On May 12, 2014, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed regulatory change in the Federal Register, which would make certain H-4 dependent spouses eligible to apply for employment authorization. This proposal is now subject to a sixty-day public comment period, after which...
On May 6, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release that provides details on the proposed rule that would allow certain H-4 spouses to obtain employment authorization. This rule, which will soon be published in the Federal Register, would allow H-4 spouses...
On April 7, the White House released a statement indicating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is poised to publish several proposed rules, including one that, if approved, would allow a limited group of H-4 spouses to obtain employment authorization. While this news is encouraging,...
On April 7, the White House released a statement indicating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is poised to publish several proposed rules, including one that, if approved, would allow H-4 spouses of certain H1B workers to obtain employment authorization. While this news is certainly...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently made permanent a visa interview waiver program that was initiated as a temporary, pilot program in January 2012. This program allows some individuals seeking renewals of previously issued visas to have their applications adjudicated without having to attend...
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has submitted proposed regulatory changes intended to improve the F-1 and M-1 student programs. The changes potentially would provide more resources in the form of additional designated school officials (DSOs). The proposals would also provide better options to F-1 and...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a news alert on November 15, 2013, reminding those impacted by the devastation in the Philippines created by Typhoon Haiyan that certain forms of immigration relief may be available. This reminder covers a number of general provisions applicable...
The Murthy Law Firm regularly addresses common errors and problem areas related to immigration, to alert MurthyDotCom readers before mistakes are made. This article is for individuals who are the beneficiaries of a change of status (COS) from H-4 to H1B. The issue arises after...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing issues pertaining to the availability of immigration benefits to same-sex spouses. Similar to the FAQs recently published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as discussed in the NewsBrief, Clarification...
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on June 26, 2013. DOMA, which prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, stood in the way of providing marriage-based immigration benefits to legally-married gay and lesbian couples....
