Policy Updates

Oct 07, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Proposes a $70,000 OPT Fee, and Schools Must Pay It Before Students Can Apply

The OPT fee NPRM (RIN 1653-AB01) publishes Oct 8, 2026: $70,000 for a student's first OPT and $30,000 for each later one, including STEM OPT, paid by the school before the DSO recommendation. Comments run 30 days.

OPT F-1 H-1B Policy Updates

Oct 01, 2026 • Policy Updates • 4 min read

A Second Court Vacates the $100,000 H-1B Fee Policies — and This Ruling Also Covers the September 2026 Renewal

On Sept. 30, Judge Gilliam (N.D. Cal.) vacated the agency policies implementing the $100,000 H-1B payment under both Proclamation 10973 and its 2026 extension, Proclamation 11069, until DHS and State complete notice-and-comment rulemaking.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 21, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Quietly Extended Its "Mass Influx of Aliens" Finding for a Fifth Time - It Has Now Run Continuously for 20 Months

A Federal Register notice published September 21, 2026 extends the DHS Finding of Mass Influx of Aliens another 180 days - the fifth extension of a finding originally set to last 60 days.

USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 21, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

The BIA Just Erased a 25-Year Protection Against Removal Orders You Never Received

In Matter of DIJI (Sept. 3, 2026), the BIA overruled Matter of G-Y-R- (2001), holding that a notice mailed to the last address you gave the government counts even if you never received it.

USCIS Policy Updates Green Card

Sep 21, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

USCIS Is Posting Its H-1B Wage-Level Fraud Findings on Social Media - and the Details Should Worry Honest Petitioners

Two official USCIS posts detail H-1B wage-level fraud findings: a Florida petition understating required experience by five years, and Nebraska petitions misclassifying engineers as programmers.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

New H-1B Executive Order: Agencies Must Weigh an Employer's Layoffs, and DOL Starts Auditing Past LCAs Within 30 Days

A Sept. 18 executive order tells State, Labor and DHS to consider whether an H-1B sponsor laid off, or plans to lay off, similarly situated U.S. workers, and directs DOL's Wage and Hour Division to start reviewing past labor condition applications within 30 days.

H-1B Policy Updates USCIS

Sep 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

Trump Renews the $100,000 H-1B Entry Restriction Until September 2027 - Even Though a Court Has Blocked Its Enforcement

A Sept. 18 proclamation extends the 2025 H-1B entry restriction and its $100,000 payment requirement for 12 more months, starting Sept. 21, 2026. The guidance that implemented the payment remains vacated by a federal court while the government's appeal is pending.

H-1B Policy Updates USCIS

Sep 16, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

11,397 Comments in Five Days: H-1B Workers Flood the Docket on the 60-Day Grace Period Rule

DHS's proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period has drawn 11,397 public comments since September 11 - with 2,590 filed on September 16 alone. Here is what the record shows and why it matters.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 16, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Accidentally Deleted the Evidence Requirements From Its Birthright Citizenship Rule - Today It Put Them Back

A September 16 correcting amendment restores the filing requirements that the September 9 interim rule erased from 8 CFR 264.2, and quietly drops the Form I-508 waiver for children of non-diplomat foreign government employees.

USCIS Policy Updates Green Card

Sep 16, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

New USCIS Guidance Checks Whether You Lawfully Naturalized Every Time You File a Petition

Policy Alert PA-2026-13, effective September 14, rewrites the denaturalization referral framework - publishing a 16-category priority list and confirming USCIS screens a citizen petitioner's own naturalization on any pending or future filing.

USCIS Naturalization Policy Updates Citizenship

Sep 16, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

The New I-765 and I-539 Editions Never Took Effect - USCIS Is Still Accepting the Old Ones

The September 14 court order postponing the Duration of Status rule also killed the 09/15/26 form editions. USCIS is rejecting them and still accepting I-765 08/21/25 and I-539 08/28/24 - but the I-485 change on September 18 is still on.

USCIS Processing Times Policy Updates H-1B

Sep 15, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

White House Clears ICE's OPT Fee Proposal, but the $100,000 Figure Is Still Unconfirmed

OIRA concluded review of ICE's proposed Optional Practical Training Fees rule (RIN 1653-AB01) on September 11, 2026, clearing the way for publication. The fee amount has not been disclosed, and the widely shared $100,000 figure comes from a July media report, not rule text.

OPT F-1 H-1B Policy Updates

Sep 12, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

A Secret Terrorism Court Congress Built in 1996 Just Removed Its First Person Ever

The Justice Department used the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time since its creation in 1996, removing an Afghan national from Fort Worth, Texas. USCIS confirmed its role in the interagency operation.

