13
Feb
2014
U.S. Citizen Sponsorship of a Foreign National Fiancé/e or Spouse
This MurthDotCom NewsBrief has been updated. Please find the new version....
10:29 /
Uncategorized
30
Jan
2014
Visa Interview Waiver Program Made Permanent
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently made permanent a visa interview waiver program that was initiated as a temporary, pilot program in January 2012. This program allows some individuals seeking renewals of previously issued visas to have their applications adjudicated without having to attend...
12:29 /
Consulates / For Individuals / Homeland Security / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Student / Visitor
23
Dec
2013
Philippine Government Requests Temporary Protected Status
The Philippine government has requested that the United States grant temporary protected status (TPS) to allow certain Filipinos to remain in the United States due to Typhoon Haiyan. This request, if granted, would be a temporary measure designed to provide protections to those who cannot...
12
Dec
2013
U.S. Supreme Court on the Child Status Protection Act
The U.S. Supreme Court heard an important case related to immigration on December 10, 2013. The case, Mayorkas v Cuellar de Osorio, involves the interpretation of provisions of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). A favorable decision in this case would facilitate family unity by...
11
Dec
2013
Winter Weather Considerations: Closures and Delivery Delays
Winter snowstorms and other weather-related problems can impact the operations of virtually any organization or business. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is no exception; nor are the courier and mail delivery services exempt from delays due to weather. The government recognizes that severe...
04
Dec
2013
USCIS Working to Improve Processing Time for USC Immediate Relative Cases
In response to complaints from stakeholders, a recent statement from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicates efforts to significantly reduce the processing time for form I-130 relative petitions filed by U.S. citizens on behalf of immediate relatives. The USCIS notes that processing times...
27
Nov
2013
Proposals to Help Families of Foreign Students
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has submitted proposed regulatory changes intended to improve the F-1 and M-1 student programs. The changes potentially would provide more resources in the form of additional designated school officials (DSOs). The proposals would also provide better options to F-1 and...
22
Nov
2013
USCIS Issues Erroneous RFEs on FB2A Petitions
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has alerted stakeholders of the issuance of inappropriate requests for evidence (RFEs) by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) National Benefits Center (NBC) in connection with family-based, second preference "A" (FB2A) petitions. These RFEs are asking petitioning family...
21
Nov
2013
USCIS on Options Available After Natural Disasters
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a news alert on November 15, 2013, reminding those impacted by the devastation in the Philippines created by Typhoon Haiyan that certain forms of immigration relief may be available. This reminder covers a number of general provisions applicable...
12:16 /
F-1 / Family Based / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / L-2 Dependent / NewsBrief / USCIS News
14
Nov
2013
Dec 2013 Visa Bulletin: EB2 India Retrogression & Stagnation Expected Until May 2014
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued the visa bulletin for December 2013. The cutoff date movements are consistent with predictions offered by the DOS this past October for employment-based cases and family-based cases. The most notable development is yet another round of significant EB2 retrogression...
11:54 /
AOS/CP / AOS/CP (Family) / EB2 PERM Labor / Employment Based / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Visa Bulletin