The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published the annual report for fiscal year (FY) 2017 that details characteristics of H1B petitions. FY17 ran from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017. The report provides data related to H1B petitions filed during FY17, including...
Lawful permanent residents (LPRs, or "green card" holders) applying to naturalize, and various different categories of I-485 adjustment-of-status applicants, are required to attend U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in-person interviews before their respective applications may be approved. Given the heightened scrutiny in the current...
Effective April 30, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began phasing in the use of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) signature confirmation restricted delivery service to send certain key documents, such as the original I-551 form (commonly referred to as a "green card"). This...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated the section of its online policy manual that discusses the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) immigrant investor visa program. The update clarifies that, once a petition by an entrepreneur to remove the conditions on permanent resident status...
On May 11, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a policy memorandum that will substantially change the rules regarding unlawful presence (ULP) as they apply to those in F, J, and M status. The new rules are scheduled to go into effect...
Answer The H-4 COS will be abandoned when one leaves the U.S., but one can apply for an H-4 visa stamp to return at any time (assuming the principal spouse is in valid H1B status). A COS approval is not required to apply for a visa...
Answer There is no set amount of time a person must wait between visits. Whether the person will be admitted, however, is subject to the discretion of the CBP officer at the airport. If the officer is not satisfied that one is truly a "visitor," admission...
Answer One can qualify for OPT after one year of full-time study in any status (as long as s/he is in F-1 status at the time the OPT application is filed). (14.May.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that...
Answer One should consult with a qualified attorney to review one's qualifications. However, two publications generally would not be sufficient to qualify for EB1(a) or EB1(b), unless the publications were extremely influential in the field. (14.May.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior...
At the end of 2017, MurthyDotCom summarized a number of concerning immigration regulations under consideration by the Trump Administration in the NewsBrief, Troubling Immigration Rules, Including End of H-4 EAD, on Trump’s Rulemaking Agenda (2017.Dec.15). While none of the rules has yet come to light,...
