When the annual recipients of the prestigious Nobel prizes were announced earlier this month, there was one notable similarity between nearly all of the American honorees: six-out-of-the-seven of them are first-generation immigrants to the United States. (The seventh honoree is singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan, who was...
Answer Unfortunately, this provision applies only to H1B status, not to L-1. L1A status cannot be extended beyond 7 years. (24.Oct.2016)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,...
Answer Generally speaking, unless the individual qualifies for AC21 (i.e. I-485 has been pending for at least 180 days and the new position is the same or similar), a new PERM case would be required in order to be sponsored under the new position. (24.Oct.2016)In frequent...
Answer H1B petitions can always be 'upgraded' to premium processing. Cases filed for premium processing (whether filed that way initially or upgraded later) appear to have a greater incidence of being issued RFEs. This is likely due to the strict timelines the USCIS officers must adhere...
Answer This is very case-specific, and is not something that can be easily addressed in this type of forum. One in this situation should consult a qualified attorney. (24.Oct.2016)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law...
... I would like to apply for a 24-month STEM extension, based on this arrangement, but I heard from some of my friends that I am not allowed to work remotely at a client site during the STEM OPT period. Is this true? Answer SEVP has confirmed...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) implemented a policy on November 5, 2015 that requires consular officers to revoke the nonimmigrant visas of individuals arrested for, or convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated (DWI), or similar alcohol-related crimes. The DOS has...
Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), supplies monthly visa bulletin explanations. This month's update related to the November 2016 Visa Bulletin includes insights into the employment-based, second preference category for India and China, as...
On October 3, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a request by the Obama administration to rehear a case that has halted implementation of the President's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and the expansion of the Deferred...
USTraveldocs.com, which handles visa appointment services for U.S. embassies and consulates, has issued a public notice, advising stakeholders of a large, temporary increase in visa appointment availability. The notice states: The U.S. embassy and the four U.S. consulates in India have made thousands of extra visa...
