Immigration Provisions in U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Deal Similar to Those in...
Canada and the United States have reached an agreement to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with a new trade deal, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Mexico had reached an...
View ArticleUSCIS Policy Manual Update on Naturalization Based on Marriage to USC
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy manual has been updated with regard to marriage and cohabitation requirements for those applying for citizenship based on marriage to a U.S....
View ArticleNewsFlash! Federal Appeals Court Blocks Trump from Ending DACA
This afternoon, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision to block the Trump Administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program....
View ArticleNewsFlash! USCIS Expanding Implementation of NTA Memo to Vulnerable Populations
This evening, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, effective November 19, 2018, implementation of the policy memorandum on the issuance of notices to appear (NTAs) is...
View ArticleBirthright Citizenship Protected by the U.S. Constitution
President Donald Trump recently announced that he intends to revoke birthright citizenship through an executive order. However, this appears to be little more than political posturing, as legal experts...
View ArticleDecember 2018 Visa Bulletin: Modest Movement for Some Categories
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the December 2018 Visa Bulletin. There is a bit of movement for most of the oversubscribed categories, including in the employment-based, first...
View ArticleUse “Dates for Filing” Chart in Dec 2018 Visa Bulletin for All Categories
The dates for filing (DF) chart is to be used for all family- and employment-based categories in the December 2018 Visa Bulletin, per the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) update to its...
View ArticleBroad Education Requirements Can Result in H1B Denials
As stakeholders are no doubt aware, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Trump Administration has taken a narrow view of the educational requirements that are permitted for...
View ArticleMurthyAudio: Analyzing Latest Regulations and Policies, Part 2
While the teleconference series offered by the Murthy Law Firm is designed for employers and their representatives, this information may be of interest to employees and to those considering launching a...
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 ArticleH1B Status Extension Does Not Extend Status of H-4 Dependents in the U.S.
The Murthy Law Firm routinely receives calls from dependent spouses, such as those admitted in H-4 or L-2 status, who have remained in the United States beyond the expiration date of their respective...
View ArticleDecember 2018 Visa Bulletin Check-In: Distressing, Long-Term Prediction for...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, Charles Oppenheim, provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions. This month, Mr. Oppenheim provides some...
View ArticleNewsFlash! DHS Issuing Proposed Rule to Require Pre-Registration for H1B Lottery
On Monday, December 3, 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is scheduled to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register that, if enacted, would require employers...
View ArticleDOL Makes Several Changes to LCA
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has made several changes to the ETA form 9035 labor condition application (LCA). The changes primarily impact employers who place workers at offsite locations and...
View ArticleFederal Government to Close Wednesday, Dec 5th, for National Day of Mourning
Most federal agencies will be closed on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 for a national day of mourning to commemorate the death of former President George H.W. Bush. Few specifics have been provided, but...
View ArticleDHS Proposes Pre-Registration for Cap-Subject H1B Petitions
On December 3, 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would establish a registration requirement for cap-subject H1B petitions (i.e., petitions...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Bill Passed to Fund Federal Government Through Dec 21, 2018
Congress has passed a short-term bill to fund the federal government for two weeks. The federal budget is now extended through December 21, 2018. This bill also extends various immigration programs for...
View ArticleUSCIS Phasing Out Self-Scheduled InfoPass Appointments
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has expanded its Information Services Modernization Program to more field offices. The Detroit and Los Angeles field offices recently were added to...
View ArticleThe “Bridging” Dilemma in Applications for Change to F-1 Student Status
Anna Stepanova, Assistant Managing Attorney and Member at the Murthy Law Firm, recently had an article published by the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA). While the article is written for...
View ArticleJanuary 2019 Visa Bulletin: EB1 Advances, but EB2 and EB3 India Remain Unchanged
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the January 2019 Visa Bulletin. There is a bit of movement for the employment-based, first preference (EB1) category. For the employment-based, second...
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