You are a U.S. citizen, your partner lives abroad, and you want to build your life together in the United States. Whether you are already married or planning to be, there are two main immigration routes to consider: the I-130 immigrant visa petition for spouses,...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued guidance clarifying who will be subject to the $100,000 fee imposed under the 19.Sep.2025, executive proclamation addressing certain H1B filings. While the published guidance outlines specific circumstances in which the fee should apply, the Murthy Law...
Answer Unfortunately, the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai is the only consular post in India that processes and issues immigrant visas. (14.Apr.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access more FAQs here. Copyright...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin. There is little to no forward movement for most employment-based categories. All cutoff dates listed below refer to the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Filing Charts for May 2026 The...
The E-3 category was created in 2005 as part of the REAL ID Act to allow Australian citizens to work in the United States in “specialty occupation” roles. The E-3 was designed using a framework that mirrors the H1B category but with important procedural differences....
In a significant development for international travel, a U.S. Department of State (DOS) memorandum has revealed a plan to indefinitely freeze visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, effective 21.Jan.2026. This move represents a major expansion of the current administration’s immigration and border policies.According to...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released the details governing the new Gold Card program, an immigration initiative established by Executive Order 14351. The program will allow foreign nationals to pay a fee in order to apply for lawful permanent residency (i.e., a...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced 03.Dec.2025 that it will expand mandatory social media screening to include all H1B visa “stamp” applicants and their H-4 dependent family members, effective 15.Dec.2025. The expansion extends an online presence review requirement that previously applied only to student...
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (commonly referred to as a “green card holder”), and wish to sponsor a relative for a family-based green card, you normally file the petition for alien relative (form I-130) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration...
The Trump Administration has directed the U.S. Department of State to issue new guidance directing consular officers to consider a significantly expanded range of health conditions when evaluating visa applications, including common chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health conditions. Although...
