During periods of economic decline, many individuals encounter financial hardships. For some these difficulties have led to foreclosure, bankruptcy, and unpaid debts. This, in turn, has generated questions regarding whether various financial problems might affect one’s ability to naturalize to U.S. citizenship. Although debt alone...
Many MurthyDotCom readers will consider options for naturalizing to U.S. citizenship at some point in their immigration journeys. This often gives rise to questions regarding family members, including one’s children. This is a broad overview of how children born outside of the United States may...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended certain flexibilities related to the COVID-19 pandemic through 23.Mar.2023. The USCIS anticipates that this will be the final extension of these measures. Flexible Deadlines Applicable through 23.Mar.2023 Under the extension, applicants and petitioners will continue to have an...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be conducting a nationwide trial of updates to the naturalization test. The trial will include changes to the English-speaking and civics portions of the test, while leaving the reading and writing portions unchanged. Goal of Improving Naturalization Process This...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy manual so that a receipt for an application for naturalization (form N-400) now also will provide a 24-month extension of the applicant's "green card" (I-551). Prior to this change, if an N-400 applicant wished...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced an updated policy regarding medical certification for disability exceptions (form N-648) to make the naturalization process more accessible for applicants with disabilities. The USCIS policy manual clarifies the manner in which medical professionals can properly complete...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a regulation that, if implemented, would provide the DHS with greater authority to alter certain requirements during the form I-9 employment eligibility verification process. In particular, the rule would further empower the DHS to implement alternative...
The use of domestic workers, such as live-in maids or nannies, tends to be less common in the United States than it is in many other parts of the world. Foreign nationals planning to come to the United States, in addition to U.S. citizens living...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised its policy related to the definition of a parental relationship. The USCIS will now recognize a parent-child relationship for children born abroad using assisted reproductive technology (ART), as long as the child's parents were married at...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy guidance related to the impact of registering to vote on a foreign national's good moral character (GMC) requirement when applying for U.S. citizenship. The updated guidance is designed to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences for...
