Many foreign nationals who are hoping to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs) face extended backlogs in visa number availability. Since visa number backlogs vary enormously by the country against which an applicant is counted or "charged," it is important to understand the options for favorable...
When an individual applies for an F-1, H1B, or other nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. consulate abroad, it can be fairly common to be refused initially under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This broad section applies to a wide variety of...
"Can I file a green card for myself?" The Murthy Law Firm regularly receives inquiries like this from foreign nationals wondering whether it is possible to self-sponsor to become a lawful permanent resident (“green card” holder). While most of the employment-based categories require a U.S....
The United States allows for the issuance of a Social Security number (SSN) to an individual who is authorized to work in the U.S. One of the key purposes of the SSN is to serve as a tracking number for income tax and related matters....
The use of domestic workers, such as live-in maids or nannies, tends to be less common in the United States than it is in many other parts of the world. Foreign nationals planning to come to the United States, in addition to U.S. citizens living...
There are questions commonly on the minds of many MurthyDotCom readers regarding the effect of reentry into the United States on H1B or L-1 workers who also have approved advance parole (AP) based on a pending application to adjust status (form I-485). The law pertaining...
The ongoing pandemic has made movement in the monthly visa bulletin even harder to predict than normal. Moreover, while the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can be painfully slow in adjudicating I-485 applications, some of these applications are unexpectedly approved rather quickly. This unpredictability...
With the summer travel season upon us, many readers of MurthyDotCom are planning long-awaited trips abroad to visit family and friends. Not in their plans is a problem with the expiration date on the I-94 arrival / departure card upon returning to the United States....
Most foreign nationals in the United States must report address changes to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The legal timeframe for this notification is just ten days. The process is simple and free, and helps to facilitate proper delivery of official notices and...
Given the complex nature of U.S. immigration procedures and requirements, many individuals face lapses and potential violations of their immigration statuses at some point during their periods of stay in the United States. We frequently address questions about resolving status and related problems, including the...
