For people not accustomed to the open displays of merchandise typical in the United States, the opportunity to pick up a few small items could prove tempting. Many newcomers to this country do not realize that seemingly minor crimes can have very serious immigration, as...
Answer In general, a civil lawsuit filed against you by a private party would not impact your immigration status or future green card case. (23.Nov.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access...
Answer If the existing H1B visa "stamp" in your passport is still valid, it normally is permissible to use that visa and the new employer's approved petition to request admission in H1B status. (23.Nov.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For...
Answer Assuming the existing H1B petition was filed for a full-time position, you should not rely on that approval to work part time. However, your employer can file an H1B amendment requesting that the position be approved as a part-time position. And, typically, you then could...
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) terminated recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting agency on August 19, 2022. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in turn, recently issued an alert explaining the immigration impact this loss...
Answer The L1A category does not require a set number of subordinates. However, staffing levels can certainly be taken into consideration, along with the categories of employees the person is supervising (e.g., professionals, supervisors). Also, it appears that the USCIS tends to give less weight to...
Answer The regulation states that the grace period starts upon the "cessation of employment." This typically has been interpreted to mean the last day the person performs work for the employer. So, the safest approach likely would be to assume the grace period starts following the...
Answer Eligibility for unemployment benefits is based on state law, not immigration law. If you qualify for unemployment benefits, claiming such benefits typically would have no immigration impact. (16.Nov.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online...
Today, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the December 2022 Visa Bulletin. The most notable change in the latest visa bulletin is additional retrogression in the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category. All cutoff dates listed refer to those in the final action chart (i.e.,...
Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana at the state level can mislead noncitizens into thinking using marijuana in accordance with state law is legal. Marijuana, however, is a controlled substance under federal law. Therefore, the use, sale, purchase, or even the mere possession of marijuana, in...
