Answer In the preamble to the regulation that created the 24-month STEM OPT program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) laid out the rule regarding travel while a STEM OPT extension is pending: "Students on STEM OPT extensions (including those whose application for a STEM OPT extension...
Answer Generally speaking, one of the requirements for OPT eligibility is that the individual must have been enrolled in a college or university on a full-time basis for at least one full academic year. The USCIS has clarified that, for pre-completion OPT, the one-full-academic-year requirement does...
Answer Unfortunately, if the H1B worker's I-94 has already expired by the time the USCIS denies an extension, there generally is no grace period. Rather, the person typically begins to start accruing unlawful presence immediately following the issuance of the denial. (31.Aug.2023)Sheela Murthy and other senior...
On July 1, 2023, Florida's new wide-ranging law, SB 1718 went into effect. A foreign national living in Florida should be aware of the impact of SB 1718, as summarized in this MurthyDotCom NewsBrief. Government Funding for Community IDs SB 1718 prohibits cities and counties in Florida...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the temporary protected status (TPS) designation of Ukraine for an additional eighteen months, to April 19, 2025. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, TPS designation was initially granted, as explained in the MurthyDotCom NewsBrief, DHS Opens...
Answer Having a Social Security Number does not necessarily mean a person is authorized to work in the United States. Unless a foreign national is in a status that provides work authorization, such as L2S or an E-2 spouse, that individual generally is not permitted to...
Answer At the time of this writing, the DOL is taking around six months to issued PWDs. (24.Aug.2023)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access more FAQs here. Copyright © 2023, MURTHY LAW...
Answer No, it generally would not be permissible to file an H1B petition now based on an unused registration selected in the first lottery. (24.Aug.2023)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a revised edition of form I-9, employment eligibility verification. The updated form I-9 has a revised format that allows eligible employers to indicate that an employee's identity and employment authorization documents were examined remotely per the...
Citizens of India, who are interested in applying for a green card via the EB5 immigrant investor program, are racing to transfer money to the U.S. before a new Indian remittance tax takes effect on October 1, 2023. The tax hike on most remittances sent...
