05 Nov 2018

I have a green card, and would now like to sponsor my fiancée for a green card, once we get married. What is the timeline for her to be able to live and work in the U.S.?

Answer While a U.S. citizen may sponsor a foreign national spouse as an immediate relative, the same does not hold true for a green card holder sponsoring a spouse. In this situation, the petition would fall under the family-based, second preference "A" (FB2A) category. After the...

01 Nov 2018

Change in Type of TB Test for Green Card Applicants

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated instructions for civil surgeons regarding medical screening for tuberculosis (TB) for applicants for permanent residency, otherwise known as green card applicants. The new instructions replace the tuberculin skin test (TST) as the initial tuberculosis...

25 Oct 2018

Proposed Regulation Would Expand Definition of “Public Charge”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a proposed regulation regarding inadmissibility on public charge grounds. A public charge is a person who is deemed likely to become financially dependent on public benefits.Generally speaking, a person applying for lawful permanent residence (commonly referred...

12 Oct 2018

NewsFlash! Use “Dates for Filing” Chart in Nov 2018 Visa Bulletin for All Categories

The dates for filing (DF) chart is to be used for all family- and employment-based categories in the November 2018 Visa Bulletin, per the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) update to its adjustment-of-status filing charts webpage. This is the second month in a row that...

08 Oct 2018

I am in H1B status and have an approved I-140. I plan to move back to India for the time being. Will I still be able to use my I-140 in the future?

Answer Yes, an approved I-140 can be converted to "consular processing" by the employer, and later used to obtain an immigrant visa and "green card," as long as the employer is still offering the same job. (08.Oct.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other...