The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched eFOIA a new, free mobile application that allows users to submit and track Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. This is part of an ongoing effort to improve the FOIA process and response time within the DHS. DHS...
Maria M. Odom, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), has submitted her office's 2015 Annual Report to Congress. This annual report includes lists of problems within the immigration system identified by the CIS Ombudsman's office, as well as recommended solutions. Background on the CIS Ombudsman The...
Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss recent trends in visa applications, including fee increases and common issues that can result following a visa refusal or denial. They cover strategies for employers and visa applicants to overcome these hurdles and answer frequently asked questions about visa processing....
This afternoon, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a policy memorandum that provides final guidance on when an amended petition is required following the relocation of an H1B worker. The memo extends the deadline for employers that need to file amended H1B petitions, and...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this morning that acceptance of premium processing requests for H1B extension of status petitions would resume, effective today, July 13, 2015. Any premium processing requests for H1B extensions received before July 13, 2015 will be rejected.The USICS...
Murthy Law Firm attorneys provide an overview of common issues related to upgrading from EB3 to EB2. They discuss educational equivalency issues, priority date retention and the use of exceptional ability to qualify for an EB2 upgrade. This June 3, 2015 teleconference is from our...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released interim guidance addressing employer obligations for filing amended petitions for H1B workers who have been moved to new worksites. The guidance sets a deadline of August 19, 2015 for H1B employers to come into compliance with the...
Many immigration strategies in employment-based cases rely upon the ability to retain the priority date between permanent resident (or, "green card") case filings for the same individual. It is widely used in what is commonly known as upgrading between categories, as well as during changes...
Employers who are required to file amended H1B petitions due to employee worksite changes must do so by August 19, 2015. USCIS guidance, issued May 21, 2015, interprets H1B amendment requirements in light of a recent Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision, Matter of Simeio Solutions,...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that, effective May 26th, the agency "…will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H1B Extension of Stay petitions until July 27, 2015." Further, premium processing fees will be refunded for any H1B extension case filed before May...
