Law Office of Poorvi Chothani, PLLC

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Law Office of Poorvi Chothani, PLLC LawQuest is a dynamic global immigration and Indian employment law firm with a cumulative experience of over 70 years.

We have over 100 global network partners and that enables us to provide a holistic range of services to our clients.

There is a lot of buzz about suspensions on Cognizant and Cloudera impacting green card processing at these companies.  ...
11/09/2026

There is a lot of buzz about suspensions on Cognizant and Cloudera impacting green card processing at these companies. This has created a lot of concern amongst Indian IT companies and Indians in the green card queue in the US.

In a recent article by The Economic Times The Economic Times on the development, I shared my thoughts. In my view, it is important to allow the facts to emerge before making assumptions about what led to the suspension.

Read the full article: Link in story 🔗

Applying for or renewing your Indian passport in 2026? Before you begin your application, it may be helpful to take a mo...
10/09/2026

Applying for or renewing your Indian passport in 2026? Before you begin your application, it may be helpful to take a moment to understand what has changed.

From e-passports and online applications to fees and processing times, the passport process is changing.

We’ve put together 7 important updates you should know before applying for or renewing your Indian passport this year.

📌 Save this post so you can refer to it when you need it.

🚨 Potential New H-1B Fee: $103,265 A new DHS proposal could significantly increase the cost of sponsoring H-1B workers.U...
31/08/2026

🚨 Potential New H-1B Fee: $103,265

A new DHS proposal could significantly increase the cost of sponsoring H-1B workers.
Under the proposed rule, an additional $103,265 fee could apply to each cap-subject H-1B petition, including petitions under the U.S. master’s cap.

Key points:
• The fee is proposed, not currently in effect
• Could apply to cap-subject H-1B petitions
• Would be in addition to existing H-1B fees if finalized
• Could apply whether the beneficiary is inside or outside the U.S.
• Generally would not apply to qualifying cap-exempt petitions
DHS will accept public comments before deciding whether to finalize the proposal.

Employers planning future H-1B sponsorship should closely monitor developments.

Happy Independence Day! 🇮🇳We continue our endeavour to provide trusted immigration guidance and help individuals, famili...
15/08/2026

Happy Independence Day! 🇮🇳

We continue our endeavour to provide trusted immigration guidance and help individuals, families, and businesses navigate their journeys across borders with confidence.

🚨 H-1B and L-1 visa holders: A proposed DHS rule could make your next visa extension more expensive for your employer.Th...
11/08/2026

🚨 H-1B and L-1 visa holders: A proposed DHS rule could make your next visa extension more expensive for your employer.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed expanding the 9-11 Response & Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to include H-1B and L-1 extension petitions filed by certain employers.

If the proposal is finalised:
▪️ Covered employers, (with 50 or more workers, where 50% are in H-1B or L-1 status), would pay an additional US$4,000 for qualifying H-1B extension petitions and US$4,500 for qualifying L-1 extension petitions.
▪️ The fee would apply not only to new petitions and change-of-employer filings but also to routine visa extensions.
▪️ While the fee is paid by the employer—not the employee—it could influence visa renewal decisions, workforce planning, and long-term sponsorship strategies.

Why should Indian professionals pay attention?
▪️ Indian nationals account for 77.6% of H-1B renewals, making them the group most likely to be affected.
▪️ Higher employer filing costs could influence visa renewals, hiring decisions, and long-term sponsorship.
▪️ If you have an upcoming H-1B or L-1 extension, it's important to stay informed as the proposal progresses.

The proposal has not yet been finalised. Current H-1B and L-1 approvals remain valid, and existing filing requirements continue to apply until DHS publishes a final rule.

If you have questions about how this proposed rule could affect your immigration strategy, our team is here to help.

EmploymentBasedImmigration ImmigrationLaw GlobalMobility USVisaUpdates

🚨 Major Changes May Be Coming to the PERM Labor Certification ProgramFor the first time in over 20 years, the U.S. Depar...
05/08/2026

🚨 Major Changes May Be Coming to the PERM Labor Certification Program

For the first time in over 20 years, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is planning to modernize the PERM labor certification process. While no formal rule has been published yet, the DOL's regulatory agenda gives employers an early indication of what's ahead.

