On July 29, 2020, U.S. District Judge George Daniels issued an decision temporarily blocking the public charge rule during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to proceed with applying the public charge rule until all the legal challenges...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this afternoon that it will reject all initial DACA and advance parole applications either already pending or future initial requests, and shorten new renewals to one-year validity period, instead of the two-year period. DHS issued a Memorandum...
Answer No, one may not use a pending or approved I-130 petition as a basis to extend H1B status. (20.Jul.2020)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 © 2020,...
Answer Ordinarily, a U.S. citizen who is at least 21-years-of-age is permitted to sponsor their parents for green cards. Once the naturalization process is complete, there is no requirement that the person wait any period of time before initiating this process. (20.Jul.2020)Sheela Murthy and other senior...
At the Murthy Law Firm, we receive many questions about immigration petitioning for relatives. While there are various nuances to this topic, we have simplified the initial, fundamental question: who may file for permanent immigration benefits to provide the "green card" for their relatives. These...
Answer To be included as a "dependent" on an employment-based I-485 petition, one must be MARRIED before the lead applicant receives approval of the I-485. (13.Jul.2020)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here....
Last week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent out notices to more than two-thirds of its employees that they may be furloughed, effective August 3, 2020. The USCIS is seeking $1.2 billion in emergency funding from Congress; if this is not granted, the...
Answer The Executive Order only prohibits the issuance of visas at consulates. It does not prevent the adjudication of I-130 petitions, and these should progress normally, as far as we know. (01.Jul.2020)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on...
This is the second in our two-part NewsBrief on extended travel by U.S. permanent residents ("green card" holders). Here we provide additional information regarding when such travel is acceptable and when it can be regarded as an abandonment of U.S. permanent resident status. Also addressed...
Answer U.S. citizens normally can apply for their parents' "green cards" if they are physically present in the U.S. and have been legally admitted. This is done by filing an application for adjustment of status. The rules from the Trump administration, thus far, have had no...
