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

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 H-2B visa cap for returning workers in the first allocation of fiscal year 2026 (January–March start dates) has been reached, with 18,490 visas now allocated. USCIS received enough petitions to hit the cap under the supplemental cap…

The Department of Homeland Security is exercising time-limited authority to allocate an additional 64,716 H-2B visas for fiscal year 2026, available exclusively to American businesses facing permanent and severe financial loss or impending…

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 State Department has determined that a Georgia O'Keeffe architecture object qualifies as culturally significant for temporary import and exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts and potentially other venues. This determination…

An individual who overstayed their visitor visa after a Disney World trip was arrested by ICE in Maryland. The case illustrates enforcement of visa expiration deadlines for tourists and temporary visitors. Overstaying a visa can result in…

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…

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 annual visa cap for the EB-5 immigrant investor green card category has been reached, meaning no additional EB-5 petitions can be approved under the unreserved visa allotment for the current fiscal year. Applicants who have not yet…

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,…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has upgraded the SAVE program, which verifies immigration status, to help states confirm that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections. The enhanced system enables better coordination between…

USCIS has updated guidance on military naturalization to clarify that uncharacterized discharges occurring on or after August 1, 2024 do not satisfy the "honorable conditions" requirement for alien service members to naturalize. Former…

The Trump Administration reports 14 consecutive months with zero releases of migrants at the U.S. border. This reflects a sustained enforcement posture involving detention of all apprehended individuals without release. The policy marks a…

USCIS has rescinded a 2022 regulation that made it harder to deny green card applications based on public charge (government benefits use). The change restores a stricter interpretation of who counts as likely to become a public charge,…

DHS has announced a statement following successful outcomes in multiple Supreme Court cases. The agency's legal positions have been upheld by the highest court, strengthening its enforcement and policy authority. This development likely…

The Trump administration has maintained zero releases at the U.S. border for 13 consecutive months, meaning all apprehended individuals are detained pending processing or deportation. This policy represents a dramatic shift from previous…

The Department of Justice is updating fee regulations for cases filed with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the immigration court system, to comply with new statutory requirements. This interim final rule establishes new…