Key Proposed Changes:
▪️ Greater reliance on digital recruitment instead of newspaper advertisements
▪️ Stricter review of recruitment efforts and applicant evaluations
▪️ Enhanced documentation and recordkeeping requirements
▪️ Stronger protections for U.S. workers, particularly following layoffs

What Hasn't Changed?
The current PERM rules remain in effect. Employers must continue following the existing recruitment requirements until a final rule is published and becomes effective.

What Should Employers Do Now?
Review current PERM cases, strengthen recruitment documentation, assess the impact of any layoffs on future filings, and stay in close contact with immigration counsel.

Although these changes are still in the proposal stage, early preparation can help employers adapt smoothly when the new rules are introduced.

Link to the full article is in the story 🔗

  🚨 LawQuest is Hiring | Position: Immigration Paralegals Candidates must have hands-on experience preparing and managin...
26/07/2026

🚨
LawQuest is Hiring | Position: Immigration Paralegals

Candidates must have hands-on experience preparing and managing:
• H-1B petitions
• L-1 petitions
• PERM cases
• O-1 petitions (preferred but not mandatory)

Position details:
• Immediate joiners only
• Six-figure monthly compensation, based on experience and expertise
• Preference will be given to candidates available for hybrid work in Mumbai
• Remote arrangements may be considered for suitably qualified candidates

Send your resumes to: [email protected]

LawQuest - Attorneys, Advocates & Solicitors is an U.S. immigration law firm with offices in India and the United States.

For decades, many international students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives entered the U.S. under th...
25/07/2026

For decades, many international students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives entered the U.S. under the "Duration of Status (D/S)" system, allowing them to remain in the country as long as they maintained their immigration status.

That framework is now set to change! The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a Final Rule replacing the D/S system with fixed periods of admission for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, introducing new compliance requirements for those who need additional time in the United States.
Key highlights:
🔹 The Duration of Status (D/S) system will be replaced with fixed periods of admission.
🔹 Most F and J nonimmigrants will be admitted for the duration of their approved academic or exchange program, up to a maximum of four years.
🔹 Individuals requiring additional time must file an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS before their authorized stay expires.
🔹 Extension requests may include filing fees, biometrics, background checks, and USCIS review.
🔹 The grace period for many F-1 students after completing their program will be reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
🔹 Students planning to change schools, academic programs, or immigration status should carefully assess the immigration implications before making any changes.
🔹 The rule will become effective on September 15, 2026.

Students, educational institutions, exchange program sponsors, and employers should review these changes carefully and prepare for the new compliance requirements once the rule takes effect.

DHS Finalizes Alien Registration Rule: Here's What Has Changed The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued...
16/07/2026

DHS Finalizes Alien Registration Rule: Here's What Has Changed

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a Final Rule on the alien registration requirement, effective June 29, 2026.
While the registration requirement itself is not new, the Final Rule makes the 2025 online registration process permanent and provides greater clarity on how the existing law should be applied.

Key updates include:
▪️ The online registration process introduced in 2025 is now a permanent part of the regulations.
▪️ Foreign nationals who are required to register must complete Form G-325R through their USCIS online account.
▪️ The rule clarifies who is required to register, who has already satisfied the requirement, and who is exempt.
▪️ Children who turn 14 years old while in the U.S. need to re-register within 30 days of their birthday .
▪️ Filing Form G-325R does not grant lawful immigration status or employment authorization.

Many visa holders, lawful permanent residents, and people who have a Form I-94 or Employment Authorization Document have already met the registration requirement through the normal immigration process.

If you're unsure whether the requirement applies to you, USCIS has created a helpful Alien Registration Requirement (ARR) Determination Tool (https://lnkd.in/gsbDUWB8) that will help you determine if you need to register, or seek advice from an experienced immigration professional.

For many the U.S. Green Card journey starts before they even land in America.Thousands of immigrants take this path ever...
09/07/2026

For many the U.S. Green Card journey starts before they even land in America.

Thousands of immigrants take this path every year — but few understand how it actually works until sometimes it is too late.

Our new guide breaks down Consular Processing in plain English:
Do you qualify?
What happens at each stage?
How is it different from Adjustment of Status?

No jargon. No confusion. Just clarity for your next step.

🔗 Read the guide – link provided in the story

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