Murthy Snapshot: USCIS Updates Guidance on F-1 OPT
On August 27, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual related to optional practical training (OPT) for F-1 students. Below are the...
View ArticleAPA Lawsuits for Unlawful Agency Actions
The majority of immigration cases are adjudicated correctly by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other relevant U.S. government agencies. But there are situations in which a...
View ArticleOctober 2024 Visa Bulletin
This morning, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the October 2024 Visa Bulletin. Unfortunately, there is less forward movement than hoped for in this first visa bulletin of fiscal year 2025...
View ArticleCommon PERM Issues for Recent College Graduates
The PERM labor certification is the first in a three-step process in the majority of employment-based, permanent resident (commonly referred to as “green card”) cases. Because of how long this process...
View ArticleOverview of I-140 Downgrade from EB2 to EB3 Preference Category
Until relatively recently, the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for India historically enjoyed a more favorable cutoff date in the monthly visa bulletin than its employment-based,...
View ArticleDisclosing an Employee’s Ownership Interest on PERM Applications
The ETA form 9089, application for permanent employment certification (PERM labor certification) asks of employers: “Is the employer a closely held corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship in...
View ArticleOverview of Wage Level Determinations
Certain employment-based immigration processes, such as the PERM labor certification and H1B nonimmigrant visa classification, require an employer to obtain a prevailing wage determination from the...
View ArticleNavigating Status Verification Issues for Driver’s License Applications and...
In general, each state sets its own rules regarding who is eligible to receive a driver’s license. However, under the REAL ID Act of 2005, for a state-issued driver’s license to be a compliant form of...
View ArticleMurthy Snapshot: USCIS Clarifies How Retrogression Can Impact CSPA Age...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated guidance on September 25, 2024, in the USCIS Policy Manual on calculating a dependent child’s age under the Child Status...
View ArticleMurthy Snapshot: USCIS Clarifies Guidance on EB1(a) Extraordinary Ability...
On October 2, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a policy alert for the USCIS Policy Manual, to clarify how certain eligibility criteria will be evaluated under the...
View ArticleUSCIS Launches New Online PDF Filing Process
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) launched a new online filing process 08.Oct.2024, where an individual can file certain forms online by uploading a completed PDF application rather...
View ArticleNovember 2024 Visa Bulletin
Today, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the November 2024 Visa Bulletin. Unfortunately, there is no movement in any of the employment-based categories, with the exception of the EB4 program...
View ArticleFlorida Eases Licensing Requirements for Foreign Trained Doctors
Earlier this year, the State of Florida enacted a new law, known as the Live Healthy initiative, that makes it easier for certain physicians trained abroad to become licensed as physicians in that...
View ArticleUSCIS Announces Adjustments to International Entrepreneur Rule Threshold
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a 10.Oct.2024 policy alert for the USCIS Policy Manual, incorporating recent updates to the investment and revenue requirements to...
View ArticleTemporary Initiatives for Lebanese Nationals
On 18.Oct.2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a notice in the Federal Register offering more specifics on the implementation of the Biden Administration’s directive...
View ArticleAILA Discusses Customer Service Concerns with USCIS
Earlier this month, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) held a joint engagement to discuss customer service at the USCIS....
View ArticleOverview of Social Security Numbers Process for Foreign Nationals
In general, anyone eligible to work in the United State is authorized to receive a Social Security number (SSN). The purpose of the SSN is to serve as a tracking number for income taxes and related...
View ArticleReentry Permits for Extended Absences Abroad
Becoming a lawful permanent resident (LPR) and obtaining a green card affords an individual many benefits, including the ability to freely travel to and from the United States. However, an LPR’s...
View ArticleUSCIS and DOS Policies Impacting People with Unlawful Presence and Advance...
As explained in the MurthyDotCom InfoArticle, Differences Between: Lawful Status, Period of Authorized Stay, & Unlawful Presence (19.Apr.2022), leaving the U.S. after a prolonged stay beyond the...
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WEBINAR: Immigration Matters Summit – Passport to Possibilities
In-Depth, 4-hour Webinar with 4 sessions Sheela Murthy & Aron Finkelstein as Moderators/Speakers REGISTRATION INFORMATION COMING SOON . . . Why You Should Attend this Once-in-a-Lifetime...
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