Answer Yes. H1B employees must be offered the same benefits as similarly employed workers. Employers cannot treat employees differently simply because they hold H1B status. (10.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here....
Answer Individuals with a pending I-485 must remain eligible for adjustment of status while the application is pending. If the individual no longer has a job offer from the employer that initially sponsored the green card case, it is important to request AC21 job portability as...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released an updated edition of Form I-129, dated 02/27/26, which will be the only accepted version beginning 01.Apr.2026. The new edition includes significant changes to the H Classification Supplement that employers and practitioners should understand, particularly as...
Issues that come up at the U.S. Consulate when obtaining a nonimmigrant visa are discussed by attorneys from the Murthy Law Firm and our affiliate, Murthy Immigration Services, Pvt. Ltd, Chennai, India, in this podcast.The MP3 is available here and soon can be found in...
Answer Yes, the SOC code on the petition should match what was listed in the registration. In limited situations, a different SOC code may be acceptable if it does not result in a lower wage level, but approval of the petition is not guaranteed. (03.Mar.2026)Sheela Murthy...
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....
Answer Depending on the circumstances, a change in project may require an H1B amendment. Even if there is no change in the physical work location, if there will be a material change in the job from what was presented in the H1B petition, an H1B amendment...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the March 2026 Visa Bulletin. All cutoff dates listed below refer to the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Visa Bulletin Summary Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category In the EB1 category, the cutoff dates for both China...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued new public guidance clarifying how the B-1 business visitor category may be used, and where its limits lie, in the context of short-term business travel to the United States. The “FACT SHEET: U.S. Business Visas (B-1) and...
Answer L-1 time is calculated based on the person’s time in the United States in L-1 status. Time spent outside the U.S. after an L1A has been approved does not count toward the standard 7-year max.(17.Feb.2026)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the...
