As we approach the season when many individuals and families travel abroad, our readers are reminded of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) policy regarding visa applicants with histories that include drunk driving or other offenses involving alcohol. The DOS guidance clarifies how consular officers...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently posted information helpful to foreign nationals facing immigration-related difficulties as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Natural disasters inevitably create disruptions that may make it impossible to meet all immigration requirements and deadlines. The USCIS generally makes reasonable...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on August 21, 2012, that for the third straight year it has approved 10,000 U visa petitions, the maximum quota allowed under the law. This clearly demonstrates the importance of this category, available to victims of certain...
Reliable sources have been reporting a wave of denials of J-1 visas for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) applying at U.S. Consulates in India. The scenario involves Indian physicians requesting J-1 exchange visitor visas to begin U.S. medical residency programs at teaching hospitals throughout the United...
The Employment Creation Immigrant Visa (EB5) program was established to provide the means for a foreign national investor to secure permanent residence (a "green card") by investing in a U.S. business, thereby, creating jobs for U.S. workers. Historically, the program has been fraught with problems....
The ever-present problems presented by the visa adjudications process at U.S. consulates around the world - and particularly in India - are well known to many of our readers. At these consulates, the issuance of section 221(g) visa refusals to those working as IT consultants...
In an unexpected and encouraging move, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an initiative on August 2, 2011, to encourage immigrant entrepreneurs and start-up companies to the United States. This USCIS initiative will be especially helpful to people from countries like India and...
On July 15, 2011, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued a travel warning to U.S. citizens living in or traveling to Mexico. We advise MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers of this warning, as it voices concerns of possible violence aimed at the U.S. Consulate in...
Visa and status are two concepts that are commonly confused. Under immigration law, the two concepts are distinct, even though in discussions, the word visa and the word status are used interchangeably. Visa, in immigration law, refers to the visa stamp affixed to one's passport...
President Obama signed a continuing resolution on October 1, 2009, temporarily extending funding for the Conrad 30 program for physicians, the non-minister immigrant religious worker category and EB5 immigrant investor pilot programs until October 31, 2009.Regular readers of MurthyDotCom may recall that these programs were...
