The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ordered a higher level of scrutiny of F-1 students at the U.S. ports of entry (POEs), according to the Associated Press [Foreign Students to Face New Checks at U.S. Borders, Julia Preston, New York Times, 03.May.2013]. The...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is transitioning the nation's sea and air ports of entry (POEs) to the automated I-94 arrival / departure card system. At the same time, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating forms and procedures to adapt...
On May 6, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin implementing a Customer Identity Verification (CIV) program at USCIS Field Offices. Under the CIV program, individuals who attend interviews or request immigration benefits at USCIS field offices will now be fingerprinted and...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced an end to the use of paper I-94 arrival / departure cards for most travelers. A March 21, 2013 press release states that the CBP will go live with this plan in the near future. This...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released a new version of the form for employment eligibility verification (I-9). Employers must use the I-9 form at the time when employees are hired in the United States, to verify employment authorization. While there is a...
The U.S. government budget cuts, known as sequestration, have dominated news reports in recent weeks. The cuts began on March 1, 2013, and many questions remain as to the impact on government operations and services. This summary of the available information from the U.S. Department...
As we launch into New Year 2013, we at the Murthy Law Firm would like to remind our readers that now is a good time to double check important documents and dates related to one's immigration. This is the first in a series of articles...
Fiscal year 2012 (FY12) was the busiest year on record for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) audits of employers' employment eligibility verification (I-9 forms). Beyond just the number of investigations, fines and even arrests also grew dramatically during the past three fiscal years for...
It's a long-settled principle of American law that where there's a wrong, there's a remedy. When a government agency makes a mistake, or doesn't play by its own rules, mechanisms are available to set things right, like challenging the agency's action - or inaction -...
During the holidays there is generally a rise in retail reports of shoplifting. This may be attributable to the overall increase in shopping during the holiday season, when storekeepers must be particularly watchful. Store displays at this time of year may also prove especially tempting...
