Posts

Aug 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

Why Green Card Applicants Should Read the H-1B Fee Rule: DHS Claims Power to Charge Any Filer for the Whole System

The proposed H-1B fee rests on a reading of INA 286(m) under which DHS can recover the full cost of the entire immigration system from fee-paying filers - a theory that is not limited to H-1B by its own terms.

NIW EB-2 H-1B USCIS

Aug 23, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

BIA Says You Get One Motion to Reopen - Ever - and Bad Lawyering Will Not Buy You Another

In Matter of M-M-L-J-, decided August 18, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals held that a noncitizen may file only one motion to reopen across both the Immigration Court and the Board, and that ineffective assistance of counsel cannot equitably toll that limit.

BIA EOIR Removal Proceedings Policy Updates

Aug 23, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

Judge Vacates the 75-Country Immigrant Visa Ban - and Wipes Out the Denials Already Issued Under It

Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York struck down the January 2026 order barring immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, vacating denials made under it and ordering the State Department to resume individual assessments.

Green Card Visa News Court Ruling State Department

Aug 23, 2026 • Visa News • 3 min read

September 2026 Visa Bulletin Freezes Every Employment Category - and EB-2 India Stays Shut Through Sept. 30

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin holds EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 dates unchanged across all countries, keeps EB-2 India unavailable through the end of FY2026, and sets up a projected jump to July 15, 2014 on October 1.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 NIW Green Card

Aug 23, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

The Rule That Killed Automatic Work Permit Extensions Is Going Permanent - Final Rule Has Sat at the White House Since June 23

DHS sent the final rule removing automatic EAD extensions to OIRA on June 23, 2026 and it is still pending review. The interim version has been in force since October 30, 2025, wiping out the 540-day cushion for renewal filings.

USCIS Employment Authorization Processing Times H-1B

Aug 21, 2026 • Green Card • 4 min read

EB-5 Fees Are Set to Fall: Final Rule Reaches the White House With a $1,535 Cut to the I-526

USCIS sent its final EB-5 fee rule to OMB on Aug. 19, the last step before publication. The proposed version cuts investor petition fees 14 to 17 percent and regional center fees by as much as 61 percent.

EB-5 USCIS Policy Updates Green Card

Aug 21, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

ICE Sends an OPT Fee Rule to the White House - Rated Economically Significant, With No Advance Notice

ICE filed a proposed Optional Practical Training Fees rule with OIRA on Aug. 20, 2026. It is rated economically significant and never appeared in a Unified Agenda, giving students no advance warning.

OPT F-1 USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 21, 2026 • Policy Updates • 4 min read

Immigration Court Fees Climb Again Oct. 1 - Cancellation of Removal Hits $1,690

DOJ published a final rule Aug. 21 applying a 3.4 percent inflation bump to every EOIR filing fee under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective Oct. 1, 2026. BIA appeals reach $1,060 and Form EOIR-42B reaches $1,690.

USCIS Policy Updates Immigration Court Fees

Aug 20, 2026 • Green Card • 3 min read

E-Verify Now Tells Your Employer When USCIS Invalidates Your Green Card EAD

USCIS expanded the E-Verify Status Change Report on Aug. 11 to flag invalidated EADs in categories C09, C08, A12 and C19. C09 is the work permit held by every pending adjustment of status applicant, and employers must now reverify Form I-9 using Supplement B when an employee appears on the report.

USCIS Green Card EAD Adjustment of Status

Aug 20, 2026 • Visa News • 3 min read

State Department Birth Tourism Task Force Has Already Revoked More Than 600 Visas

The State Department said on Aug. 13 that its new Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force has revoked more than 600 visas, using pooled DHS and State travel data to identify B-1/B-2 holders who gave birth in the United States. It is one workstream in more than 175,000 visa revocations to date.

Visa News Policy Updates USCIS