11
Apr
2019
11
Apr
2019
MurthyAudio: Other Nonimmigrant Options
While the teleconference series offered by the Murthy Law Firm is designed for employers and their representatives, employees and those considering launching startups may be interested in this information, as well. Many employers are familiar with the H1B and L-1 nonimmigrant visa programs, but there...
11
Apr
2019
USCIS to Close all International Office Locations
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will be closing all international operations (IO) division offices by the end of 2019. The USCIS IO division is comprised of 24 field offices in 21 foreign countries. These offices have served as hubs...
10
Apr
2019
Homeless Eight-Year Old Immigrant Becomes Chess Phenom
In recent weeks, the news cycle was dominated by the revelation of a scandal involving dozens of wealthy and powerful parents who illegally bribed elite colleges and universities to admit their children, potentially taking the spots of more qualified applicants. The transgressions of privileged elites...
08
Apr
2019
I am in H1B status, working for a for-profit company. If I transfer to a cap-exempt nonprofit organization, would I later be able to move back to a for-profit company, without having to go through the lottery again?
Answer In general, once one is counted under the H1B cap, it is possible to move back and forth between cap-subject employers and cap-exempt nonprofit employers until one has exhausted one's 6 years of H1B time. (08.Apr.2019)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other...
08
Apr
2019
How long does it take to process a PERM labor certification case?
Answer Including the recruitment, it generally will take 6-10 months to process a PERM case to approval. There is a lot of variation, however, and an "audit" or order for supervised recruitment will slow down the process significantly. (08.Apr.2019)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy...
08
Apr
2019
Do I need an H1B amendment if my job location stayed within the same MSA, and the project is with a different division within the same end-client?
Answer An H1B amendment is required if there has been a material change in one's job duties, or if one has moved to a new metropolitan area (MSA). Given that the new job is within the same MSA, an amendment likely would be necessary only if...
08
Apr
2019
My current AP document expires in a couple of months. My I-485 and AP renewal applications are pending. Can I travel?
AnswerOne generally must have an unexpired advance parole to depart the U.S., and must return on the SAME, UNEXPIRED AP document. (08.Apr.2019) In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law in real time. For details...
08
Apr
2019
Labor Unions Can Submit Negative P Visa Consultations Directly to USCIS
Similar to the policy announced this past fall for O-1/O-2 consultations, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is now accepting negative P consultations directly from labor unions. The measure is presumably to prevent fraud in the P-1, P-2, and P-3 petition process. Background on P...
05
Apr
2019
NewsFlash! USCIS Reaches H1B Cap for FY 2020
On Friday, April 5, 2019, the USCIS announced that it had received sufficient filings for regular H1B cap subject cases for fiscal year 2020 (which will begin October 1, 2019). In essence, the USCIS confirmed that they had received more filings than the 65,000 regular...