Questions have arisen surrounding some recent applications for adjustment of status (I-485) cases filed for derivative (dependent) beneficiaries. The receipt notices issued for some of these cases reflect the date of the I-485 filing in place of the correct priority date. The USCIS has explained...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued correspondence stating that the relationship between long-term, same-sex partners will be recognized as a family relationship in a specific, limited context. The letter from Janet Napolitano, DHS Secretary, addressed the term family relationship as a factor...
The severely retrogressed cutoff date in the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin for October 2012 has created many difficult situations. There are numerous individuals who were able to obtain permanent residence during the brief period in fiscal year 2012 (FY12) when cutoff dates...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin for September 2012 is the final visa bulletin of fiscal year 2012 (FY12). This visa bulletin is far less eventful than those from earlier in the year. The contents, however, reflect prior events with ongoing unavailability in...
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. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) blog, known as the Beacon, recently posted information on what the USCIS characterizes as three myths regarding the adjustment-of-status (AOS or I-485) process. These three myths, and the USCIS clarifications, are discussed here for the benefit of MurthyDotCom...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently announced major changes to nonimmigrant and immigrant visa fees. These fees are charged to applicants who apply for visas (sometimes referred to as visa "stamping") at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. These new fees became effective April 13,...
The Murthy Law Firm is pleased to provide some guidance for foreign nationals about the importance of keeping certain immigration-related documents. This is particularly important for those intending to change and/or extend nonimmigrant status, as well as those filing the application for adjustment of status...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a regulatory change that is intended to improve the procedures for certain applications for waiver or forgiveness of periods of unlawful presence in the United States. This is only a proposal at this time, and, as...
In most situations, individuals seeking adjustment of status to permanent residence must maintain a valid nonimmigrant status prior to filing the I-485. This success story from the Murthy Law Firm is a rather extreme example of the use of an exception to this general rule....
