The U.S. Department of State (DOS) August 2016 Visa Bulletin is remarkable, but not surprising, in that it contains a February 1, 2014 cutoff date for the employment-based, second preference (EB2) worldwide category. This is the first time this category has ever had a cutoff...
The fiscal year 2017 (FY17) H1B cap season continues to wind down. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that the latest stage, the return of all H1B petitions that were not selected in the lottery, was completed on July 8, 2016. Given the...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the August 2016 Visa Bulletin this afternoon, and, as expected, it establishes a cutoff date of January 1, 2010 for the employment-based, first preference (EB1) category for those born in India and China. The massive demand for visa numbers...
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...
