The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently expanded the list of approved degree programs that are eligible for the 17-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extensions. The ICE announcement is available online. Background: Basics of STEM Extensions In April 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has instituted new procedures designed to facilitate prompt resolution of certain specific, clear USCIS case processing errors. The procedures and case types that may be addressed through this expedited case review are explained here for the benefit of...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its May 22, 2012 launch of the initial phase of USCIS ELIS (electronic immigration system) for filing requests for certain immigration benefits. This is part of the overhaul of the systems previously used by the USCIS...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently announced major changes to nonimmigrant and immigrant visa fees. These fees are charged to applicants who apply for visas (sometimes referred to as visa "stamping") at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. These new fees became effective April 13,...
The U.S. consulates and embassies are currently implementing a U.S. Department of State (DOS) pilot program announced in January 2012. This program allows individuals who meet certain conditions to avoid interviewing at U.S. consulates when seeking their visas. This Visa Interview Waiver Program (IWP) is...
The Director of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), Louis M. Farrell, recently revealed that SEVP is being audited by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a follow-up to the Tri-Valley University (TVU) investigation. This was announced in the January 2012 issue of the...
Many MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers have inquired as to whether the laws have changed to allow individuals in H-4 dependent status to obtain work authorization. At the time of this writing, there has been no favorable change to allow H-4 dependents to work. The renewed...
As the H1B cap filing season draws near, many F-1 students have concerns about how to best coordinate their eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) with the timing of their employers' cap-subject H1B petitions. Our examination of this matter, as it applies to F-1 students...
The Murthy Law Firm is proud to report that we have successfully resolved another case in which a foreign national was rejected at the U.S. port of entry. This case involved an incorrect determination that the individual was inadmissible to the United States due to...
The issues forcing a temporary unavailability of visas in the F, M, and J category have been resolved. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) confirmed on November 21, 2011 that F, M, and J visa processing has resumed. Given the short duration of the...