USCIS Policy Updates Enforcement

Sep 11, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Issues the First Rule Implementing E.O. 14418 — Children of Consular and International-Organization Staff Lose Birthright Citizenship

An interim final rule effective September 4, 2026 extends the diplomat exception to a much broader class of 'foreign government employees,' offering their U.S.-born children LPR registration instead of citizenship. A Maryland injunction limits implementation.

Birthright Citizenship USCIS Green Card Policy Updates

Sep 11, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

El Salvador TPS Passed Its September 9 Deadline With No Decision — USCIS Says Status and Work Permits Stay Valid For Now

TPS for roughly 200,000 Salvadorans was set to end September 9, 2026. DHS made no announcement, and USCIS confirmed that night that both protection and work authorization remain valid — with no end date given.

TPS USCIS Work Authorization Policy Updates

Sep 11, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Court Vacates the USCIS Diversity Visa Hold — and DV-2026 Selectees Have Under Three Weeks to Use It

A Northern District of California order in Medani v. Trump vacated Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193, forcing USCIS to resume DV adjustment adjudications. With the DV-2026 year ending September 30, the window is nearly closed.

Diversity Visa USCIS Green Card Policy Updates

Sep 10, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Publishes the 60-Day Grace Period Rule: 3,795 Workers a Year, 208,000 Dependents, Comments Close in November

The proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and E visa holders hits the Federal Register September 11, opening a 60-day comment period - and DHS's own numbers show the reach extends far beyond the workers themselves.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 10, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

H-1B Approvals Held at 97% Through June - and the RFE Rate Fell. The Crackdown Isn't in the Data Yet

New USCIS I-129 data through June 30, 2026 shows H-1B approvals at 97% and RFEs at 8.5%, while L-1A and O-1 petitions drew RFEs roughly three times as often.

H-1B USCIS Processing Times Policy Updates

Sep 10, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

The $4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 Fee Now Applies to Same-Employer Extensions - Effective September 9

A DHS final rule effective September 9, 2026 extends the 9-11 biometric fee to routine extension petitions filed by covered 50-50 employers, and the trigger is the filing date.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 10, 2026 • Visa News • 3 min read

The U.S. Resumed Immigrant Visas for Poland and Hungary — and the White House Chose Them

Immigrant visa processing has restarted at U.S. missions in Poland and Hungary while remaining frozen almost everywhere else, on White House instructions the State Department will not explain.

Green Card Processing Times Policy Updates

Sep 09, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Board of Immigration Appeals Reverses 2012 Precedent: Advance Parole Travel Can Now Trigger the 10-Year Bar

In Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, the BIA overruled Arrabally and Yerrabelly and held that leaving the U.S. on advance parole is a 'departure' that can trigger the three- and ten-year unlawful presence bars.

Green Card USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 09, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

DHS Proposes a $103,265 Fee on Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions — Public Comments Close September 24

A DHS proposed rule would add a $103,265 fee to every initial cap-subject H-1B petition, paid by the employer. The public comment window closes September 24, 2026.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Sep 09, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Universities Pause CPT Authorizations After SEVP Tightens the 'Integral to the Curriculum' Standard

SEVP guidance issued to designated school officials in August 2026 narrowed CPT eligibility, prompting UC Berkeley, UC Davis and other universities to suspend Course Credit CPT applications.

USCIS Policy Updates H-1B

Sep 09, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

USCIS Is Publicizing Its Fraud Cases — What the Agency's Enforcement Push Means for Honest Applicants

USCIS has been posting individual fraud detections publicly while DOL escalates H-1B and PERM investigations, marking a shift toward visible, data-driven enforcement.

H-1B USCIS Green Card Policy Updates

Sep 09, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

USCIS Reverses Course on Form I-864 After Lawsuit, Granting a Grace Period Through September 30

After AILA sued over mandatory form changes imposed without notice, USCIS will accept the prior edition of Form I-864 until September 30, 2026.

USCIS Green Card Policy Updates

Sep 08, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Proposes $103,265 H-1B Fee, Pushing Total Sponsorship Cost Past $200,000

DHS has proposed a $103,265 fee on cap-subject H-1B petitions that, combined with the existing $100,000 payment, could push sponsorship costs above $203,000 per worker. Comments close September 24, 2026.

H-1B USCIS NIW Policy Updates

Sep 02, 2026 • Visa News • 3 min read

Family Green Card Dates Jump Years in the September Visa Bulletin — F3 Moves 29 Months, F4 Moves 26

The September 2026 Visa Bulletin froze every employment-based category except EB-4 while family-sponsored final action dates surged by more than two years in F3 and F4.

Visa Bulletin Green Card EB-2 Policy Updates

Sep 02, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

New Form I-864 Lets USCIS Pull Your Sponsor's Credit Report — and a Credit Freeze Can Stall the Case

USCIS published a new 08/24/26 edition of Form I-864 with no grace period. The new version adds an authorization for USCIS and the State Department to obtain the sponsor's consumer credit information.

