Welcome to the Law Offices of

 Lalita Haran

13295 Illinois Street, Suite 139, Carmel, IN 46032, Ph: (317) 660-6174.

(Personal consultations: by appointments only)

and 

522 Belvedere Dr., Suite 106, Kokomo, IN 46901, Ph: (765) 854-1004.

      Attorney Lalita Haran focuses on the practice of U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Law.  She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Indiana State Bar Association.

      Attorney Haran is admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana and also in India.  She graduated in Law from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, U.S.A. and also from the Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Madhya Pradesh, India.

      The law office can help you with most of your U.S. immigration needs whether you are in any of the 50 States in the United States or even in another country.  Attorney Haran endeavors to give your immigration matter her individual attention and provides you the opportunity to speak in Hindi, English, or Tamil, directly with your immigration lawyer.  

The following immigration services are offered:

• Business and Employment Immigration: GreenCard under EB1, EB2, EB3 and National Interest Waiver for Physicians serving in medically underserved areas, Schedule A for Nurses and Physical therapists.

• Employment and family based nonimmigrant visa H, L, P, O, K, Visitors (B), Students and TN

-H-1B including Portability, AC-21 and Extension

-L Intra-company transferees

-J-1 waiver (Physicians)

-NAFTA workers

-Fiancee /family visa

-Extension and change of status

• Employment Authorization and Advance Parole
• Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing of immigrant visa
• GreenCard (Permanent Resident Status)
• Special Immigrants religious workers and self petitioner as victims of abuse

• Naturalization

Consultation is advisable in most immigration matters.  Please call ahead to schedule yours.  My consultation fee is payable hourly at $125.00 for the matter.

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Visit my blog Talk about U.S. Immigration for discussion on topics of interest.

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Recent News 

H1B and L1 fee revision

Governement raised the filing fee for H1B petition by $2000 and for L1s by $2,250.  The raised fee remains in effect from August 14, 2010 through Sep. 30, 2014 and applies to employers hiring 50 or more employees in U.S with more than 50% work force cmprising of H1 or L1 workers.  (Posted 9/5/10) 

Refugees lose SSI benefits

Some of the Refugees to U.S., vicitms of persecution and torture would lose Suplemental Security Income starting October 1st.  The benefit is allowed for a maximum period of seven years within which these immigrants should seek naturalization.  (posted 8/4/10)

The benefit was extended in 2008 for an additional two year period which comes to an end now.  As a result some of the elderly and disabled refugees and Asylees may lose the SSI benefits at a time when they need it most. 

U.S. sues State of Arizona

The department of Justice filed an action against the State of Arizona in Federal Court to stop the State from enforcing its newly passed "show me your immigration papers" law. (Posted 7/14/10)

Federal Court granted injunction blocking some of the provisions from taking effect although the rest of the law took effect in July.  The Court turned down the State of Arizona's request to expedite hearing on the case.  (Posted 8/4/10)

Temporary Protected Satus for Haiti earthquake relief extended Applications could now be made until January 2011.  (Posted 7/14/10)

Immigration benefits to Guatemalans In the wake of the storm Agatha, Guatemalans would be eligible to apply for change or extension of non immigrant status (even beyond the end of authorization), parole or advance parole among other immigration benefits.  Lawful Permanent Residents without documents could also seek assistance if stranded.  (Posted 6/11/10)

H-1B So far about 13,600 cap subject and 5,800 advanced degree petitions have been received.  (posted 4/26/)

Arizona makes it a crime to be present in the State illegally.  Its police officers have authority to determine immigration status if they suspect that someone is violating this law and may be sued for failure to act upon the complaint received from citizens.  (posted 4/26/10)

Arizona goes tough on Immigrantion The state houses pass a very tough immigration Bill that now goes to the Governor to be finalized as law.  A Veto by the Governor, which highly unlikely, only can stop it from becoming the law now.  If the Bill is signed into Law it makes a crime to be in Arizona without an immigration document.  The law enforcement could determine the immigration status of the person.  It is highly likely that racial profiling would form a basis for questioning leading to arrests. Read more . . .

I suspect grave constitutional challenges against the Bill if it becomes the law because precedent is well set that States are not allowed to determine immigration status or punish anyone for not possessing immigration documentation.  States could only report to the federal government if someone is an undocumented foreign national.  Such a legislation would be opposed to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

State enforcement of immigration law Northern District Court of Texas strikes a City Ordinance attempting o regulate residential lease to undocumented foreign nationals in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. (poste 3/26/10)

Puerto Rico birth cetificates issued prior to July 1 2010 would no longer be valid.  The measure is to prevent fraudulent identity.

U Visa Department of labor through its Wage and Hour Division would soon start certifying the cases for the victims of qualifying crimes who could apply for U visa on that basis.  (posted 3/17/10)

Temporary Protected Status for Haiti  Following the devastating earthquake Haitians nationals present in U.S. on 1/12/10 are eligible to seek Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.  Those seeking TPS must register within 180 days starting from 1/21/10.  (posted 1/26/10)

The Secretary of state, Hillary Clinton did not rule out more immigration benefits to Haitians however she added that it would strain the government and the school system.  Read more .

H1C for Nurses The H-1C visa category for foriegn nurses expires on December 21, 2009.  500 Foreign national nurses could work in the U.S. on H1C visa in certain hospitals in shortage areas.  The program was initiated in 1999 and extended to three years on 12/20/2006 and is due to expire coming Monday.  (posted 12/18/2009).  read more . . .  

H1C visas are reauthorized effective April 21, 2010, the Department of Labor announced on March 11th by notification in the Federal Register.  (posted 3/26/10)

Permanent Residence for Surviving Spouse New law strikes down the language that limited the surviving spouse's ability to continue their permanent residence application when their petitioning U.S. citizen spouse passes away.  (Posted 11/3/09)

The welcome change also includes certain situation where the petitioner dies pending adjudication of the petition for his/her immediate relatives.  Read here what problems existed before this enactment.

Articles

E-Verify and the Immigration Conundrum

K-Visas

Travel with pending change of status application - when not problematic. 

Visitor's Intent - Is it a Problem? Read here about the problems facing a visitor's (B) visa applicant.

Talk about U.S. Immigration . . . my blog           

What's New: H-1b and Benching, I-94 error, and more.        

Check out the Landmark Decisions here.

Archived news.