Posts

Jul 05, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

International Students: New Form I-983 and Tight OPT Windows Demand Action This Summer

International students face a new mandatory Form I-983 for STEM OPT, strict OPT filing deadlines for spring 2026 grads, and a pending shift from Duration of Status to fixed four-year admission periods.

F-1 OPT Visa News H-1B

Jul 05, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

The 2025 Naturalization Civics Test: A Tougher Bar for New Citizenship Applicants

USCIS has replaced the 2008 civics test with a tougher 2025 version for anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025 — 20 questions from a 128-item bank, with 12 correct required to pass.

USCIS Naturalization Citizenship Policy Updates

Jul 05, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Moves to Nearly Double the Cost of Citizenship — and End Fee Waivers

A June 23, 2026 DHS proposed rule would raise the N-400 naturalization fee to as much as $1,330 and eliminate reduced fees and fee waivers. Public comments are open until August 24, 2026.

USCIS Naturalization Citizenship Policy Updates

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Court Strikes Down the $100,000 H-1B Fee as an Unlawful Tax — But an Administrative Stay Keeps It in Effect

A Massachusetts federal court vacated the $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax on June 8, 2026, but a June 12 administrative stay keeps the fee in effect pending the government's appeal to the First Circuit.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DOL Proposes 20–33% Prevailing Wage Hikes for H-1B and PERM — What EB-2 and NIW Applicants Should Watch

A March 2026 DOL proposal would raise H-1B and PERM prevailing wages by 20–33%, adding roughly $14,000 per worker per year — here's what it means for EB-2 and NIW applicants.

H-1B EB-2 NIW

Jul 03, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Court Vacates USCIS Benefits Freeze Affecting Applicants From 39 Countries

On June 5, 2026, a Rhode Island federal court vacated four USCIS policies that had frozen green card, work permit, naturalization, and asylum adjudications for nationals of 39 travel-ban countries, ordering nationwide relief.

USCIS Green Card Policy Updates

Jul 03, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Naturalization Hit Its Fastest Pace Since 2016 — Then a Filing Surge Pushed the N-400 Backlog Past 640,000

N-400 naturalization processing hit a median 5.7 months in FY2025 — the fastest since 2016 — but a fall 2025 filing surge pushed the backlog above 640,000 cases and lengthened average times to 7.9 months.

USCIS Processing Times

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

New USCIS Signature Rule Takes Effect July 10 — A Single Signing Error Can Now Trigger a Denial

A USCIS interim final rule effective July 10, 2026 lets adjudicators deny — not just reject — filings with invalid signatures, and keep the fee.

USCIS Green Card H-1B

Jul 03, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

Premium Processing in 2026: $2,965 Fee and 15-Business-Day Timelines for I-140 and I-129

USCIS premium processing costs $2,965 as of March 1, 2026 and guarantees action on I-140 and I-129 petitions in 15 business days — here's how it fits an NIW or EB-1A strategy.

USCIS Processing Times NIW

Jul 03, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Supreme Court Expands Border Authority Over Green Card Holders in Blanche v. Lau

The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Blanche v. Lau lets border officers treat returning green card holders as applicants for admission without clear-and-convincing proof of a crime.

Green Card USCIS