Murthy Law Firm : U.S. Immigration

April 2025 Visa Bulletin This evening, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the April 2025 Visa Bulletin. There is some forward movement in most of the oversubscribed categories, and retrogression in the EB5 unreserved category. All cutoff dates listed refer to those in the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. #USImmigration #visabulletin #EB5Visa #murthylawfirm Read more: https://bit.ly/mdc3DFdgqz

New CBP Home App Released CBP launched a new mobile app with various features, including border wait time status, provisional pre-entry I-94 applications, and an “Intent to Depart” notification feature for certain unlawfully present individuals choosing to depart the U.S. voluntarily. #CBP #I94 #intenttodepart #USImmigration #murthylawfirm

DOS Eliminates Deference Policy on Nonimmigrant Visa Waivers On 26.Feb.2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued updated guidance in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) removing the policy that a consular officer’s recommendation for approval of a foreign national’s nonimmigrant visa (NIV) waiver request be consistent with a prior adjudication of the individual’s same waiver. For the benefit of MurthyDotCom readers, we are providing an explanation of the new policy and its implications. #USImmigration #nonimmigrant #nonimmigrantvisa #murthylawfirm Read more: https://bit.ly/mdc3FtYsLZ

USCIS Provides Grace Period for Updated Forms USCIS granted grace periods for the implementation of recently updated forms I-485, I-131, & N-400, among others. Each form has its own grace period, so as always, confirm which form to use before filing! #I485 #I131 #uscitizenship #USImmigration #murthylawfirm

Trump Rumored to Be Planning Travel Ban for People from Pakistan and Afghanistan #travelban #USImmigration Read more: https://bit.ly/mdc4hbi1G8

Avoiding Critical Errors in H1B Registration As the H1B cap registration season approaches, it is essential for employers to ensure that all information submitted in the electronic registration is accurate. With the transition to a beneficiary-centric registration system last year, even minor errors can have significant consequences. While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has indicated typographical errors may not automatically lead to a rejection or denial of the H1B petition (if selected), the burden remains on the employer to demonstrate that the information in the registration and H1B petition is correct and “is based on a valid registration submitted for the beneficiary named in the petition.” Given the heightened scrutiny in the current immigration climate, avoiding mistakes in the initial registration is more important than ever. #H1BVisa #h1bcap #H1BLottery #USImmigration #murthylawfirm Read more: https://bit.ly/mdc4kpNo2F

USCIS Issues New I-485 Without Warning USCIS recently released a number of new forms effective immediately, including form I-485 used to apply for a “green card,” providing no notice or grace period for the old form. If your old form was mailed before the announcement on March 3rd, and arrived at the USCIS location on or after that date, and subsequently was rejected, making you ineligible to refile, you may be able to challenge the rejection with a lawsuit. #USImmigration #permanentresident #murthylawfirm

USCIS Notice to Appear (NTA) Memo Could Result in Harsh Consequences On 28.Feb.2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a policy memorandum that dramatically expands the circumstances under which the USCIS intends to issue a notice to appear (NTA), or refer cases to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for NTA issuance. An NTA is a charging document that is filed with an immigration court to commence removal (i.e., deportation) proceedings against a foreign national. Most notably, this policy memo threatens to issue an NTA to anyone who is in the U.S. legally at the time an application or petition requesting an extension or change of status is filed, but whose status has expired by the time the status request is denied. #USImmigration #foreignworkers #murthylawfirm Read more: https://bit.ly/mdc41rJptw

Annual Limit for EB4 Visa Category Reached DOS and USCIS have issued all available immigrant visas for the EB4 Special Immigrant visa category, which includes religious workers, broadcasters, certain physicians, employees of international organizations, and armed forces members. The annual limits will reset with the start of the 2026 fiscal year on 01.Oct.2025. #eb4visa #USImmigration #murthylawfirm

FDNS Site Visits of H1B Employers and the Impact of New H1B Regulations The Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) Directorate, a division of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), conducts unannounced site visits to H1B employers as part of its compliance and fraud prevention efforts. These visits aim to verify the legitimacy of H1B petitions and ensure that employers adhere to program requirements. Recent changes in H1B regulations have influenced the scope and frequency of these visits, affecting both employers and employees. Moreover, it is widely expected that the USCIS increasingly will shift focus toward enforcement efforts under the Trump administration. Therefore, employers should be familiar with how FDNS site visits are conducted, and what can be done in advance to prepare for them. #H1BVisa #foreignworkers #USImmigration #murthylawfirm Read more: https://bit.ly/mdc3Xo7Bfn