August 2024 Visa Bulletin
This afternoon, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the August 2024 Visa Bulletin. All cutoff dates listed refer to those in the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified....
View ArticleTime may be Running Out to Apply for NIW Under Biden’s Initiative for STEM...
On February 2, 2021, President Joseph Biden issued an executive order on restoring faith in the U.S. legal immigration systems and strengthening integration and inclusion efforts for new Americans....
View ArticleNewsFlash! Parole-in-Place Program to Promote Family Unity to Begin 19.Aug.2024
The White House announced today that the parole-in-place program to promote family unity will officially launch on August 19, 2024. Applications filed prior to this date will be rejected. Details about...
View ArticleMurthy Snapshot: DOS Eases Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Adjudication for U.S....
On July 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of State announced updated guidance in the Foreign Affairs Manual to ease the process of obtaining a nonimmigrant waiver in certain circumstances. More...
View ArticleImmigrant and Nonimmigrant Options for Nurses
The United States has a shortage of registered nurses, which has increased the demand for foreign nurses. For a U.S. healthcare employer seeking to hire a foreign nurse or a foreign nurse seeking...
View ArticleUpdates on International Entrepreneur Rule
On July 25, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule in the Federal Register updating the investment and revenue requirements to qualify for parole under the...
View ArticleHow Project 2025 Could Impact Immigration Policy for Employers & Employees
A policy proposal from the Heritage Foundation named the 2025 Presidential Transition Project – or Project 2025, as it is widely referred to in the press – presents a comprehensive set of conservative...
View ArticleNewsFlash! USCIS to Conduct Second Lottery for FY2025 H1B Cap Cases
This morning, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that a second lottery will soon be held for fiscal year 2025. The USCIS will select additional H1B registrations randomly...
View ArticleUncertain Future for USCIS Deference Policy
A unique feature of U.S. immigration law is how certain rules and policies can change depending on who is in the White House. A President’s ability to dictate and change immigration law or policy often...
View ArticleMurthy Success: NIW Approval for Expert in Information Systems
The Murthy Law Firm regularly assists foreign nationals in filing self-sponsored immigrant petitions under the EB2 national interest waiver (NIW) category and in the EB1(a) for immigrants with...
View ArticleSeptember 2024 Visa Bulletin
This afternoon, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the September 2024 Visa Bulletin. There is no forward movement in any of the employment-based categories from the previous month. Worse...
View ArticleSpecial Handling for University and College Professors / Teachers
Special handling, sometimes referred to as optional special recruitment, is a PERM labor certification process solely carved out for those who teach at U.S. colleges and universities. While similar to...
View ArticlePreserving U.S. Residence for Naturalization
Among the eligibility criteria a lawful permanent resident (LPR) (commonly known as a “green card” holder) must meet to apply for U.S. citizenship is the requirement to have maintained continuous...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Filing Guide Released for Parole-in-Place Program for Undocumented...
Today, the Biden Administration released a filing guide for form I-131F, which is the new electronic form that soon will be used by certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to...
View ArticleSome USCIS Rejections Prompted by Payment Security Features
As the second round of the FY2025 cap lottery begins, it is important to note one avoidable reason for an H1B petition – or really, any type of petition or application – to be rejected by the U.S....
View ArticleUSCIS Starts Accepting Applications for Keeping Families Together Program
As was recently indicated in MurthyDotCom’s NewsFlash! Filing Guide Released for Parole in Place Program for Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens (16.Aug.2024), the U.S. Department of Homeland...
View ArticleCaution to Students Searching for OPT Employers
A student in F-1 status who has been granted optional practical training (OPT) may normally have no more than a total of 90 days of unemployment during the initial one-year post-completion OPT period....
View ArticleNewsFlash! Federal Judge Orders Temporary Halt to Parole-in-Place Program
A federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked the Biden Administration from continuing to grant parole in place under its Keeping Families Together program. As noted in the MurthyDotCom NewsBrief,...
View ArticleOverview of Affidavit of Support for Family-Based Green Card Cases
Most family-based immigrant visa cases require the petitioner to serve also as a financial sponsor for the intending immigrant. To qualify as a sponsor, a petitioner must complete an affidavit of...
View ArticleEB1, EB3 Categories, Among Others, Unavailable for Remainder of FY24
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced that several employment-based (EB) immigrant visa categories will remain unavailable for the remainder of fiscal year 2024 (FY24). A category that is...
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