Murthy Immigration Podcast

When it comes to immigration policy, the Trump Administration clearly views compliance and investigations as two top priorities. Any business that employs foreign national workers now, more than ever, must ensure that it is taking proactive steps to remain in compliance and not run afoul of the various requirements imposed on employers. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

When it comes to immigration policy, the Trump Administration clearly views compliance and investigations as two top priorities. Any business that employs foreign national workers now, more than ever, must ensure that it is taking proactive steps to remain in compliance and not run afoul of the various requirements imposed on employers. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

In this teleconference, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss the effects of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies on visa adjudications overseas and processing at the ports of entry. They explore the latest trends at the Department of State and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and their impact on visa applicants and travelers, as well as strategies to help avoid or mitigate potential problems.

Just as this year's H1B cap season began, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unexpectedly released a policy memorandum that calls into question whether the position of computer programmer qualifies as a specialty occupation for H1B purposes. The memo generated tremendous anxiety and confusion among stakeholders. To that end, the Murthy Law Firm provides this special teleconference, where attorneys discuss the meaning of the memo, and the steps H1B employers may be able to take to improve their chances of getting these H1B petitions approved.

In his first week in Office, President Trump signed several Executive Orders regarding immigration and more changes appear to be on the horizon. In this teleconference, Sheela Murthy is joined by other Murthy Law Firm attorneys, as they discuss changes already implemented and those that may occur based on Executive Orders.

Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss matters related to various types of employment authorization for students in F-1 status, including CPT and OPT (both the initial 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM extension), placement of F-1 student workers at third-party sites, employer obligations, and more. Common issues related to transitioning from F-1 to H1B are also discussed.

Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss the FY2018 H1B cap season in this February 2017 teleconference. Included topics are issues related to transitioning from F-1 to H1B, USCIS quota and fee requirements, and matters important to IT companies with workers at third-party sites.

The inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, marks the beginning of an uncertain time in U.S. immigration law. In the absence of specific proposals from the transition team, many anxiously wonder what U.S. immigration law will look like under the new administration. In this first teleconference of 2017, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss some possible changes, and related timelines, that could impact U.S. employers.

This teleconference focuses on the 24-month STEM OPT extension rule that went into effect May 10, 2016. Attorneys at Murthy Law Firm provide a general overview of the STEM OPT rule, discuss various employer obligations and requirements, and provide practical advice on developing a company-wide training policy and completing an I-983 training plan for individual student trainees.

This teleconference discusses important new changes to the rules governing the immigrant and nonimmigrant visa programs, with a focus on how these changes may affect employers. Portions of the final regulation ("Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers") to be covered include the ‘I-140 EAD rule,’ the provisions related to continued validity of I-140s following employer withdrawals, and nonimmigrant grace periods.