The USCIS issued a policy memorandum on July 23, 2012 detailing current policies regarding available accommodations for religious beliefs as it relates to immigration photographs and fingerprinting requirements. The memo makes it clear that, while some accommodations are available, the USCIS will not waive photograph...
Individuals who have filed the application for adjustment of status (I-485) frequently apply for an advance parole (AP) document to facilitate foreign travel. For many of these individuals, travel abroad is complicated and may entail considerable risk. Historically, this was particularly true for individuals who...
A successful immigration case is usually thought of as one that results in some type of approval of a request for immigration benefit. There are other types of filings that sometimes may bring the desired result. This report of a case handled by the Murthy...
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...
On July 11, 2012 Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced that he was lifting his "hold" on H.R. 3012, The Fairness to High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The bill proposes a phased-in elimination of per-country numerical limitations in the employment-based (EB) green card categories. This bill was approved...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has provided detailed predictions and explanations regarding the movement of priority dates in fiscal year 2013 (FY13), which occurs from October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013. The employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for India and China faces protracted...
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) recently issued a precedent decision, which significantly changes prior interpretations regarding travel on advance parole (AP) after an individual has been unlawfully present in the United States. Under the BIA decision, Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly, an individual who...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS), Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting Division, expects to establish a cutoff date of August or September 2007 for the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for India and China, in the October 2012 Visa Bulletin. They further predict that this...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued the July 2012 Visa Bulletin. This visa bulletin contains a cutoff date in the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for all chargeability areas except those listed (worldwide, or the rest of the world), as well as for...
