August 2021 Visa Bulletin
This afternoon, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the August 2021 Visa Bulletin. All cutoff dates listed refer to the dates in the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise...
View ArticleUSCIS Update Policy on Naturalization Eligibility Following Voter Registration
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy guidance related to the impact of registering to vote on a foreign national’s good moral character (GMC) requirement when...
View ArticleNewsFlash! USCIS Eliminates B-2 ‘Bridge’ Requirement for F-1 Applicants
Today, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that foreign nationals applying for a change of status to F-1 are no longer required to maintain nonimmigrant status until within...
View ArticleAugust 2021 Visa Bulletin Check-In
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently held its monthly YouTube program with Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division. During the program, Mr. Oppenheim answered various...
View ArticleRefiling Permissible for FY2021 H1B Petitions Rejected Based Solely on Start...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will accept resubmitted fiscal year 2021 (FY2021) cap-subject H1B petitions that were rejected or administratively closed...
View ArticleVisa Processing by NVC and Consular Posts During COVID-19 Pandemic
With the ongoing pandemic, there have been severe backlogs in immigrant visa processing at U.S. consular posts. The overwhelming majority of consular posts still have limited capacity to process...
View ArticleNewsFlash! USCIS Conducts Second Lottery for H1B Cap Cases
This morning, attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm began to receive notifications from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicating that additional registrations submitted for the...
View ArticleFour Lessons on Instructions that Denials Carry
Foreign nationals frequently are confused by the specific instructions found in certain denial decisions issued in response to their immigration filings. The standard language used by these government...
View ArticleOverview of I-140 Downgrade from EB2 to EB3 Preference Category
Historically, the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for India has enjoyed a more favorable cutoff date in the monthly visa bulletin than its employment-based, third preference (EB3)...
View ArticleChanging Employers After Receiving Employment-Based Green Card
In most situations, to obtain U.S. lawful permanent resident status (i.e., a “green card”) through an employment-based (EB) category, one must be sponsored by a U.S. employer for a position that is...
View ArticleMurthyAudio: EB3 Downgrade and I-485 Filings
The pros and cons of filing EB3 “downgrade” I-140 petitions and documentation needed for I-485 Adjustment of Status filings are discussed by Murthy Law Firm attorneys in this podcast from 04.Aug.2021....
View ArticleNew Process to Reschedule Biometrics Appointments
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires foreign nationals to submit biometrics in-person at an application support center (ASC) before granting certain categories of immigration...
View ArticleNewsFlash! USCIS Temporarily Extends Validity Period of Form I-693 Medicals
This afternoon, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, effective August 12, 2021, the validity period of a report of medical examination and vaccination record (form...
View ArticlePremium Processing for H-4 Applications, EADs, and More may be Available Soon
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering a rule, which could be published as soon as next month – September 2021 – that would establish new benefit requests eligible for premium...
View ArticleSeptember 2021 Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the September 2021 Visa Bulletin, which is the last visa bulletin for fiscal year 2021. All cutoff dates listed refer to the dates in the final action...
View ArticleUSCIS Expands Flexibilities for Certain F-1 Students Affected by OPT Delays
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has signed a settlement agreement with a group of F-1 students affected by long delays in processing of optional practical training (OPT) and...
View ArticleSenate Confirms Ur Mendoza Jaddou as Director of USCIS
The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Biden’s nominee, Ur Mendoza Jaddou, to serve as the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Director Jaddou, whose mother is from...
View ArticleCDC Adds Covid-19 Vaccine to List of Required Immunizations
On August 24, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that, starting October 1, 2021, green card applicants will be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The...
View ArticleUSCIS Updates Policy on Children Born Using Assisted Reproductive Technology
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised its policy related to the definition of a parental relationship. The USCIS will now recognize a parent-child relationship for children...
View ArticlePredictions for October 2022 Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently held its monthly YouTube program with Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division. During the program, Mr. Oppenheim provided updated...
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