Answer This is optional - many choose to maintain the underlying status as protection in the case of an I-485 denial. A denial of the I-485 after the nonimmigrant status is abandoned normally means that one must depart the United States. (06.Mar.2017)In frequent sessions of our...
Answer Once a person has used the full six-year period of H1B time, s/he generally would need to be outside the U.S. for at least one full year before a new cap-subject petition could be filed. The key here is that the individual must be eligible...
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulation affecting highly skilled workers went into effect on January 17, 2017. One of the key components of the new regulation is the availability of a grace period of up to 60 days for certain categories of nonimmigrant...
Answer Unfortunately, the premium processing suspension applies to ALL H1B petitions filed on or after April 3, 2017. (06.Mar.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law in real time. For details on chat participation, click here.Access...
The nascent Trump Administration has garnered national headlines in recent weeks by issuing a rash of controversial executive orders designed to follow through on several of the President's fundamental campaign promises. Among the more divisive of Trump's executive orders are those that seek to divide...
... My first employment authorization document (EAD) has already expired. Yesterday, I received very sad news from home about my grandmother's passing, which requires that I urgently leave the U.S. to attend the funeral. Would I be able to come back after a short trip...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is continuing to expand its scrutiny of the social media presence of foreign travelers and foreign nationals applying for U.S. immigration benefits. DHS Secretary John Kelly has stated that the Trump Administration's "extreme vetting" policies may include asking...
Last night, in his first speech before a joint session of Congress, President Trump called on lawmakers to reform the U.S. immigration system. The President asserted that the "… current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers." He...
Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions almost every month. The update this month for the March 2017 Visa Bulletin provides predictions related to most employment-based categories, as well...
Although the Trump Administration has occupied the White House for only about a month, the new President's policies have already created a string of controversies that are deeply dividing the nation. Perhaps the most contentious among the flurry of executive orders that President Trump signed...
