Most months, Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions. The information for the September 2017 Visa Bulletin includes updated predictions for fiscal year 2018 (FY18), which begins October 1,...
Answer Applying for Canadian residence generally would have no direct impact on one's green card (assuming that one does not depart the U.S. for too long and "abandon" the green card). (14.Aug.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that...
Answer From the time the I-129F is filed to the time your fiancée is scheduled for an appointment at a U.S. consulate would likely take at least 8-12 months. (14.Aug.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the...
Answer Travel would typically not be necessary. As soon as one leaves the H1B employer (without the filing of another H1B petition by the new employer), one is no longer in H1B status. But, based on the pending I-485, one generally would automatically fall into a...
In a recent trend, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun to deny advance parole (AP) applications (form I-131) for applicants who have traveled abroad before their applications are approved. This is in stark contrast to the previous, longstanding policy, which allowed...
The September 2017 Visa Bulletin, which is the last visa bulletin of fiscal year 2017, was released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) this morning. There was no movement in the dates for filing chart, and only a bit of progress in the final...
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), in the broadest sense, provides any person with the right to request access to information and records from any federal government agency. There are many ways that filing a FOIA request can help resolve long-pending immigration cases, but there...
Answer It seems highly unlikely that the RAISE Act will pass in its present form. There appears to be very little support for the bill in the Senate, so it may not even ever be put forth for a vote. And, even if it is, the...
Answer If one's spouse seeks to enter on an H-4 visa, then the principal must enter in H1B status. If the principal enters on AP, the dependent spouse would not be eligible for H-4 status. (07.Aug.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior...
Answer In general, an approved I-140 can be used to extend H1B status beyond 6 years, regardless of the job or employer. (07.Aug.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law in real time. For details on...
