31 Jul 2017

I am eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, but my husband and children will not qualify for another year. Is it advisable for me to wait and apply for the whole family at the same time?

Answer In general, there is no particular benefit for a family to wait to file naturalization applications at the same time, other than the fact that the citizenship interviews generally will be scheduled for the same day. Also, depending on the circumstances, the children may become...

20 Jul 2017

August 2017 Visa Bulletin Check-in: Discouraging Predictions for FY18

Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions nearly every month. The update this month for the August 2017 Visa Bulletin includes both some short-term predictions and some predictions for...

14 Jul 2017

Federal Judge Expands List of Qualifying U.S. Relatives for Exemption to Travel Ban

On Thursday, July 14, 2017, a federal district court judge issued a preliminary injunction, preventing the Trump Administration from imposing the travel ban on those who have "…grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins of persons in the United States." This expands...

26 Jun 2017

My U.S. citizen sibling is sponsoring me for a green card. Will the case go any faster because I am in the U.S. in H1B status?

Answer This has no effect on the wait time for an immigrant visa. In the family-based, fourth preference (FB4) category, the wait time will very likely be more than a decade. (26.Jun.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that...

22 May 2017

My daughter is in H-4 status, but she turns 21 in July. So, she is applying for a change to F-1. Meanwhile, I have a pending EB3 case. Will her moving to F-1 status prevent her from getting a green card as my dependent?

Answer Moving to F-1 status does not affect one's eligibility for the GC. Turning 21 might, however, if one is not protected under the Child Status Protection Act. This is a complicated question, and one should consult a qualified attorney in this regard. (22.May.2017)In frequent sessions...

20 Apr 2017

NewsFlash! Only Final Action Dates Can Be Used in May 2017

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that only the cutoff dates in the 'final action' (FA) chart of the May 2017 Visa Bulletin may be used for purposes of applying for adjustment of status. This applies to both employment-based and family-based cases....

09 Feb 2017

Is It Safe for Me to Travel?

Over the past couple of weeks, we at the Murthy Law Firm have received scores of inquiries regarding President Trump's January 27, 2017 executive order that instituted a travel ban on foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and...