24 Mar 2026

I have a pending I-485 application for adjustment of status and decided not to renew my H1B and to switch to my EAD. Am I still in an immigration status?

Answer A pending I-485 application alone does not grant an immigration status but instead places the applicant in a period of authorized stay, which means the applicant can be present in the United States without accruing unlawful presence. (25.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance...

24 Mar 2026

I am now eligible to file for adjustment of status based on the dates-for-filing chart (Chart B) and my spouse and children will be applying with me. Will filing based on Chart B lock in my child’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)?

Answer As of 08.Aug.2025, the USCIS rescinded the policy that allows a child’s age calculation under the CSPA to be based on Chart B. Since then, only the final-action chart (Chart A) is used to calculate a child’s age under the CSPA. (25.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other...

18 Mar 2026

My H-4 EAD renewal is still pending and my current EAD will expire soon. Because of processing delays, my work authorization may be interrupted, and I will need to stop working. Can I file a writ of mandamus lawsuit to force USCIS to adjudicate my H-4 EAD application?

Answer This may be an option provided that the H-4 EAD renewal has been pending for longer than what a court might consider reasonable. (17.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access...

18 Mar 2026

I am from a country subject to the travel ban / visa pause, and my U.S. citizen spouse would like to sponsor me for a green card. Is there an exception to the travel ban for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens?

Answer The initial travel ban established by Presidential Proclamation 10949 for certain high-risk countries included a categorical exception for immediate family members of U.S. citizens. However, the subsequently issued Presidential Proclamation 10998 that halted visa processing for an expanded list of countries removed that categorical exception...

16 Mar 2026

AAO Issues Landmark Precedent Decision on Fraud Findings After Petition Withdrawal

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) has issued a significant precedent decision, Matter of Texperts, Inc., 29 I&N Dec. 491 (AAO 2026), that will have lasting consequences for employers and foreign nationals facing fraud or misrepresentation allegations across a wide...

12 Mar 2026

USCIS Hold and Review of Benefit Applications for Nationals of High-Risk Countries

On January 1, 2026, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194, directing all agency personnel to place an adjudicative hold on pending benefit applications filed by or for nationals of countries listed in Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998, Restricting and Limiting...

09 Mar 2026

Risk of Interfiling on a Child’s CSPA Eligibility

Each month, in anticipation of the release of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin, many individuals with pending applications for adjustment of status consider whether to transfer the underlying basis of a pending adjustment of status application, commonly known as “interfiling,” as explained...

03 Mar 2026

My minor child may age out of their eligibility to immigrate as my dependent. Can my child file an EB5 petition as the main applicant?

Answer This is legally possible. However, if the child is under 18, advance planning is required to ensure that any investment agreements or related contracts signed by the child are legally valid and enforceable in the jurisdiction where they are signed. (03.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior...

26 Feb 2026

Concerning Immigration Language Rumored to be in Federal Plea Agreements

It has recently come to the Murthy Law Firm’s attention that significant changes may be appearing in the language of federal plea agreements that could have serious immigration consequences for noncitizen defendants. Based on reports, new provisions are being included in plea deals that result...

24 Feb 2026

My EB2 I-140 is approved. Is it okay if my brother also sponsors me for a green card?

Answer Yes, filing a family-based green card case typically would not impact an existing employment-based case. (24.Feb.2026)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 © 2026, MURTHY LAW FIRM....