06 Feb 2020

Last year, my employer in India asked me to travel to the U.S. to attend a few meetings being held by the U.S. parent company. I was issued a B-1/B-2 visa based on an invite letter from the U.S. company. I am now working for a different Indian company, and have been asked to attend a conference in the U.S. Do I need to get a new B-1/B-2?

Answer Normally, a B-1/B-2 visa is not tied to any particular employer or organization. As long as the B-1/B-2 remains valid, one ordinarily may use it to request admission for any activity that is permissible under B-1 or B-2 status. (06.Feb.2020)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys...

23 Jan 2020

I am on OPT, and my current employer is going to submit an H1B registration for me in March. If I travel outside the U.S. while the registration is pending, will that be an issue?

Answer International travel would have no impact on a pending (or selected) H1B registration. Travel would only potentially be an issue if the registration is selected and the H1B petition is filed requesting a change of status. (23.Jan.2020)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that...

02 Dec 2019

USCIS Proposal for Substantial Fee Increase and Imposition of New Filing Fees

As previously reported on MurthyDotCom, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a new proposed rule on Thursday, November 14, 2019, outlining significant increases for many U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) filing fees. The increases will result in a weighted average increase of...

27 Nov 2019

I am in H1B status, and my wife and child are in H-4. My employer asked me to travel to India for three weeks to provide some training at the parent company. Can my wife and child stay in the U.S. for the duration of my trip?

Answer The USCIS may limit, deny, or refer for removal an H-4 dependent who is not primarily intended for the purpose of being with the principal worker in the United States. Further, USCIS officers may adjudicate applications for dependent stays in order to prevent an H1B...