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.

In this teleconference, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss the visa application process at U.S. consular posts overseas. They explore the latest trends in the visa process, including administrative processing, interview waivers, visa revocations, and more. They also provide tips and strategies for avoiding common problems and helping the process to go smoothly.

This teleconference reviews current issues and recent trends that may arise in Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (form I-140) process adjudications. The mechanics and mysteries of an I-140 filing are explained, including how to present an acceptable and approvable case to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). Based on their experience with the I-140 process, attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm will share recommendations and insights for completing this complex stage on the path toward an employee's green card.

This teleconference focuses on good-faith recruitment of U.S. workers during the PERM labor certification process. In the PERM process, employers are required to make sure that there are not sufficient U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available for the work to be undertaken. Attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm discuss the recruitment process and discuss current U.S. Department of Labor trends regarding recruitment, specifically issues raised in audit requests.