose cases for processing. The first lottery selected enough cases to fill the cap exemption for 20,000 holders of U.S. advanced degrees. It is not known how many advanced-degree cases were filed in total.
Once the advanced-degree lottery was completed, USCIS placed the remaining cases - approximately 104,000 - into a second lottery to select enough cases to fill the standard H-1B quota of 65,000. This means that cases in the standard lottery had a roughly 62.5 percent chance of being chosen for processing.
We will update you with the status of your petition once we are informed by either receiving the petition back from USCIS, or receipt of the Receipt Notice. Please note due to the large number of filings, we can expect a delay in the selection process.
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Lakshmi Challa to Chair the Second Annual Pink Tie Ribbon Tea to Celebrate Cancer Survivors
The American Cancer Society will host its annual
Pink Ribbon Tea on Sunday, April 28, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (555 E. Canal St., Richmond) to celebrate breast cancer survivors and remember those lost to the disease.
The mid-afternoon tea event features a hat fashion show and silent auction, including packages with weekend hotel stays, and restaurant and grocery store gift cards. Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $50.
Lakshmi Challa, Founder and Managing Attorney of Challa Law Offices in Richmond, serves as the Pink Ribbon Tea's honorary chair. She believes the Society's Pink Ribbon Tea is an opportunity for her to honor both her mother and a close friend, each diagnosed with cancer.
Please consider supporting the American Cancer Society by being a sponsor of the 2013 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Tea.
Sponsorship levels are:
- The $5,000 sponsor receives a table for 10 and a full page (inside cover) in the event program booklet.
- The $2500 level gets 6 seats and a full page in the booklet,
- The $1500 and $1000 get 4 seats, and half and fourth page in the booklet.
- Each sponsor will also be recognized on a banner at the event.
- We will need your company logos and contact information for the event booklet.
or call 8043608482 to reach the Richmond Office or 919-380-4044 to reach the North Carolina Office.
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US Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, has announced that it will begin automating Form I-94. Travelers, except in limited situations, will receive an admission stamp with their manner of entry and period of authorized stay, but will not receive a paper I-94 card. Should a traveler need a copy of the I-94 card, they can access it at www.cbp.gov/194.
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Go Red Night with the RailHawks! May 11
Go Red For Women encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them the tools they need to lead a heart healthy life.
Lakshmi Challa is Committee Chairperson for the "Open Your Heart Committee" in Raleigh, NC. And she is raising funds for the GO RED organization.
A portion of all ticket proceeds purchased with the GORED promo code on May 11 will be donated back to Go Red!
To purchase your tickets go to http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?id=687 or call (919) 459-8144 or email Tickets@CarolinaRailHawks.com
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Momentum Grows for Immigration Reform
Thousands of people gathered to rally for immigration reform in Washington, D.C. and locations around the country, including Atlanta and San Francisco. In Washington, D.C., members of the SEIU and several immigration advocacy groups gathered to show their support for reform in the Capitol. An immigration reform bill was expected this week, but some reports in the media indicate that the bill is likely to be introduced next week. Stay tuned for more information!
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Supporting Our Troops and Showing
Our Love for the Military
In response to our AnySoldier.com campaign, we are now getting post cards and note cards back from our Military that have received our boxes. "Just wanted to say thank you! I appreciate your thoughtfulness and love all the treats! Thanks Again! SFC J. Aguirre" They are very appreciative of the support they are receiving from our efforts. We will continue to send a box every month to our Military overseas.
If you would like to be a part of our continuing effort, you can donate and we will purchase the items and send on your behalf, along with hand written notes to our troops.
You can send a check to Challa Law Office with AnySoldier.com in the memo line, or you can donate via PayPal at www.challalaw.com.
"Support our Troops! More information on the Challa Law Facebook Page"
Photo: Items for AnySoldier Box for which are sent to a group of U.S. Marines currently serving in Afghanistan.
Challa Law is doing good things with your support. Please help this effort continue to grow.
Donations are tax-deductible !
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Priority Dates: April 2013: Family Based
China India
F1 01 APRIL 06 01 APRIL 06
F2A 01 MAR 11 01 MAR 11
F2B 15 MAY 05 15 MAY 05
F3 08 AUG 02 08 AUG 02
F4 01 MAY 01 01 MAY 01
Priority Dates: April 2013: Employment: Based
China India
First C C
Second 15 MAY 08 01 SEP 04
Third 01DEC 07 22 DEC 02
Other Workers 01 SEP 03 22 DEC 02
Fourth C C
Religious Workers C C
Fifth C C
If you would like to know about your case status, please call our office 804-360-8482 in Richmond or 919-380-4044 in NC 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,
Challa Law Offices |
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Upcoming Events at Challa Law
Saturday, April 13
Grand opening of the new WakeMed Soccer Park Carolina RailHawks play FC Edmonton in Cary, NC
Wednesday, April 17
Carolina Ballet dress rehearsal of Fancy Free-Carolina Jamboree at the Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, NC
Saturday, April 20
Latin Fest pregame at the RailHawks v. Ft Lauderdale Strikers in Cary, NC
April 22, 2013
Immigration Updates:
George Mason University
Student Union I,
Room 3B
4:30-6:30pm
Friday, April 26
Managing Partner Lakshmi Challa will host the Go Red for Women, Open Your Heart committee fundraiser at the PNC Plaza
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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
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
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