22 Apr 2026

I filed my I-485 adjustment-of-status application when my priority date was current. The Visa Bulletin later retrogressed. What does this mean for my I-485 application?

Answer If your priority date was current at the time you properly filed your Form I-485, USCIS generally will continue processing your application even if the Visa Bulletin later retrogresses, and your filing remains valid. However, because the USCIS cannot approve your adjustment-of-status application unless a...

22 Apr 2026

I filed my I-485 adjustment-of-status application when my priority date was current. The Visa Bulletin later retrogressed. Will the USCIS also pause the processing for my pending EAD or AP application?

Answer No, retrogression does not pause the processing of a concurrently filed EAD or AP application. Additionally, it does not affect the validity of an existing EAD or AP, nor does it prevent a person from applying for extensions. (21.Apr.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide...

16 Apr 2026

I am an Indian national and my immigrant visa interview was scheduled at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, but I live very far away. Can the interview be moved to another consulate closer to me?

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...

14 Apr 2026

May 2026 Visa Bulletin

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...

06 Apr 2026

The Murthy Law Firm Again Secures a Green Card for a Surviving Spouse

The Murthy Law Firm recently succeeded again in helping a client obtain a green card based on the special provisions for a surviving spouse of a principal employment-based beneficiary who passed away. We previously shared a similar success story on MurthyDotCom, Murthy Success: Securing a...

31 Mar 2026

I am from India and getting ready to file for adjustment of status. I do not have a birth certificate from India. Can get a birth certificate from the Indian Embassy in the United States. Will this be enough?

AnswerA birth certificate issued by an Indian Embassy typically does not meet the birth document criteria for adjustment-of-status purposes. However, it can be considered secondary evidence to supplement deficient primary birth documents. (31.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For...

30 Mar 2026

Tips for Documents to Prepare in Anticipation of Priority Date Becoming Current

It can take years for a foreign national to be granted status as a lawful permanent resident (i.e., “green card” holder) through one of the employment-based categories. This is especially true for applicants born in one of the heavily “oversubscribed” countries, notably India and China....

24 Mar 2026

I have a pending I-485 application for adjustment of status and decided not to renew my H1B and to switch to my EAD. Am I still in an immigration status?

Answer A pending I-485 application alone does not grant an immigration status but instead places the applicant in a period of authorized stay, which means the applicant can be present in the United States without accruing unlawful presence. (25.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance...

24 Mar 2026

I am now eligible to file for adjustment of status based on the dates-for-filing chart (Chart B) and my spouse and children will be applying with me. Will filing based on Chart B lock in my child’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)?

Answer As of 08.Aug.2025, the USCIS rescinded the policy that allows a child’s age calculation under the CSPA to be based on Chart B. Since then, only the final-action chart (Chart A) is used to calculate a child’s age under the CSPA. (25.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other...

18 Mar 2026

I am from a country subject to the travel ban / visa pause, and my U.S. citizen spouse would like to sponsor me for a green card. Is there an exception to the travel ban for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens?

Answer The initial travel ban established by Presidential Proclamation 10949 for certain high-risk countries included a categorical exception for immediate family members of U.S. citizens. However, the subsequently issued Presidential Proclamation 10998 that halted visa processing for an expanded list of countries removed that categorical exception...