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 October 2014


Please forward this newsletter to persons you think will be interested.

Challa Law Offices & Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hold Immigration Forum with Virginia's 7th Congressional District Candidates

 

On Tuesday, October 21, Challa Law Offices in conjunction with the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce welcomed Virginia 7th Congressional District candidates Dave Brat (R) and Jack Trammell (D) for a lively discussion on immigration issues at Challa Law's Richmond office.
 


 The intimate round-table discussion gave each of the candidates an opportunity to outline their goals and proposals related to immigration reform before an audience of prominent Virginia business leaders. The candidates gave their perspectives on issues ranging from border security, and the recent upsurge in arrivals of unaccompanied minor children, to the needs of U.S. businesses in retaining highly-skilled talent from abroad. You can read more about the issues addressed at the forum in the Richmond Times Dispatch by clicking here. 

Challa Law Richmond Team with Jack Trammell (D), Center

With the 2014 Midterm Elections fast approaching, immigration reform has emerged as a major issue across the nation as Congress continues to struggle to find a solution and the business community seek clear direction. In Virginia, in particular, recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that almost one million immigrants call Virginia home, accounting for billions of dollars in business activity. 

Challa Law Richmond Team with Dave Brat (R), Center

Challa Law Offices at Imagine Festival 2014!



Challa Law Offices was excited to be a part of the 2014 Imagine Festival that took place in Richmond, VA, on October 18, 2014. The family and community event  featured live cultural performances, games, and family-friendly fun. The city of Richmond created the event not only  to share the city's diverse and cross-cultural connections, but also to highlight community resources and services. The event provided a unique opportunity for families to interact with service staff and learn how they can benefit from the many resources available throughout the Greater Richmond area. At the festival, a lucky winner walked away with a $50 gift card provided by Challa Law Offices. Challa Law was proud to take part in the event, true to its commitment to the community. 

Attorney Lakshmi Challa Talks Entrepreneurship with Central Virginia Business Owners



On Thursday, October 16, Challa Law Offices managing attorney Lakshmi Challa was invited to engage Central Virginia business leaders and entrepreneurs as part of the Henrico Economic Development Authority's "Catalyst" event. The event was designed to provide tools and resources for area professionals, needed to see their businesses through to growth. Attorney Challa provided insight into her own triumphs as well as the challenges of starting a new business and sustaining its success.

USCIS Introduces New Online myE-Verify Accounts for Employees and Job Seekers 

    

On October 6, 2014, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a press release on the launch of "my-everify," a new website that allows employees and job seekers to set up personal accounts, use "Self Lock," and access employment eligibility verification resources. Currently, myE-Verify accounts are only accessible to individuals residing or working in AZ, ID, CO, MI, VA, and the District of Columbia with plans for further expansion through the United States with additional features, forthcoming. The myE-Verify tools give workers a free and secure way to participate in the E-Verify process by accessing features dedicated for employees, including Self Check and the Employee Rights Toolkit. For additional security, individuals will have their identities verified through Self Check, in order to create a myE-Verify account. Some of the features and services introduced through the new myE-Verify online system include: 

  • Free myE-Verify accounts that allow employees and job seekers to manage the use of their information in E-Verify and Self Check through the available myE-Verify features.
  • Self Lock which allows individuals to lock their social security numbers and prevent unauthorized or fraudulent use within E-Verify. Users can proactively protect their identities from being used by others to illegally gain employment. Self Lock is available only to myE-Verify account holders.
  • The "myResources," a section of the myE-Verify site that contains information in multi-media formats to educate employees about their rights in addition to the responsibilities of employers in the employment eligibility verification process.
Temporary Protected Status Extended for
Honduras and Nicaragua


The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that Temporary Protected Status for Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals will be extended for  an additional period of 18 months through July 5, 2016. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary status granted to eligible nationals of certain countries in view of temporary or sudden adverse conditions including conflict, environmental or natural disasters that make return dangerous or problematic. A number of countries have been designated for TPS. With this announcement, qualifying individuals from Honduras and Nicaragua may seek to re-register for TPS status, and are also eligible to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). For more information and guidance about Temporary Protected Status and the filing process, please contact our office today at (804)360-8482 or email info@challalaw.com. 
 

Visa Bulletin Alerts: EB-2 India Retrogression and Worldwide EB-3 Progress


 

There are new developments in the realm of the visa bulletin. From September through October, the EB-2 application cutoff date for Indian nationals remained stable at May 1, 2009. Nevertheless, as predicated, the November Visa Bulletin indicates a cutoff date of February 15, 2005 in the EB-2 India category, reflecting a retrogression of more than four years. As a result, only EB-2 priority dates prior to February 15, 2005 are eligible to file their Adjustment of Status applications or have applications approved in November 2014.

