Murthy Immigration Podcast

More than a year after President Obama proposed a number of new immigration initiatives, some changes have been implemented, and more changes appear to be on the horizon. In our January 6, 2016 teleconference, Sheela Murthy is joined by other Murthy Law Firm attorneys, as they discuss changes already implemented and those that may occur during Mr. Obama's last year in office.

In this teleconference, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss challenges individuals sometimes face when applying for visas and traveling to the United States. They share success stories concerning obstacles at U.S. consulates and ports of entry. They also provide strategies to avoid common problems during the visa interview and border inspection.

This teleconference in our series for employers and their representatives reviews the latest I-140 trends, and discusses strategies for successfully filing immigrant petitions for skilled & professional workers (EB3), and professionals with advanced degrees and/or exceptional ability (EB2). The experienced attorneys from the Murthy Law Firm share practice pointers for employers who are sponsoring workers in these green card categories, and provide insight on overcoming common issues that come up in requests for evidence (RFEs), notices of intent to deny (NOIDs), and notices of intent to revoke (NOIRs).

In our October 7, 2015 teleconference, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss recent trends in the USCIS adjudications of H1B petitions and offer practical tips for employers of H1B workers. Our attorneys share tips for responding to tricky requests for evidence (RFEs) and how to best avoid RFEs in the first place. They offer examples of when amended H1B petitions should be filed and when an existing labor condition application may be reused. They also explain strategies for preparing for the H1B lottery in April 2016.

The September 2, 2015 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 focus on current U.S. Department of Labor trends regarding recruitment, specifically issues raised in audit requests.

The August 5, 2015 teleconference in this series focuses on recent trends in requests for evidence for H1B petitions. Attorneys from the Murthy Law Firm discuss maintenance of status, OPT, control, and specialty occupation issues as well as practical tips for preparing a strong response to a request for evidence.

The July 1, 2015 teleconference in this series designed for employers and their representatives is focused on one of the first steps in the PERM green card process: the prevailing wage determination. In the PERM green card process, employers are required to commit to a salary that either meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the sponsored position as determined by the Department of Labor. Attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm discuss fundamentals of the prevailing wage request and current adjudication trends, and provide guidance on how to overcome issues when seeking a prevailing wage determination for the green card process.

The June 3, 2015 teleconference in our series for employers and their representatives provides an overview of common issues related to upgrading from EB3 to EB2. Attorneys from the Murthy Law Firm discuss educational equivalency issues, priority date retention, and the use of exceptional ability to qualify for an EB2 upgrade.

The third and final teleconference in our series designed for F-1 students addresses common issues and questions encountered by F-1 students at the end of their program of study. Students learn the requirements for OPT and receive helpful hints and advice on how to avoid certain problems with the OPT application and employment. In addition, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss travel at the end of the school year and program of study, transition to H1B status, and related matters.

The May 6, 2015 teleconference in our monthly series designed to help businesses understand and work within U.S. immigration law focuses on investigations of employers of foreign workers by U.S. federal agencies. The past several years have seen a trend toward increased cooperation and information sharing between federal agencies, which has led to an environment in which one investigation can lead to another, triggering a chain of events possibly resulting in serious penalties for employers. With recent government actions grabbing headlines, Murthy Law Firm attorneys discuss strategies and tips for avoiding violations, proper internal auditing, and best practices.