Derivative Citizenship: Children of Naturalized U.S. Citizens
Many MurthyDotCom readers will consider options for naturalizing to U.S. citizenship at some point in their immigration journeys. This often gives rise to questions regarding family members, including...
View ArticleOverview of April 2017 Visa Bulletin
There are few surprises in the April 2017 Visa Bulletin. There is no movement in the dates for filing (DF) chart, and, while China and the Philippines see some forward movement the final action (FA),...
View ArticleNewsFlash! U.S. Imposes Electronics Ban on Passengers Taking Direct Flights...
The Trump Administration has imposed a temporary electronics ban for all passengers, including U.S. citizens, taking direct flights to the United States from ten airports in eight Middle Eastern and...
View ArticleAAO Finds That Indian Provisional Certificate Satisfies Degree Requirement
The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) recently decided in a non-precedent decision that a provisional certificate from an Indian university was the equivalent of a degree. This favorable decision...
View ArticleImmigration Planning Often Must Come First
The Murthy Law Firm receives many inquiries from individuals who have planned a major event, like marriage, travel, or school, who lastly think to seek advice on how to address these matters related to...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Processing Delays for H-4/EAD Applications Filed With H1B Premium...
The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) is taking longer than normal to adjudicate H-4 I-539 applications and I-765 applications for H-4 employment authorization documents (EADs) that are filed concurrently...
View ArticleDOS Guidance to Consular Officers after Trump Order Signals Heightened...
Earlier today, it was revealed that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued several “cables” (i.e. memos) over the past two weeks related to the latest travel ban executive order (EO), which was...
View ArticleApril 2017 Visa Bulletin Check-In: Explanations and Predictions
Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions almost every month. The update this month...
View ArticleUSCIS to Reject Cap Cases with Incorrect Payment or if Checks Bounce
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will reject any H1B cap case filed with a fee payment that is “… not honored by the bank or financial institution,” (e.g., a check ‘bounced’ for...
View ArticleUnderstanding Your Legal Rights if Apprehended by Law Enforcement
The Trump Administration has taken a hard-line approach in regard to immigration enforcement. Reports of worksite raids, home visits, and public stops by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)...
View ArticleTravel Ban Dealt Another Blow By Federal Court
Late last night, the same federal judge in Hawaii who issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) that blocked the Trump Administration’s March 6, 2017 travel ban from taking effect, agreed to convert...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Delays in Issuing eMail Receipts for Premium Processing Cases
The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) advised the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) today that it is taking longer than normal to issue receipt notices via eMail for petitions filed...
View ArticleNew USCIS Memorandum Regarding Computer Programmer Positions
On March 31, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a policy memorandum that may affect the ability of some persons employed as computer programmers to obtain H1B...
View ArticleNewsFlash! DHS Considering Revisions to H-4 EAD Program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is “actively reconsider[ing] whether to revise …” the regulation that allows certain H-4 spouses to apply for employment authorization documents (EADs)....
View ArticleBasic Eligibility Requirements for Naturalization
A number of criteria must be reviewed to determine if a person is eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. As a starting point, the applicant must be a legal permanent resident (LPR) and at least...
View ArticleUSCIS Ramping Up Enforcement Against H1B Employers
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a news release on April 3, 2017, announcing “multiple measures to further deter and detect H1B visa fraud and abuse.” Per the release, the...
View ArticleDOL Announces Plans to Combat Abuse of H1B Program
Shortly after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced plans for increased enforcement efforts against H1B employers, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its own news...
View ArticleNewsFlash! H1B Cap Reached for FY 2018
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that the H1B cap limit for fiscal year 2018 (FY18) has been reached. This applies to both the 65,000 regular H1B cap limit as well...
View ArticleTensions Mount Between DHS and “Sanctuary Cities”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rejected a request by California’s Chief Justice that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers be instructed to stop arresting...
View ArticleMay 2017 Visa Bulletin: Unusual Movement in Dates for Filing Chart
The May 2017 Visa Bulletin was released this afternoon. In the final action (FA) chart, India sees virtually no movement, with the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category holding steady at...
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