Since taking office, the Trump administration has instituted numerous policies to make it more difficult for foreign nationals - including international students - to come to the United States. This has highlighted the need for caution among current and potential F-1 students when selecting the...
Today, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the H1B registration period for fiscal year 2027 (FY27) will start at noon Eastern Time (ET) on March 4, 2026, and end at noon ET on March 19, 2026. Background on Registration Process In order to submit...
On January 28, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska granted summary judgment against USCIS in an Administrative Procedure Act challenge to the agency’s denial of an EB-1A (extraordinary ability) petition. In Mukherji v. Miller, the court vacated USCIS’s denial of the...
A May 2025 internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo revealed that the agency has authorized its officers, in certain situations, to forcibly enter private residences using administrative warrants, without obtaining warrants signed by judges. The policy represents a significant departure from longstanding federal law enforcement...
In a significant development for international travel, a U.S. Department of State (DOS) memorandum has revealed a plan to indefinitely freeze visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, effective 21.Jan.2026. This move represents a major expansion of the current administration’s immigration and border policies.According to...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the February 2026 Visa Bulletin. There is little-to-no movement in the upcoming visa bulletin. All cutoff dates listed refer to the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Visa Bulletin Summary Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category In the...
On Monday, 12.Jan.2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is scheduled to publish a final rule in the Federal Register that will increase the premium processing fees. This fee increase will go into effect on 01.Mar.2026.Per the final rule, premium processing fees that are currently...
AnswerThe USCIS is now requiring in-person interviews for the vast majority of I-485 applicants. So, the fact that you have been scheduled for an interview, is not unusual and does not necessarily mean there’s cause for concern. As for your co-workers, this interview requirement is...
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a pre-screening tool that most visa waiver program (VWP) travelers must obtain before boarding a flight or ship bound for the United States. While ESTA has been a fixture of VWP travel for years, recent policy changes...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced updated policy guidance on 12.Dec.2025, regarding significant changes to its photograph reuse policy for immigration benefit applications. For the benefit of MurthyDotCom readers, a summary of the new policy is provided. Background on Photograph Collection Before issuing a secure...
