15 Jan 2025

I am scheduled to apply for an H1B visa stamp next month in Chennai, but my project ended. Can I use the same appointment slot to apply for a H-4 visa instead?

Answer You typically need to cancel the existing appointment, and schedule a new appointment with a new DS-160 (indicating the appointment is for H-4.) It may be possible to reuse the fee. (15.Jan.2025)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information...

15 Jan 2025

I mailed my application to a USCIS lockbox weeks ago, but I have not yet received a receipt, and my filing fee has not been cashed. How do I contact USCIS about my missing case, since I do not even have a receipt number to reference?

Answer It is possible to eMail USCIS lockbox support at lockboxsupport@uscis.dhs.gov to inquire about a filing that has not yet been receipted. You should include the form number, petitioner or applicant name, date of birth, and mailing address, as well as the lockbox the package was...

15 Jan 2025

I have an interview scheduled for today at a local USCIS field office, but it snowed last night. How do I know if the interview has been postponed?

Answer The USCIS normally lists field office and Application Support Center closures on its USCIS Office Closing webpage. (15.Jan.2025)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here. Access more FAQs here.  Copyright © 2025, MURTHY...

08 Jan 2025

My H-4 EAD is expiring soon, and I recently got my H-4 status extended when I reentered the U.S. I am about to file my I-485 application and an I-765 based on the I-485. Will I receive an automatic extension of my H-4 EAD while my new I-765 is pending?

Answer No. To receive an automatic extension of an expiring EAD based on a timely filed I-765, the expiring EAD and newly requested EAD must be in the same eligibility category. So, if you wish to receive an automatic extension of the H-4 EAD, one of...

04 Jan 2025

Working in TN Status with No U.S. “Employer”

The TN nonimmigrant classification provides Canadian and Mexican citizens with the opportunity to work in the United States in specified professional roles. As discussed in the MurthyDotCom InfoArticle, TN Status: Employment Option for Canadian and Mexican Citizens (04.Oct.2021), this visa category provides a streamlined process...

02 Jan 2025

A few weeks after I was arrested for driving while intoxicated, I received an eMail from the consulate saying that my H1B visa had been revoked. Do I need to leave the U.S. now?

Answer The prudential revocations of a visa due to a DUI only impacts the visa “stamp,” not a person’s status.That being said, please see our MurthyDotCom InfoArticle, Alcohol-Related Arrests Create Immigration Problems (29.Dec.2023), which summarizes some of the key problems that can be created by one...

24 Dec 2024

I understand that India was removed from the J-1 exchange visitor skills list, and this eliminates the home residency requirement for many people who had J-1 visas. Does this apply to J-1 physicians?

Answer As you note, the change that was made relates to the J-1 skills list. Unfortunately, J-1 physicians generally do not benefit from this change. (24.Dec.2024)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online services, click here....