On May 11, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a policy memorandum that will substantially change the rules regarding unlawful presence (ULP) as they apply to those in F, J, and M status. The new rules are scheduled to go into effect...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on May 15, 2018 that the data entry process has been completed for all cases selected in the fiscal year 2019 (FY19) H1B lottery. The USCIS will now begin returning all cap-subject petitions that were not selected.The...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has added a number new features to the E-Verify system, designed to improve the user experience, reduce errors, and increase the speed and accuracy of the employment eligibility verification process. In addition, the USCIS has launched a new...
Murthy Law Firm Member and Assistant Managing Attorney, Anna Stepanova, was recently interviewed by Bloomberg Law regarding the abrupt change in position by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding off-site placement of STEM OPT workers.First, a little background on the legal issue discussed....
Answer The H-4 COS will be abandoned when one leaves the U.S., but one can apply for an H-4 visa stamp to return at any time (assuming the principal spouse is in valid H1B status). A COS approval is not required to apply for a visa...
Answer There is no set amount of time a person must wait between visits. Whether the person will be admitted, however, is subject to the discretion of the CBP officer at the airport. If the officer is not satisfied that one is truly a "visitor," admission...
Answer One can qualify for OPT after one year of full-time study in any status (as long as s/he is in F-1 status at the time the OPT application is filed). (14.May.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that...
Answer One should consult with a qualified attorney to review one's qualifications. However, two publications generally would not be sufficient to qualify for EB1(a) or EB1(b), unless the publications were extremely influential in the field. (14.May.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a policy memorandum today that will dramatically expand the manners in which those in F, J, and M status may begin accruing unlawful presence (ULP).Nonimmigrants entering in F, J, or M status usually are admitted for "duration...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the June 2018 Visa Bulletin. As expected, there is virtually no movement in any of the employment-based categories. Cutoff Dates Virtually Unchanged In the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category, India's cutoff date inches forward to December 26, 2008. This is...
