12
Feb
2015
H1B “Master’s Cap” Pitfalls: Cautionary Reminder
This MurthyDotCom NewsBrief has been updated for our readers. Find the new article here....
04
Feb
2015
DHS Announces Pilot ‘Known Employer’ Program
The United States is taking steps to facilitate legitimate cross-border travel by Canadians seeking to work in the United States, by creating a 'Known Employer' pilot program. This effort, which was announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on January 8, 2015, is part...
02
Feb
2015
Alternate Way for H1B Employers to Satisfy Bona Fide Termination Requirements
Employers of H1B workers must comply with strict requirements enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). One such requirement is the obligation to pay wages until there has been a bona fide termination of H1B employment. The applicable standard rules were established in a...
23
Jan
2015
Immigration Bills Introduced: Long Road Ahead
The Murthy Law Firm has received many inquiries regarding the impact of recently proposed immigration bills that would eliminate the per-country limit for employment-based immigrant visa categories. This per-country limit is one of the primary reasons most beneficiaries born in China and India must endure...
23
Jan
2015
Immigration Bills Introduced: Long Road Ahead
The Murthy Law Firm has received many inquiries regarding the impact of recently proposed immigration bills that would eliminate the per-country limit for employment-based immigrant visa categories. This per-country limit is one of the primary reasons most beneficiaries born in China and India must endure...
12
Jan
2015
New Exchange Rate for Visa Application Fees in India
Effective December 22, 2014, the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the U.S. dollar, for purposes of paying visa applications fees in India, has changed. The new exchange rate is 64 rupees per U.S. dollar, up from the previous designated rate of 62 rupees...
09
Jan
2015
DOS and DHS Request Input on Improvements to U.S. Immigration System
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice of request for information (RFI), on December 30, 2014, asking for input from the general public on streamlining and improving the nation's immigration system. This RFI is a result...
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23
Dec
2014
Revised I-129 Requires Disclosure of Beneficiary’s Ownership Interest in the Employer
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made a few revisions to form I-129, the petition for a nonimmigrant worker. The most notable change is the addition of a question on the H classification supplement, which asks, "Does any beneficiary in this petition have...
12
Dec
2014
Streamlined E-2 Visa Renewal Process at U.S. Consulate in Toronto
The U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada, has implemented a new, streamlined E-2 visa application process for renewal cases. The revised process should make renewal applications faster and less burdensome for qualifying applicants. Overview of E-2 Visas The E-2 (treaty investor) visa is only available to a foreign...
10
Dec
2014
Improved B, F, M, and J Visas for Chinese Nationals
The United States has entered into a reciprocal agreement with China regarding the duration of commonly utilized nonimmigrant visa categories. This agreement, effective November 12, 2014, applies to B-1/B-2 business and tourist visitors, F-1 and M-1 students, as well as J-1 exchange visitors. Chinese nationals...