Worker Archives - Murthy Law Firm

05 Aug 2026

NewsFlash! USCIS Revises Initial Evidence Requirements and RFE/NOID Guidance

On August 5, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Alert revising its guidance regarding the evidence required with initial benefit requests and the circumstances under which officers may issue, or decline to issue, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and Notices of...

05 Aug 2026

MurthyAudio: Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Waivers

The nuts and bolts of Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) waivers and best practices in preparing these waiver packages are discussed by Murthy Law Firm attorneys in the August 2026 podcast.The MP3 is available here and soon can be found in the archive of our podcasts and...

11:03 / For Employers / For Individuals / MurthyAudio / NewsBrief / Worker

28 Jul 2026

I received deferred disposition for an assault / family violence citation. Since the case was later dismissed, do I still have a conviction for immigration purposes?

Answer You may still have a conviction for immigration purposes. A conviction for immigration purposes can exist even if the court withholds adjudication and later dismisses the case, so long as the person entered a guilty plea, no contest plea, or admitted sufficient facts, and the...

09:20 / Employment Based / Family Based / FAQs / For Families / Homeland Security / Immigrant Family / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Worker

27 Jul 2026

NewsFlash! Federal Appeals Court Allows Block on $100,000 H1B Fee to Take Effect

On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the Trump Administration’s request to stay a federal district court judgment that vacated agency actions implementing the $100,000 H1B payment requirement. As a result, the district court’s order blocking the $100,000...

09:19 / For Employers / NewsBrief / USCIS News / Worker

17 Jul 2026

USCIS Reaches FY2027 H1B Cap; No Second Lottery Expected

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in a blast email that they have received enough petitions to reach both the congressionally mandated 65,000 H1B regular cap and the 20,000 H1B U.S. advanced degree exemption, commonly known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2027...

13:03 / For Employers / For Individuals / NewsBrief / USCIS News / Worker

17 Jul 2026

DHS Final Rule Ends Duration of Status for F, J, and I Nonimmigrants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule in the Federal Register that replaces duration-of-status admissions for F, J, and I nonimmigrants with fixed admission periods. The rule is scheduled to take effect 15.Sep.2026, subject to the congressional review process and...

12:25 / For Families / For Individuals / Homeland Security / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Student / Worker

16 Jul 2026

Is USCIS still requesting the $100,000 fee despite the recent court decision?

Answer Yes. USCIS is still requesting the $100,000 fee for covered petitions, and the fee remains in effect and collectible for now. Although the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down the fee on June 8, finding it to be an unauthorized tax,...

10:40 / FAQs / For Employers / Homeland Security / Legislation / USCIS News / Worker

15 Jul 2026

DOL Signals Major Modernization of PERM Program Through New Proposed Rulemaking

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has taken the first formal step toward a significant overhaul of the permanent labor certification (PERM) program. According to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) regulatory agenda, the DOL has listed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)...

13:49 / For Employers / For Individuals / NewsBrief / Worker

14 Jul 2026

My new employer filed an H1B transfer petition and received the electronic receipt notice. Do I need to wait for the paper receipt notice to arrive before starting work?

Answer Generally, no. An H1B worker ordinarily may begin employment with the new employer as soon as the H1B transfer petition is properly filed with USCIS, assuming all other portability requirements are met. Employers may have their own onboarding policies, but the physical receipt notice is...

11:15 / FAQs / For Employers / For Individuals / Worker

09 Jul 2026

Understanding the Cap-Gap Rule

For many F-1 students, selection in the H1B cap is welcome news. However, because H1B employment typically begins after the expiration of many students’ F-1 status or Optional Practical Training (OPT), a gap can arise between the end of F-1 employment authorization and the H1B...

11:32 / For Employers / For Individuals / Homeland Security / NewsBrief / Student / Travel / Worker

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