Originally published May 5, 2013, this NewsBrief has been updated for MurthyDotCom readers.The term "cap gap" refers to the period of time between April 1st and October 1st each year when many F-1 students experience a gap from the end of their optional practical training...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Control and Reporting Division Chief, Charles Oppenheim, has confirmed that a cutoff date will be established in the employment-based, first preference (EB1) category in the August 2016 Visa Bulletin. The cutoff date will only apply to India and...
Travelers entering the United States on the visa waiver program (VWP) face additional screening questions when completing the application for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). These ESTA restrictions are part of the VWP program and are based on an applicant's nationality and/or travel history. Background...
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) annual conference is a valuable source of up-to-date immigration information, often directly from key government officials. This year the AILA Annual Conference is in Las Vegas from June 22-25, 2016. The Murthy Law Firm lawyers attending the conference are...
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision affirming the block on relief for undocumented foreign nationals. The case, United States v Texas, sought to overturn an injunction against implementation of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), as well as expansion...
Significant progress has been made toward India's inclusion in the expedited travel program known as Global Entry. After several years of effort, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been entered into between the United States and India, with the goal of facilitating legitimate travel between...
Under the revised STEM optional practical training (OPT) regulations, which went into effect on May 10, 2016, one of the new requirements to qualify is the completion of a training plan (I-983 form). A university's designated school official (DSO) cannot make the required recommendation for...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) monthly visa bulletin check-in comes directly from Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division. The information related to the July 2016 Visa Bulletin provides a more detailed explanation for current developments, as well as predictions for...
On June 13, 2016, the Murthy Law Firm received the first few packages containing H1B filings returned as not having been selected in the fiscal year 2017 (FY17) random H1B lottery. More than a month has elapsed since the firm last received any new H1B...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) July 2016 Visa Bulletin is now available. The retrogression that hit key categories in June 2016 continues with little change in July. All cutoff dates described below refer to the final action (FA) chart. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services...
