The USCIS announced today that the agency is expanding National Customer Service Center (NCSC) hours to include Saturdays. Customer service representatives will now be available Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in each time zone. The NCSC can...
The United States provides many performance and teaching opportunities for musicians and other entertainers. The P-3 category is appropriate for artists and entertainers seeking to enter the U.S. for purposes related to culturally unique performances or presentations. The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) recently handed down...
Herguan University in Sunnyvale, CA is at risk for losing its ability to participate in the F-1 student visa program. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a notice of intent to withdraw Herguan University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification on August 2, 2012....
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is moving forward regarding the implementation of temporary relief, known as deferred action, for certain undocumented foreign nationals who were brought to the United States as children. The eligibility requirements are similar to the proposed, but never enacted,...
Many questions have come to the Murthy Law Firm in response to our NewsBrief, H.R. 3012 Hold Lifted: Proposed Changes to GC Quota System (12.Jul.2012). Readers have been contacting us seeking an update on the status of this legislative proposal. Entitled the Fairness to High-Skilled...
Many individuals who filed applications for adjustment of status (form I-485), in recent months are considering the employment portability and flexibility options under the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act (AC21). The Murthy Law Firm has provided successful representation for more than a decade...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin for August 2012 contains no surprises for our readers. The employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for India and China is unavailable through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2012. The retrogressed date of January 1, 2009 in EB2...
Minister Counselor James W. Herman, of the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi, India, advised in late June 2012 of ongoing consideration of a potential drastic reduction in the duration of B-1 (business visitor) visas issued to Indian citizens seeking to visit the United States. A recent...
The Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA) issued a decision on June 14, 2012 overturning the denial of a PERM labor certification (PERM labor) despite a 0.0003 percent variation between the employer's offered wage and the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage determination (PWD)....
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2012, regarding proposed changes to the labor condition application (LCA). The LCA form is a key requirement in the H1B process. The proposed changes are significant, and address...
