President’s Executive Actions for U.S. Businesses and Highly Skilled Workers
President Barack Obama addressed the nation on November 20, 2014, in a televised speech to outline his proposed changes to immigration policies through executive action. These changes are part of a...
View ArticleAnalysis, Predictions, and Trends: Dec 2014 Visa Bulletin Update
Each month, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin insights and predictions, when possible, of future visa bulletin content. This information is provided to the American Immigration...
View ArticlePresident’s Executive Action Mandates Improvements to PERM
President Barack Obama has directed the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to review, update, and reform the PERM labor certification (PERM LC) program. This directive is part of the President's efforts to...
View ArticlePresident on Deferred Action for Parental Accountability
As has been widely reported, President Barack Obama made a nationally televised speech, on November 20, 2014, announcing his plans for a series of executive actions on immigration policy. The...
View ArticleBeware: Serious Immigration Consequences of Shoplifting
For people not accustomed to the open displays of merchandise typical in the United States, the opportunity to pick up a few small items could prove tempting. Many newcomers to this country do not...
View ArticleDOL Modifies Procedures to Challenge PERM Denials
As of October 27, 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has changed the procedures for processing challenges to PERM labor certification (LC) denials. These changes alter the manner in which the DOL...
View ArticleTPS Designations for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated three West African countries for temporary protected status (TPS), due to the outbreak of Ebola in the region. Effective November 21, 2014,...
View ArticleNVC No Longer Requires Original Civil Documents
The National Visa Center (NVC) has changed the requirements regarding supporting documentation submitted in immigrant visa applications. As of November 12, 2014, the NVC has begun accepting photocopies...
View ArticleTime to Plan for the FY16 H1B Cap Season
On Wednesday, April 1, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H1B cap-subject case filings for fiscal year 2016 (FY16). April 1st may seem a long time from...
View ArticleNewsFlash! RFEs Embedded in Receipt Notices Issued in Error
A recent computer glitch in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) system has led to the issuance of receipt notices (form I-797) that inadvertently include requests for evidence (RFEs)....
View ArticleDefinition of “Academic Year” for F-1 Students
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued policy guidance specifying the definition of the term "academic year." as used for SEVP purposes....
View ArticleNewsFlash! January Visa Bulletin Offers Few Surprises
The January 2015 Visa Bulletin was released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) earlier this evening. As expected, this month's visa bulletin offers little relief for most foreign nationals hoping to...
View ArticleImproved B, F, M, and J Visas for Chinese Nationals
The United States has entered into a reciprocal agreement with China regarding the duration of commonly utilized nonimmigrant visa categories. This agreement, effective November 12, 2014, applies to...
View ArticlePassport Requirements Change 25 Nov 2015; 20-Year Indian Passports Should be...
Under a deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as of November 25, 2015, all passports are required to meet machine-readable standards. Foreign governments are not...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Problems with USICS Online Case Status Updates, Erroneous eMails
Following a recent update of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, online case status information for some cases has temporarily become unavailable. Additionally, as the USCIS...
View ArticleStreamlined E-2 Visa Renewal Process at U.S. Consulate in Toronto
The U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada, has implemented a new, streamlined E-2 visa application process for renewal cases. The revised process should make renewal applications faster and less burdensome...
View ArticleJanuary 2015 Visa Bulletin
As MurthyDotCom readers were informed on December 9th, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the January 2015 Visa Bulletin. The most significant change is in the employment-based, third...
View ArticleFew Timelines Yet Available for President’s Executive Actions
Immediately following President Obama's November 20, 2014 announcement of his executive actions related to immigration reform, the Murthy Law Firm began to receive queries asking when the changes would...
View ArticleLawsuit to Block Portions of President’s Executive Actions
As has been widely reported, the State of Texas has filed a lawsuit seeking to block portions of President Obama's executive actions related to immigration. This has created some unease and confusion...
View ArticleRevised I-129 Requires Disclosure of Beneficiary’s Ownership Interest in the...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made a few revisions to form I-129, the petition for a nonimmigrant worker. The most notable change is the addition of a question on the H...
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