Attorney

Sweta Khandelwal

Name: Vikk Ai
Telephone: +1
Price range: $$

White hat hacker of US Immigration laws for entrepreneurs & their companies. Advocate for immigration reform. Attorney specializing in visa solutions for visionary thinkers, maverick founders, rock-star workers.

San Jose, California

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About Sweta Khandelwal

Immigration to me is personal. There are many excellent immigration attorneys who are also immigrants. However, there are likely few who would have navigated the labyrinth of immigration laws the way I did. My US immigration journey began when I applied for a B-1/B-2 visa as a law student to compete at the international Moot Court competition at the Stetson College of Law, Florida. I had been awarded the "Best Student Advocate" at the National rounds. The catch- I did not have a passport. Obtaining one in India at that time took several months. I persisted and managed to get it in 3 days. Fast forward a couple of years, I secured admission at the LL.M program at UCLA. I also found myself a partner around the same time who was in the US on an H-1B visa. To get a US visa, the fastest way to get an appointment at the Consulate was to show an "emergency". The start of the academic session for an F-1 student qualified as one. However, it is easier to get an H-4 visa, as a dependent of an H-1B visa holder, than an F-1. The “feminist” in me resisted the idea of a “dependent” visa, while the lawyer in me saw the opportunity. I thought that all I needed was an “appointment” to access the Consulate. I will then talk my way through. Those were simpler times. At the visa interview, I requested and got an H-4 visa instead of an F-1. I later changed status in the US to F-1 to avail of the OPT program that allowed me to work. My employer applied for an H-1B visa on my behalf and I won the H-1B lottery for the FY 2008. The H-1B Cap was open for only 2 days that year- the shortest time ever. I then joined my spouse in the EB-3 Green Card que that can potentially take several years. I won the second "lottery" when employment-based green cards became available one fine summer day in July 2007. This gave me a work permit and the flexibility to start my own legal practice. The grand finale. I fought an erroneous USCIS determination of “TRIG"- Terrorism Related Inadmissibility Ground- to secure permanent residence. Through all this, I realized that I am my best advocate. It was no co-incidence that I specialized in Immigration Law as part of the LLM program. Now, I love to simplify the immigration journey for my clients. I am a Certified Accountant as well, which while not quite as exciting, helps with business's and investors. My academic, personal and professional experience allows me to partner with my clients to ensure the success of their immigration objectives- whether it is to live, work, or invest in the US.

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San Jose, California

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