U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is warning residents in Houston, Texas, of criminals in the area posing as agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The individuals are reportedly knocking on doors in the area and demanding that the residents evacuate, presumably to then rob...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is closing its field office, asylum office, and application support centers in Houston, Texas, through September 5, 2017. This move was made because of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey. Details for rescheduling cancelled appointments at those offices...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified its new policy on the expanded use of in-person interviews. Effective October 1, 2017, the USCIS will begin requiring an in-person interview prior to approving any application to adjust status (form I-485) filed based on an...
Answer A U.S. citizen who is at least 21-years of age may sponsor a parent as an immediate relative. There is no numerical limitation for this category, so it is not listed as a separate category in the monthly visa bulletins. (28.Aug.2017)In frequent sessions of our...
According to various news reports, President Trump is likely to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA is a program that provides travel and work authorization to qualifying undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. The program was...
As reported in the MurthyDotCom NewsBrief, USCIS Denying Advance Parole Applications Based on Overseas Travel (10.Aug.2017) the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began denying advance parole (AP) applications (form I-131), in recent months, for applicants who traveled abroad before their respective I-131s were approved. In...
Answer The H-4 EAD rule is apparently being reviewed by the Trump Administration, but there is no information on what the ultimate decision will be. If the administration does decide to terminate the program, it very likely will have to go through the rule-making process, which...
Answer This can definitely lead to the issuance of a request for evidence, because of the requirement that the parent-child relationship be proven. The USCIS will sometimes demand a DNA test in this situation. (21.Aug.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys...
Answer It seems highly unlikely that the RAISE Act will pass in its present form. There appears to be very little support for the bill in the Senate, so it may not even ever be put forth for a vote. And, even if it is, the...
Answer If one's spouse seeks to enter on an H-4 visa, then the principal must enter in H1B status. If the principal enters on AP, the dependent spouse would not be eligible for H-4 status. (07.Aug.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior...
