Posts

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

The End of 'Duration of Status': DHS Final Rule Would Cap F-1 and J-1 Stays at Four Years

A DHS final rule ending 'duration of status' for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders cleared OMB review on June 17, 2026, and would cap admission at four years with USCIS extensions required for longer programs.

USCIS Policy Updates Processing Times

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

The H-1B Lottery Is Ending: DHS Weighted-Selection Rule Prioritizes Higher-Paid Workers Starting FY2027

A DHS final rule effective February 27, 2026 replaces the random H-1B cap lottery with a weighted selection process that gives higher-wage beneficiaries more entries, first applying to the FY2027 cap season.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Reframes Adjustment of Status as 'Discretionary Grace' — What Green Card Applicants Should Know

USCIS memo PM-602-0199 restates that adjustment of status is discretionary relief — here's what it does and doesn't change for I-485 applicants.

Green Card NIW EB-2 USCIS

Jul 01, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

July 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Goes Unavailable for the Rest of the Fiscal Year, EB-1 India Retrogresses

The July 2026 Visa Bulletin makes EB-2 and EB-5 India unavailable for the rest of FY2026 and retrogresses EB-1 India, while EB-3 categories advance and USCIS again honors Final Action Dates.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 NIW Green Card

Jun 29, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

EB-1A in 2026: Approval Rates Dip and RFEs Climb as USCIS Tightens the Final Merits Test

USCIS EB-1A approval rates fell from 70.5% (FY2023) to 60.65% (FY2024), and RFEs are rising as officers tighten the Final Merits Determination — here is what is triggering them.

EB-1A USCIS RFE Green Card

Jun 29, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

July 2026 Visa Bulletin: India EB-2 Goes Unavailable for Rest of Fiscal Year

The State Department's July 2026 Visa Bulletin makes India EB-2 Unavailable for the rest of FY2026, while Rest-of-World EB-1 and EB-2 stay Current.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 NIW Green Card

Jun 29, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

New USCIS Signature Rule Takes Effect July 10, 2026 — A Bad Signature Can Now Cost You the Filing Fee

A DHS interim final rule effective July 10, 2026 lets USCIS deny — not just reject — filings with invalid signatures, potentially keeping your fee. Wet-ink signatures are required; digital signatures are not accepted.

USCIS Processing Times I-485 Green Card

Jun 29, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Formally Removes COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Green Card Applicants

USCIS has formally removed the COVID-19 vaccination requirement from Form I-693 for green card applicants, aligning policy with CDC instructions. All other required vaccinations remain.

USCIS Green Card I-485 Adjustment of Status

Jun 29, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Limits Adjustment of Status to "Extraordinary Circumstances": What Green Card Applicants Need to Know

USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 (May 21, 2026) makes adjustment of status a discretionary measure granted only in undefined "extraordinary circumstances," pushing many applicants toward consular processing.

USCIS Adjustment of Status Green Card I-485

Jun 28, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DHS Finalizes Wage-Weighted H-1B Selection: What FY2027 Petitioners Need to Know

DHS finalized a wage-weighted H-1B selection process effective February 27, 2026 for the FY2027 cap, giving higher-paid registrations better odds of selection instead of a pure random lottery.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates