Student Archives - Page 15 of 69 - Murthy Law Firm

05 Jul 2022

Nonimmigrant Visa Waivers – Process and Criteria

Foreign nationals may be deemed ineligible for admission (i.e. inadmissible) to the United States for a variety of reasons. Common grounds of inadmissibility include the following: medical grounds, criminal grounds, and immigration violations (including fraud or material misrepresentation in connection with an immigration benefit). In...

30 Jun 2022

I graduated with a STEM degree. Am I allowed to work as an unpaid intern during my initial 12-months of OPT?

Answer Yes, generally speaking, if the position otherwise meets the OPT requirements, it is possible to work as an unpaid intern during the initial OPT period. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indicated that unpaid internships during a STEM OPT extension are not...

16:30 / FAQs / For Individuals / Student

02 Jun 2022

My H1B was not selected in the lottery, so I am going to continue working for my employer on STEM OPT. Is it possible for the company to initiate the PERM process for me now, or do I first need to get into H1B status?

Answer There is no requirement that a person be in H1B status for a company to initiate a PERM case for that individual. (01.Jun.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access more...

07:07 / Employment Based / FAQs / For Employers / For Individuals / Resident / Student

26 May 2022

Notifying USCIS of Change in Address

Most foreign nationals in the United States must report address changes to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The legal timeframe for this notification is just ten days. The process is simple and free, and helps to facilitate proper delivery of official notices and...

05:57 / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / InfoArticle / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / USCIS News / Visitor / Worker

05 May 2022

Can a person on STEM OPT work for more than one employer at the same time?

Answer Yes, it is possible. However, each employer must fully comply with the standard STEM OPT requirements, including the requirement that it employ the individual for a minimum of 20 hours per week. (04.May.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For...

09:31 / FAQs / For Employers / For Individuals / Student

02 May 2022

SEVP Extends March 2020 Guidance for 2022-23 Academic Year

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has extended the guidance issued in March 2020 for the 2022-23 academic year. This guidance allows certain continuing F and M students to enroll in more distance learning (e.g., online classes) than normally allowed. This accommodation was made...

10:14 / For Individuals / NewsBrief / Student

19 Apr 2022

Differences Between: Lawful Status, Period of Authorized Stay, & Unlawful Presence

Regular readers of MurthyDotCom have likely come across the terms: lawful status, period of authorized stay, and unlawful presence. These related, yet distinct concepts can play a very important role in one's immigration matters. However, the differences can be subtle and complex. In many situations,...

10:11 / For Individuals / Homeland Security / NewsBrief / Resident / Student / Visitor / Worker

29 Mar 2022

NewsFlash! USCIS Announces Plans for Expansion of Premium Processing and Additional Initiatives to Reduce Adjudication Delays

Today, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced multiple initiatives to help streamline the adjudication of benefit requests and reduce significant backlogs. Most importantly, the agency announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized the rule expanding premium processing to additional application...

12:06 / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Homeland Security / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / USCIS News / Visitor

17 Mar 2022

I have a friend in Ukraine who recently fled to a neighboring country. Are there any special visa options she may have to come stay with me for a time in the U.S.?

Answer There are no special visas available specifically based on the invasion of Ukraine. However, depending on the circumstances, there may be options to apply for a nonimmigrant visa.One option may be to apply for a B-1/B-2 visa. One hurdle with this option is that the...

08:15 / Consulates / FAQs / For Individuals / Student / Travel / Visitor

14 Feb 2022

Preliminary Settlement Provides Relief to Former UNNJ Students

A U.S. federal district court has approved a preliminary settlement agreement for former students of the University of Northern New Jersey (UNNJ), a fictitious university created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2012. Following the closure of UNNJ in 2016, the DHS...

12:53 / For Individuals / NewsBrief / Student

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