A student in F-1 status, who is on Optional Practical Training (OPT), may have no more than a total of 90 days of unemployment during the regular one-year post-completion OPT period. A student eligible for an additional 24 months of OPT (for a total of...
There is an important exception to the general requirement that nonimmigrant foreign nationals need to have valid visas, issued at the consulate abroad, in order to enter the United States. This exception is the automatic visa revalidation process, better known as the contiguous territory rule....
Under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), qualifying Canadian and Mexican nationals can work in the United States in a wide range of positions under the USMCA professionals (TN) classification. Although the TN classification has some key limitations, in many cases it can provide employers with a...
Foreign nationals who have filed adjustment of status applications (I-485s) can generally apply for employment authorization documents (EADs). However, many of these foreign nationals are already working in the U.S. pursuant to valid nonimmigrant status, such as H1B. Attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm frequently...
It is not unusual for a lawful permanent resident (LPR) to be enrolled in a university that is located in a state other than where the student's family resides. Many in this situation live near their universities while school is in session, and then return...
There is a small, but growing trend of U.S. citizens electing to relinquish their U.S. citizenship. The motivations for expatriation vary, ranging from concerns over U.S. tax obligations to a desire for family unity. Regardless of the reasons, however, the most common voluntary renunciation of...
The law limits the amount of time an individual is permitted to remain in the United States in H1B or L-1 status. However, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) permits a person in H1B or L-1 status to recapture time spent outside the United...
Longtime readers of MurthyDotCom know about the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Premium Processing Service, which allows for the expedited case processing of certain designated immigration petitions. This overview of the ins and outs of how premium processing operates includes the benefits and limitations...
A foreign national who becomes a U.S. permanent resident based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, which is less than two years in duration, is granted permanent residence status on a conditional (temporary) basis. Ideally, the couple will jointly file the petition to remove the...
Over the past several decades, foreign nationals have been the founders of some of the most successful companies in the United States. Despite the well-documented immigrant entrepreneurial drive, however, U.S. immigration law is often not particularly welcoming to foreign nationals who wish to start their...
