26 Feb 2026

Concerning Immigration Language Rumored to be in Federal Plea Agreements

It has recently come to the Murthy Law Firm’s attention that significant changes may be appearing in the language of federal plea agreements that could have serious immigration consequences for noncitizen defendants. Based on reports, new provisions are being included in plea deals that result...

12 Feb 2026

DOS Confirms China is Not Part of Immigrant Visa Processing Pause

Per the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has confirmed that China is not included in the 75-country immigrant visa processing pause that took effect 21.Jan.2026. The clarification came after an erroneous alert appeared on the Travel Docs website causing...

22 Jan 2026

Whistleblower Reveals ICE Memo Authorizing Home Entries Without Judicial Warrants

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...

19 Jan 2026

Murthy Success: A Simple Solution in a Complex Immigration Journey

The Murthy Law Firm recently succeeded in helping a client obtain a green card through a marriage-based process, despite a complicated immigration history that initially appeared to present insurmountable obstacles. This client graciously granted permission for the Murthy Law Firm to share his story to...

14 Jan 2026

DOS Pausing Visa Processing for Citizens of 75 Countries

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...

09 Jan 2026

USCIS Premium Processing Fees to Increase, Effective 01.Mar.2026

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...

04 Dec 2025

New USCIS Guidance on Country-Specific Facts and Discretionary Benefits Requests

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced new policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on how country-specific facts and circumstances may impact the adjudication of discretionary benefit requests. Presidential Proclamation 10949 The new guidance follows the framework of the 04.Jun.2025 Presidential Proclamation 10949, "Restricting...

26 Nov 2025

USCIS Offers Online PDF Filing Option for Some Case Types

The USCIS recently expanded online filing options to allow certain immigration forms to be submitted as completed PDFs, rather than requiring applicants to manually enter information into an online form. This change offers greater flexibility for some applicants, but it also comes with important caveats...

07 Nov 2025

State Department Expands Health-Based Grounds for Visa Denials

The Trump Administration has directed the U.S. Department of State to issue new guidance directing consular officers to consider a significantly expanded range of health conditions when evaluating visa applications, including common chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health conditions. Although...