 

Reports suggests that the one factor that helped to rapidly advance the EB-2 India category in recent months was the use of "otherwise unused" employment-based visa numbers prescribed by section 202(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). As the Department of State (DOS) warned, increased demand in the EB-2 category would necessitate retrogression in order to meet the FY2015 limits. USCIS will continue to accept EB-2 applications from Indian nationals through the end of October with priority dates of May 1, 2009 or earlier.

 

For the EB-3 category, it is expected that significant movement will occur for Chinese nationals and nationals of countries other than India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Indian nationals can expect incremental to slow movement in this category for the time being. 

 

Should you have any questions at all concerning the Visa Bulletin and your priority date, please contact us at info@challalaw.com or call (804) 360-8482. 

Visa Bulletin for November2014

Family-Sponsored Preferences   

 

Family-Sponsored

All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed

CHINA-mainland born

INDIA

MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

F1

08JUN07

08JUN07 

08JUN07

08JUL94

01NOV04

F2A

01MAR13

01MAR13

01MAR13

22SEP12

01MAR13

F2B

01JAN08

01JAN08

01JAN08

08SEP94 

01JAN04

F3

08DEC03

08DEC03

08DEC03

01NOV93

08JUN93

F4

08FEB02

08FEB02

08FEB02

15FEB97

01MAY91

  

Employment-Based Preferences  

 

Employment- Based

All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed

CHINA - mainland born

INDIA

MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

1st

C

C

C

C

C

2nd

C

08DEC09

15FEB05

C

C

3rd

01JUN12

01JAN10

22NOV03

01JUN12

01JUN12

Other Workers

01JUN12

22JUL05

22NOV03

01JUN12

01JUN12

4th

C

C

C

C

C

Certain Religious Workers

C

C

C

C

C

5th
Targeted
EmploymentAreas/
Regional Centers
and Pilot Programs

C

C

C

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.

Help a Family in Need!

 

Challa Law Offices endeavors to be an advocate in the community for families who have suffered violence and those who have been victims of crime. Recently, the Office supported a family's efforts to overcome adversity in pursuit of T visa status in the United States. In lifting up the family's needs, Challa Law Offices' Richmond office is seeking your support to collect items of clothing for men, women and children, or other necessities that will assist the family's transition to their new lives in the United States. If you would like to assist, donate, or help out in any way, please stop by our Richmond office or email info@challalaw.com. You may also contact us by phone at (804) 360-8482.  

 Supporting Our Troops and 

Showing Our Love for the Military 

 

Challa Law continues to send a box every month to our Military men and women who are overseas. If you would like to be a part of our continuing effort, you can donate and we will purchase the items to send them 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  

 

The soldiers typically ask for basic items such as socks, snack foods, and laundry detergent.  For a more comprehensive list of necessary items, more information can be found on the Challa Law Facebook Page.  

  


Here is what one soldier had to say upon receiving a package:

  

Excerpt from August 2013 Letter from Lt. H. Benedict

 

-          Thank you for the Morale Booster! Our soldier's faces lit up as I started laying out all the goodies from your care package. As soon as I announced the box, some soldiers made a beeline for it to see what was up for grabs! Two of my younger soldiers (21 and 20) have immediately started tossing around the mini footballs...a few others went straight for the magazines...  I try to think of the small things that will keep them going and help them remain positive, but as I get to know a number of them, many join the Army to get away from a rough upbringing and a number of them will not receive mail or packages at all from loved ones throughout this deployment. Thank you for making a difference --- my soldier, Donovan, in particular will remember your kindness... P.S. That candy kept most of our staff alert and awake for one of our late night planning sessions! Perfect timing!

 

 Challa Law is doing good things with your support. 

Please help this effort continue to grow. 

 Donations are tax-deductible !

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.
Sincerely,
  
  
Lakshmi Challa
Challa Law Offices
In This Issue

Challa Law Offices and VAHCC Welcome VA Congressional Candidates for Immigration Forum

Challa Law Offices at Imagine Festival 2014!

Managing Attorney
Lakshmi Challa Gives
Entrepreneurship Talk

New myE-Verify System for Employers and Employees

Temporary Protected Status Extended for Honduras and Nicaragua

Visa Bulletin News

Upcoming VISA Bulletin

Help a Family in Need!

Supporting Our Troops and Showing...Our Love for the Military

Upcoming Events at Challa Law Offices:


● Challa Law Offices looks forward to attending the 19th Annual Diamante Awards in Raleigh, NC on Saturday October 25, 2014. The Latino Diamante Awards honor individuals or organizations, making significant contributions to the Latino/Hispanic community of North Carolina.


 ●Be on the lookout for upcoming announcements on the "Go Red for Women Campaign!"

 

Stay tuned for future seminars on immigration updates at a site near you.

Challa Law Offices After Hours Drop Box   

 

For your convenience we now have this facility at our 

Richmond office. 

 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

info@challalegal.com

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