USCIS Green Card Policy Updates

Sep 02, 2026 • Visa News • 3 min read

State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide for Public Charge Training — No End Date Announced

The State Department has paused immigrant visa interviews at every U.S. embassy and consulate so consular officers can be retrained on public charge screening. Applicants are receiving cancellation notices with no rescheduling timeline.

Visa News Green Card Processing Times Policy Updates

Aug 31, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Proposal to Kill the 60-Day Grace Period Clears the White House - H-1B, L-1, O-1 and TN Workers All Covered

A DHS proposed rule eliminating the 60-day grace period for nonimmigrant workers cleared White House regulatory review on August 27, 2026. Nothing changes until it is published and finalized.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates Green Card

Aug 31, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

The 60-Day Grace Period Was Always Discretionary - and Three Other Limits H-1B Workers Get Wrong

The regulation at 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2) already lets DHS shorten the 60-day grace period, caps it at the I-94 end date, and allows it only once per validity period.

H-1B Policy Updates Green Card USCIS

Aug 31, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

USCIS Can Refer Your Asylum Case to Immigration Court Without an Interview - and Comments Close Sept. 28

A correction published August 31 restores the cost table for the interim final rule letting USCIS refer affirmative asylum cases to court without an interview. Comments are due September 28, 2026.

USCIS Policy Updates Asylum

Aug 31, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

USCIS Reverses Course on Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies - Effective Immediately, Under Court Order

Policy Alert PA-2026-11, issued August 31, 2026, rescinds the 2025 restriction and lets nonpartisan organizations register new citizens to vote at naturalization ceremonies again.

USCIS Policy Updates Naturalization

Aug 27, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

A Rule Erasing the 30-Day Warning Before Refugee Status Is Revoked Is Sitting at the White House - as an Interim Final Rule

RIN 1615-AD23 has been under OIRA review since August 10 and would take effect without public comment, targeting the only response window refugees get under 8 CFR 207.9.

USCIS Refugees Policy Updates

Aug 26, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

DHS Moves to Narrow H-1B Cap Exemptions - and Universities and Nonprofit Labs Are Directly in the Path

A DHS proposed rule sent to the White House on August 24 would revise which employers qualify as H-1B cap-exempt - the exemption that lets universities and nonprofit research organizations hire outside the lottery.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates NIW

Aug 26, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Revives Its H-1B Third-Party Placement Crackdown - This Time as a Regulation, Not a Memo

A DHS proposed rule under White House review would increase oversight of H-1B third-party placements, six years after courts forced the agency to rescind its 2018 itinerary memo and vacated its 2020 rule.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 26, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

What the H-1B Reform Rule Filing Already Tells Us: Economically Significant, Nine Months Late, and Exempt From the Deregulation Order

The text of the new DHS H-1B reform rule is not public, but its OMB filing and Unified Agenda entry reveal its scale, its slipped timetable, and the earliest cap season it could realistically govern.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates Processing Times

Aug 24, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

Appeals Court Lets USCIS Reopen Already-Approved Cases for Travel-Ban Nationals - But Keeps the Adjudication Freeze Dead

The First Circuit on August 14 refused to revive the USCIS benefits hold and nationality-as-negative-factor policies, but allowed the agency to resume re-reviewing approvals granted on or after January 20, 2021.

USCIS Policy Updates Travel Ban

Aug 24, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

Colleges and Unions Sue to Block the Four-Year Cap on F-1 and J-1 Status Weeks Before It Takes Effect

A coalition of universities, educator groups and labor unions filed suit August 18 in federal court in Massachusetts seeking to stop the DHS rule that ends duration of status for international students on September 15.

F-1 J-1 DHS Policy Updates

Aug 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Proposes a $103,265 Fee on Every Cap-Subject H-1B Petition - Comments Close 30 Days After Aug. 25

DHS filed a proposed rule on Aug. 24 that would add a $103,265 fee to every H-1B cap-subject petition, on top of all existing fees. Comments are due 30 days after the Aug. 25 publication date.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

Half of H-1B Cap Filers Are Small Businesses - DHS Says 11,051 of Them Would Take a Significant Hit

DHS data shows 51 percent of FY2025 cap-subject H-1B petitioners were small entities, and the agency concedes its own proposed $103,265 fee would significantly affect 11,051 of them.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

Only a Third of the New H-1B Fee Would Go to USCIS - The Rest Funds Immigration Courts, ICE Vetting and DOL

DHS would send 33.7 percent of the proposed H-1B fee to the immigration courts to fund about 8,400 new positions, plus $1.05 billion to ICE and $1.21 billion to the Labor Department. USCIS keeps 34.2 percent.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 24, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

Texas Governor Wants Zero H-1B Workers in Public Schools - and Dallas ISD Alone Would Lose Hundreds

Gov. Greg Abbott proposed legislation on August 18 to bar Texas public school districts from sponsoring H-1B visas, extending a freeze he already imposed on state agencies and public universities in January.

