The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently started denying some H1B petitions filed under the advanced degree exemption, or "master's cap," due to the nature of the U.S. school from which the individual graduated. This is not a change in the law; rather,...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC), released selected statistics for fiscal year 2012 (FY12). The statistics provide insights into trends for employment-based, permanent-resident sponsorship. The DOL revealed data regarding the number of PERM labor certifications received, denied, withdrawn, and...
We at the Murthy Law Firm frequently receive queries from individuals transitioning from F-1, Optional Practical Training (OPT) to H1B. Some of the most difficult problems are faced by individuals who, after waiting for months, find that the H1B job promised to them is no...
The Murthy Law Firm submitted extensive comments to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in early September 2012, setting forth our concerns regarding several proposed DOL changes to the labor condition application (LCA), Form 9035. The LCA is required for all H1B petitions as well...
There continue to be delays in processing H1B petitions. This issue involves both the California Service Center (CSC) as well as the Vermont Service Center (VSC). The matter is urgent for cap-subject cases as the H1B start date of October 1, 2012, which is requested...
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) continues to seek clarification from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the need to amend the H1B petition for a worker whose work location has changed. As explained in this MurthyDotCom NewsBrief, expectations are clearly shifting from...
This MurthyDotCom NewsBrief has been updated. Find the newer article here....
Attorney Sheela Murthy travels to India periodically to meet with U.S. consular officials on behalf of the Murthy Law Firm and our clients. Her next visit is in October 2012. Ms. Murthy currently has availability during this trip for representation of a limited group of...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2012, regarding proposed changes to the labor condition application (LCA). The LCA form is a key requirement in the H1B process. The proposed changes are significant, and address...
The H1B quota for fiscal year (FY) 2013 was reached on Monday, June 11, 2012. The advanced-degree cap was reached a few days earlier, on June 7, 2012. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made an announcement regarding both cap limits on June 12,...
