The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the January 2019 Visa Bulletin. There is a bit of movement for the employment-based, first preference (EB1) category. For the employment-based, second preference (EB2) and employment-based, third preference (EB3) categories, however, there is almost no movement. All...
Anna Stepanova, Assistant Managing Attorney and Member at the Murthy Law Firm, recently had an article published by the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA). While the article is written for attorneys, we share this with our readers who may be interested in a more detailed...
The experience of living as a first-generation American can be fraught with complexity. Bridging the gap between two cultures, fending off xenophobic comments from neighbors and coworkers, and forging an identity in a political climate that is suspicious of outsiders can give children of immigrants...
Answer Generally, when an H1B change-of-employer (commonly referred to as a "transfer") is properly filed, the individual generally can work based on the receipt for as long as the petition is pending. (10.Dec.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance...
Answer Depending on the circumstances, there can be different risks in moving from EB2 to EB3. A common one, however, is that USCIS might discover a problem in the EB2 petition that previously was not identified. (10.Dec.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other...
Answer Unlike the H1B visa category, U.S. immigration law does not provide a way to extend L1B visa status beyond the 5-year limit based on having an approved I-140. (10.Dec.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the...
Answer Normally, when the USCIS issues an RFE on an I-140 asking about "ability to pay," the agency wants to see evidence that the Petitioner has had the cash / resources to pay the I-140 offered wage from the date the labor certification was filed. (10.Dec.2018)In...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has expanded its Information Services Modernization Program to more field offices. The Detroit and Los Angeles field offices recently were added to the program, which aims to end self-scheduled InfoPass appointments and steer applicants towards online information. The...
Congress has passed a short-term bill to fund the federal government for two weeks. The federal budget is now extended through December 21, 2018. This bill also extends various immigration programs for the same time period, including the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) regional center program.Congress...
On December 3, 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would establish a registration requirement for cap-subject H1B petitions (i.e., petitions filed in the H1B "lottery"). The proposed rule is intended to reduce the costs associated with...
