Question 1. Can a person in India, whose family-based green card application is being processed, come to the U.S. on a J-1 visa for a short time?The pending green card application makes it very difficult to obtain a J-1 visa, due to a concept known...
In order for the United States to participate in foreign commerce, treaties and diplomatic relations, foreign government representatives and their entourages must be able to enter the United States for official business. Diplomats are not subject to the same stringent requirements as other persons seeking...
The Treaty Trader / Investor Visa (nonimmigrant E classification) is designed for the benefit of nationals of a country with which the U.S. has a treaty of commerce and navigation, or a similar agreement. The E classification is divided into two categories. E-1 is for...
H1Bs have long been the visa of choice for those bringing specialty occupation employees to the U.S. to work temporarily. However, it is also important to consider alternatives to the H1B program. The L-1 visa is potentially an attractive option for multinational companies. Following is...
In 1996 Legacy INS (now the USCIS) issued a memorandum outlining the general policy guidelines on when a new or amended H1B petition must be filed.This memo was issued to allay confusion about deadlines for filing an amended petition. Although the memo attempts to clarify...
Since October 1, 1996, any person who has "overstayed" (remained in the U.S. past the expiration date on his/her latest I-94 card), even for a single day, has been no longer eligible to apply for the nonimmigrant (temporary) visa from a country other than her/his...
The terms visa and status are often used interchangeably, which creates confusion for many people. Here, the distinctions between visa and status are clarified for the benefit of our readers. Visa Issued by U.S. Consulate Abroad A visa is a document issued by the U.S. Department of...
Immigration attorneys often hear this question. It sounds so basic. The trusted, experienced attorney should know such a simple thing, right? But, it is not so simple. This explanation of the timeframes related to employment-based (EB) immigration processing is an effort to clarify the matter...
Question 1. How do I apply for a visa at the U.S. Consulate in Madras / Chennai, India?Because each consulate is unique and requires its own comprehensive list of documents, we strongly recommend that you first visit the webpage of the consular post you are...
At the Murthy Law Firm, we receive many questions about immigration petitioning for relatives. While there are many 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...
