Shankar Ninan & Co.

Shankar Ninan & Co. We are committed to success of each and every client. Whether you are start-up, an industry leader or an individual, we're always responsive and always on.

01/15/2026

🚨 Immigration Update – Visa Processing Pause
Yesterday, the U.S. government announced a temporary pause on immigrant visa processing stating 1/21
impacting nationals of approximately 75 countries. This pause primarily affects consular processing abroad, meaning immigrant visa interviews, issuances, and final approvals at U.S. embassies and consulates may be delayed or placed on hold.

It’s important to note that not all immigration processes are frozen, and some applicants may still have alternative strategies available depending on their visa category, location, and current status.

Countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa de Marfil (Côte d’Ivoire), Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yemen

12/11/2025

Gold Card is here — but the wait isn’t over 👀🇺🇸💳
Trump’s new Gold Card investor route lets you pay $1M per person + $15,000 fees per person for “expedited processing” and a path to U.S. permanent residency & citizenship. But this does NOT create a new visa category or reserve extra visas — it still sits within the existing employment-based green card system. That means you must still abide by the Visa Bulletin priority dates just like everyone else under eb1 and eb2.
📅 Your priority date (the date USCIS receives your petition) still needs to be current on the monthly Visa Bulletin before you can actually get your green card — and especially for people born in India/China, those priority dates can be years (or decades) backlogged even if you have the money. 
So Gold Card = “faster processing” is claimed, but not a guaranteed shortcut through the visa queue.

PriorityDates

Our parents came to this country with little more than determination and a dream. They worked tirelessly to build a life...
10/29/2025

Our parents came to this country with little more than determination and a dream. They worked tirelessly to build a life and a future — the American dream that so many strive for.

Their journey is what inspires us every day to help others do the same.

On , we honor the strength, courage, and resilience of all who’ve left home to build a new one.

At Shankar Ninan, we’re proud to stand beside immigrants as they take the next step in their story. 🌎✨

10/23/2025

So we now have a bit of clarity on who the $100,000 fee applies to:

✅ Applies to:
• New H-1B petitions filed on or after Sept 21, 2025 for workers outside the U.S. without a valid H-1B visa.
• Consular filings

❌ Does not apply to:
• Existing valid H-1Bs
• Petitions filed before Sept 21, 2025
• Extensions or amendments or transfers granted inside the U.S.

Payment must be made via pay.gov before filing with USCIS.

Exceptions must be approved by DHS if the case meets the national interest standard.

10/15/2025

🚨 BREAKING: New $1,000 Parole Fee Announced by USCIS

Today, USCIS announced that under the new HR-1 law, anyone paroled into the U.S. will now be required to pay a $1,000 immigration parole fee — even if you’ve been paroled before.

This means each time parole is granted (including re-parole or parole in place), the $1,000 fee attaches.

🏛️ Exceptions? Yes — but narrow
There are 10 limited grounds under which someone may be exempt, such as medical emergencies, immediate family member’s imminent death, or government law-enforcement involvement.

⏱️ When will this take effect?
The change is part of the HR-1 implementation and applies for parole grants effected on or after 10/16/2025.

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-19564.pdf

10/02/2025

With the government shutdown now in place, immigration is directly impacted. USCIS (which is fee-funded) will keep processing cases, but expect delays since many agencies they rely on are furloughed. The Department of Labor can’t process LCA or PERM applications, which stalls H-1B, H-2B, and green card filings. The Department of State will slow down visa stamping abroad, and immigration courts not handling urgent cases are mostly closed. Bottom line: the shutdown doesn’t stop immigration, but it creates backlogs and uncertainty for families and employers.

09/26/2025

📲 Visas Revoked Over Social Media? Here’s What We Know

In 2025, the U.S. government has already revoked many nonimmigrant visas, visas have reportedly been revoked citing “online activity”

The worry? Authorities are increasingly examining private accounts, public posts, and entire digital footprints — sometimes with vague or shifting criteria.

🛑 It’s a reminder: your online presence may now carry higher stakes than ever.

📸 I’m sharing screenshots of the October Visa Bulletin with the highlighted dates so you can see exactly what moved! 🚨 T...
09/16/2025

📸 I’m sharing screenshots of the October Visa Bulletin with the highlighted dates so you can see exactly what moved!

🚨 The updates this month are HUGE:
• Employment-Based (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3): Dates have jumped forward by 6 months to over 1 year.
• Family-Based (F2A): Spouses and children (under 21) of green card holders also saw a big advancement.

✅ What this means:
Your priority date is like your place in line for a green card. If the new chart shows a date later than yours, you can finally file your green card application (Form I-485).

Filing in October could give you:
• Work authorization 💼
• Travel permission ✈️
• A major step forward toward your green card

✨ If your date is current, don’t wait — this is your chance!
📲 Contact us now to get your application started.

👋🏾 Meet Gigio Ninan — co-founder and partner at Shankar Ninan & Co.! Though he’s been leading the firm since day one, we...
09/15/2025

👋🏾 Meet Gigio Ninan — co-founder and partner at Shankar Ninan & Co.! Though he’s been leading the firm since day one, we’re excited to feature him here too!

Gigio focuses his practice on corporate and employment law, helping businesses and professionals navigate challenges with clarity and confidence. Beyond the courtroom and boardroom, he’s passionate about building lasting client relationships and guiding the firm’s vision for the future.

Stay tuned as we share more about his work and insights right here!

Scrutiny just leveled up! 🚨New rule as of this past weekend: visa stamping must be done in your home country or country ...
09/09/2025

Scrutiny just leveled up! 🚨

New rule as of this past weekend: visa stamping must be done in your home country or country of residence.
So that “quick trip abroad to get stamped” trick? Or “get stamped on vacation”
…Yeah… not happening anymore.

*exceptions apply for certain visa types - DM to learn more*

Immigration law isn’t just about forms and filings—it’s about people, families, and futures. Every case is a story of re...
09/09/2025

Immigration law isn’t just about forms and filings—it’s about people, families, and futures. Every case is a story of resilience, and every success is a step toward honoring our shared humanity!

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