With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of visa services at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad remains limited. The severity of backlogs in visa interviews varies based on epidemic control protocols of each country. U.S. embassies and consulates are taking the necessary precautions to protect...
Most MurthyDotCom readers know that the PERM labor certification (LC) is the first in a three-step process in the majority of employment-based, permanent resident (commonly referred to as "green card") cases. Our readers may be less familiar, however, with the steps that must be taken,...
Foreign nationals requesting admission to the United States and indeed, even U.S. citizens, may face additional scrutiny at the United States border. This includes the physical border itself or the functional equivalent of the border such as an international airport, port of entry, or border...
The MurthyDotCom NewsBrief Artists, Athletes, and Entertainers: O, P, and Q Visas (30.Mar.2021) provides a general overview of some of the options available to artists, athletes, and entertainers seeking to come to the United States. However, determining which of these options may work best in any...
This morning, the nonimmigrant visa restrictions imposed by Donald Trump in June 2020 expired. This executive order applied to certain H1B, H-4, H2B, L-1, L-2, and J-1 visa applicants.While the expiration of this executive order is a positive development, it is unlikely to provide much...
There are various nonimmigrant options that may be available to foreign national artists, athletes, entertainers, and those who wish to participate in a cultural exchange program in the United States. Choosing the right classification for an individual or group engaged in any such activities may...
Once again, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the response time flexibility, initially announced on March 30, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This flexibility applies to applicants and petitioners responding to any of the following, issued from March 1, 2020 through...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has launched a new monthly program on YouTube, to allow Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, to provide insight and predictions related to the visa bulletin. This month, Mr. Oppenheim provides some updated predictions for...
Today, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it may reopen and/or reconsider a denial issued on an H1B petition if the decision was based on one or more policies in three rescinded policy memos. The three rescinded memos are:"Determining Employer-Employee Relationship...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the April 2021 Visa Bulletin. All cutoff dates listed refer to the dates in the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Visa Bulletin Summary Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category The EB1 category is current for all countries...
