The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released an updated edition of Form I-129, dated 02/27/26, which will be the only accepted version beginning 01.Apr.2026. The new edition includes significant changes to the H Classification Supplement that employers and practitioners should understand, particularly as...
Issues that come up at the U.S. Consulate when obtaining a nonimmigrant visa are discussed by attorneys from the Murthy Law Firm and our affiliate, Murthy Immigration Services, Pvt. Ltd, Chennai, India, in this podcast.The MP3 is available here and soon can be found in...
The E-3 category was created in 2005 as part of the REAL ID Act to allow Australian citizens to work in the United States in “specialty occupation” roles. The E-3 was designed using a framework that mirrors the H1B category but with important procedural differences....
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the March 2026 Visa Bulletin. All cutoff dates listed below refer to the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Visa Bulletin Summary Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category In the EB1 category, the cutoff dates for both China...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued new public guidance clarifying how the B-1 business visitor category may be used, and where its limits lie, in the context of short-term business travel to the United States. The “FACT SHEET: U.S. Business Visas (B-1) and...
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...
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will often ask an H1B worker entering the United States whether the worker has ever paid their employer a portion of their salary. U.S. immigration law generally forbids an H1B worker from covering fees associated with the...
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...
