On April 3, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education announced that the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) is once again deemed a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Moreover, this decision applies retroactively to December 12, 2016, which is when the ACICS was stripped...
The current H1B cap-filing season for fiscal year 2019 raises questions about extensions of F-1 student status and optional practical training (OPT) before the beginning of H1B status. MurthyDotCom readers have expressed concerns about coordinating H1B filings with the expiration of their F-1 status and...
... and have now been placed on academic probation during the upcoming term. Should I be concerned about my immigration status? Answer Students in F-1 status must be making normal progress toward completing the course of study. However, academic probation alone does not result in an automatic...
... After a very short interview, the consular officer denied my visa application based on a lack of ties with my home country of China. I have a valid B-1/B-2 visa stamp in my passport, which I received 2 years ago. Can I use that...
… My current OPT employer would like me to continue working for them on STEM OPT, but they are not registered for E-Verify, which is required for STEM OPT employers. They suggested that I find another company that is E-Verify registered to sponsor me for...
... is still considered to be an accredited degree? Can such a degree be used to apply for immigration benefits requiring an accredited degree? Answer A degree conferred by an accredited school remains an accredited degree even if the school later loses its accreditation. The USCIS recently...
... My employer says that we should put the company’s headquarters address in response to the question about the name and the address of the actual work site. Would this be acceptable? I’m working at different client sites for relatively short periods of time and...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released April 20, 2017 guidance on how international students, particularly those in English language study and STEM OPT extension programs, will be affected by the loss of accreditation of institutions previously recognized by the Accrediting Council for Independent...
In recent months, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reinterpreted a long-existing rule in a manner that impacts applications to change from B-1/B-2 business / visitor status to F-1 full-time student status. The net result is greater uncertainty and expense for B-1/B-2 visitors...
... USCIS has just denied my STEM extension application, saying that my school was not accredited when I applied. What options do I have now and how much time, if any, do I have to get back in status? Answer The USCIS has indicated that students in...
