U.S. immigration resources and updates, by visa type

USCIS has received enough H-2B petitions to reach the congressionally set cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027. This means no more H-2B visa petitions will be accepted for this period once the cap is officially met. Employers seeking…

DHS is proposing a new $103,265 fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those with advanced degrees who are normally exempt from the lottery cap. This fee would apply to employer petitions filed during the cap season. If…

USCIS has received enough H-1B petitions to reach both the regular cap of 65,000 visas and the advanced degree exemption cap of 20,000 visas for fiscal year 2027. This means the H-1B cap registration period has closed and a lottery will be…

A new restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers has been announced, though specific details are not provided in this notice. This policy may affect work visa holders and employers seeking to bring foreign workers to the United…

USCIS has completed the FY 2027 H-1B initial registration period and received enough registrations to meet both the regular H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemption cap. This marks the end of the registration window for fiscal year 2027.…

The Department of State is proposing changes to rules governing the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, which allows foreign nationals to participate in educational and cultural exchanges in the U.S. The update addresses procedures for program…

The Trump administration has issued a final rule targeting foreign student visa abuse. Details on the specific restrictions or compliance requirements are limited, but the rule appears designed to tighten oversight of F-1 and other student…

The State Department is updating the Certificate of Eligibility (Form DS-7002) used for J-1 exchange visitor status. The department is seeking public comments on this form, which is required for students, scholars, and other exchange…

DHS is revising the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) information collection, which tracks international students and exchange visitors in the United States. The revision follows a 60-day public comment period in…

USCIS updated its policy manual guidance on optional practical training (OPT) eligibility for F and M nonimmigrant students, specifically regarding STEM field OPT extensions. The updated guidance clarifies when students may qualify for…

The State Department is establishing a permanent visa bond program for B-1/B-2 temporary visitor visa applicants. Consular officers may now require certain nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond to ensure they maintain their status…

The State Department is introducing a new optional $750 expedited interview fee for B-1/B-2 business and tourism visa applicants. Eligible applicants who pay this premium fee can secure an interview appointment at selected posts within ten…

The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon is operating with limited services due to current conditions in the country. Persons seeking visa services or other embassy assistance should expect reduced availability and may experience delays or be directed…

The Department of Homeland Security has determined that certain artworks being imported from abroad for the "Masterpieces of Printmaking: 1460-Now" exhibition at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California are culturally significant and…

The Department of Homeland Security has determined that artworks being imported for the "Rembrandt's Lions: Art and Exile in the Dutch Republic" exhibition at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York are culturally significant and qualify…

On June 18, DHS announced a process to keep families together by allowing certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived in the country for at least 10 years to request parole in place on a case-by-case basis. This new pathway…

USCIS clarified its policy on how age is calculated under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) for family-based petitions. A visa is now considered available for CSPA age calculation purposes based on the Department of State Visa…

USCIS released new policy guidance to improve how it reviews family-based immigration petitions, with enhanced screening and vetting procedures. The guidance is being added to the official USCIS Policy Manual for staff reference. This…

USCIS assisted ICE, the State Department, and federal prosecutors in dismantling a nationwide marriage fraud operation, resulting in arrests. The agency's data and investigation support helped identify fraudulent family-based petitions.…

USCIS has updated its policy manual to clarify how it applies exceptions to the 'sought to acquire' requirement under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), following a February 2023 policy change. This guidance affects family-based…

USCIS has announced a new rule to streamline the asylum system and reduce the growing backlog of pending cases. The change is intended to speed up case processing and improve efficiency in asylum adjudication. This rule affects individuals…

USCIS has announced a rule change designed to reduce the backlog in the asylum system. The change aims to speed up processing of asylum cases, which have accumulated a significant number of pending applications. This update affects…

USCIS announced a rule change aimed at reducing the backlog in the asylum system. The update streamlines asylum processing procedures to help clear pending cases more quickly. This change affects asylum applicants waiting for interview…

USCIS has discovered widespread fraud in applications from immigrants claiming to be juveniles, potentially affecting thousands of pending cases. The agency is reviewing claims and may deny or delay benefits for applicants found to have…

Lebanon's Temporary Protected Status designation has been automatically extended for six months, through November 27, 2026, due to rapidly unfolding security events in the country. No action is required by current TPS beneficiaries, but…

A federal court in California has temporarily blocked a Trump administration policy (PM-602-0193) that halted processing of diversity visa green-card applications. USCIS must now resume ordinary adjudication of pending diversity visa…

India has reached the per-country limit for EB-5 immigrant investor green cards in the unreserved category, meaning no more visas are currently available for Indian nationals in this category. This creates a significant backlog for Indian…

India has reached its per-country limit for EB-2 (employment-based second preference) green cards, meaning Indian nationals in this category will face significant delays in obtaining their green cards. This occurs because a large backlog…

USCIS announced a new policy restricting adjustment of status (green card applications within the U.S.) to only extraordinary circumstances, requiring most applicants to process through consular processing abroad instead. This reverses…

The EB-3 and EW (Employment-Based Third Preference and Exceptional Worker) green card categories have reached their annual numerical limits for the current fiscal year. This means no additional applicants can be approved under these…

The Department of Justice has filed denaturalization cases against 25 naturalized citizens accused of serious crimes including attempted murder, assault, and child sexual abuse. USCIS is partnering with DOJ to pursue these actions.…

A federal court has temporarily blocked a USCIS policy that would have restricted non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from participating in naturalization ceremonies. The stay, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of…

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice announced plans to revoke U.S. citizenship from 10 naturalized citizens convicted of serious crimes including child molestation, fraud, and drug trafficking. This action is part…

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice announced plans to revoke U.S. citizenship from 10 naturalized citizens convicted of serious crimes including child abuse, fraud, and drug trafficking. The government is…

USCIS and the Department of Justice have filed denaturalization actions against 12 individuals in federal district courts, alleging serious crimes including providing material support to terrorist organizations, committing war crimes,…

The Trump administration has maintained a policy of zero releases at the southern border for 16 consecutive months, meaning all apprehended migrants are either detained or immediately removed rather than released into the United States.…

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has removed more than 2,000 individuals identified as known or suspected terrorists under the current administration. This represents a significant enforcement action targeting national…

USCIS released updated guidance on how it evaluates whether immigrants applying for permanent residency will likely become a public charge—a key factor that can block green card applications. The guidance explains the agency's standards…

The Trump Administration has maintained a policy of zero releases at the southern border for 15 consecutive months, meaning all individuals apprehended are detained rather than released pending immigration proceedings. This represents a…

USCIS is tightening evidence standards for all immigration benefit applications, requiring applicants to prove eligibility at the time they file rather than at a later stage. This policy aims to reduce frivolous or incomplete requests and…