Herguan University in Sunnyvale, CA is at risk for losing its ability to participate in the F-1 student visa program. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a notice of intent to withdraw Herguan University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification on August 2, 2012....
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its May 22, 2012 launch of the initial phase of USCIS ELIS (electronic immigration system) for filing requests for certain immigration benefits. This is part of the overhaul of the systems previously used by the USCIS...
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,...
Many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers have inquired as to whether the laws have changed to allow individuals in H-4 dependent status to obtain work authorization. At the time of this writing, there has been no favorable change to allow H-4 dependents to work. The renewed...
As the H1B cap filing season draws near, many F-1 students have concerns about how to best coordinate their eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) with the timing of their employers' cap-subject H1B petitions. Our examination of this matter, as it applies to F-1 students...
The USCIS Office of Transformation Coordination (OTC) recently provided an overview of the current status of the USCIS Transformation. Transformation is a large scale USCIS program to upgrade from paper-based operations to electronic systems. One important part of this series of changes is the phasing...
From time to time, F-1 students fail to maintain their status, often unintentionally. A foreign national student studying in the United States can fall out of status either as a result of an action on his or her own part, such as working without authorization...
A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) memorandum regarding the importance of social networking sites in fraud detection was recently disclosed. This memo discusses the use of social networking sites by Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) officers in investigating potential abuses of U.S. immigration...
As we approach the start of the U.S. government's fiscal year 2011 (FY11), many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers plan to transition from F-1, or other nonimmigrant statuses, to H1B status. October 1st is the start of a new fiscal year for the U.S. Citizenship and...
The Murthy Law Firm has received from the USCIS a response to a question that was previously unanswered.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a regulation entitled Extending Period of Optional Practical Training by 17 Months for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students With STEM Degrees and...
