Answer The OPT time does not work like H1B time. Unless the shortened use of OPT was planned, so that the I-20 supported only a partial timeframe, the OPT is 'use it or lose it.' (02.Jun.2014)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior...
Answer The EAD provides unrestricted employment authorization. So, a person could use it to start a business and employ any other work-authorized person. Assuming the EAD is based upon an employment-based GC case, it is important to make sure there is a GC-qualifying job, so that...
Answer It is possible to request a change of status to F-2 from H1B. The request may or may not be granted because of immigrant intent, but it can be requested, and a person would be legally in the U.S. based upon such a filing. It...
Answer Normally, just filing an appeal or motion to reopen does NOT give status or permission to stay. If there is an I-290B, something has been denied. That "something" stays denied (with all the related consequences) unless the motion or appeal is successful. In a situation...
... My I-20 form was issued for 20 months, the duration of my program. I was so busy working on my thesis that I forgot to request an extension of my I-20 from my DSO. Is it too late to apply for an extension now? Answer A...
Maria Odom, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, gave a presentation on various immigration issues on May 21, 2014. The setting was a meeting of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Washington D.C. Chapter, which was attended by several attorneys...
It's been almost a year since the Senate approved S.744, the comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) measure that still awaits passage of a companion bill in the House of Representatives. Legislation has been stalled for months in the lower chamber, largely due to an ongoing disagreement...
Answer You need to request that your DSO generate new I-20 forms for your spouse and child. The DSO will first update your SEVIS record with new financial information to include your spouse and child’s living expenses. Therefore, your financial obligation will be based on a...
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) experienced a massive "crash" of its computer systems in April 2014. The EOIR announced, however, that it has been able to recover all of the data, and that portions of its system are once again operational. EOIR Computer Systems Crash,...
As Vice Chair of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Sheela Murthy regularly finds herself among the crème de la crème of Maryland's business community. Most recently, Murthy was at the Chamber's 2014 Annual Meeting and Business Hall of Fame Dinner, held on May 6th in...