H-1B Policy Updates Texas

Aug 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

The $100,000 H-1B Fee Was Struck Down in Court. Its Replacement Reaches Workers Already in the U.S.

A federal court vacated the guidance implementing the $100,000 H-1B proclamation payment in June. The new $103,265 fee uses ordinary fee-setting authority instead - and unlike an entry restriction, it reaches change-of-status petitions for workers already here.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

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 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 • 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

Aug 20, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

Treasury Moves to Strip Tax Refunds From H-1B and Other Visa Holders — Comments Close Oct. 5

Treasury and the IRS proposed a rule on Aug. 20 that would deny the refundable portion of the child tax credit, EITC, American opportunity credit and adoption credit to noncitizens who are not PRWORA qualified aliens — a category that excludes H-1B, L-1, F-1 and pending adjustment applicants. The agencies estimate 200,000 to 700,000 taxpayers would be affected.

USCIS H-1B EB-2 Policy Updates

Aug 18, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

BIA Overrules Arrabally: Traveling on Advance Parole Can Now Trigger the 3- and 10-Year Bars

In Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, decided Aug. 13, the Board of Immigration Appeals ended a 14-year protection for advance parole travelers — but applied the new rule prospectively only.

Green Card USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 18, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

Justice Department Files Record 25 Denaturalization Cases — Bringing the Total to 123 Since January 2025

USCIS says DOJ has filed 123 civil denaturalization complaints since January 2025, including 25 in recent weeks — what the government must prove, and what it means for naturalized citizens.

USCIS Naturalization Policy Updates

Aug 18, 2026 • Green Card • 3 min read

USCIS Publishes the Public Charge Playbook: What Officers Will Weigh Starting Sept. 18 — and What They Won't

USCIS issued its implementing guidance for the Sept. 18 public charge rule, superseding the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. Critically, the expanded benefit list is not retroactive.

USCIS Green Card EB-2 Policy Updates

Aug 11, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

DHS Clears the Way for Mandatory Online Filing at USCIS — Rule Effective August 11

An interim final rule published August 11 lets USCIS require electronic filing for forms that have been e-fileable for 180 days, with 60 days' notice and a hardship waiver. Comments close October 13, 2026.

USCIS Policy Updates N-400 H-1B

Aug 11, 2026 • Policy Updates • 3 min read

The $4,000 H-1B Surcharge Now Hits Extensions Too — New DHS Rule Starts September 9

DHS will apply the $4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 9-11 Response Fee to extension petitions starting September 9, 2026, turning a one-time hiring cost into a recurring one for visa-dependent employers.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 11, 2026 • Immigration News • 3 min read

Trump Signs Two New Orders on Birthright Citizenship and 'Birth Tourism' After Losing at the Supreme Court

Two executive orders signed August 6, 2026 narrow birthright citizenship for specific categories of children and direct State and DHS to deny visas to suspected birth tourists — a more targeted approach after the Supreme Court's June ruling.

USCIS Policy Updates Visa News

Aug 10, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DHS Ends 'Duration of Status' for F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders, Imposing a Four-Year Cap

DHS's final rule replaces open-ended 'duration of status' for F-1/J-1 holders with a four-year admission cap and a shorter grace period, effective September 15, 2026.

F-1 J-1 USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 10, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DHS Moves to Eliminate the 60-Day Grace Period for H-1B and Other Workers After Job Loss

DHS has sent a proposed rule to the White House that would end the 60-day grace period for H-1B and other nonimmigrant workers after job loss. It is not yet in effect.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 05, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

$750 Buys a Faster B-1/B-2 Interview — But Only in Mexico, and Only Through December

A State Department temporary final rule lets B-1/B-2 applicants pay $750 for an interview within 10 business days, launching at Mission Mexico and running through December 31, 2026.

Visa News Processing Times Policy Updates

Aug 05, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Appeals Court Refuses to Revive the $100,000 H-1B Fee — Petitions Stay Fee-Free Into 2027

The First Circuit denied the government's request to stay a ruling that vacated the $100,000 H-1B payment, leaving the fee unenforceable while the appeal proceeds.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Aug 05, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

ICE Expands Airport Arrests to Visa Overstays — Including People With Pending Green Card Applications

Attorneys report ICE detentions at check-in counters, gates, and arrival terminals at 15+ U.S. airports, now reaching overstays with pending adjustment or EAD applications.

USCIS Green Card H-1B Policy Updates

Aug 05, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

State Department Makes Visa Bonds Permanent — B-1/B-2 Applicants From 50 Countries Face Up to $20,000

A final rule published August 3, 2026 converts the visa bond pilot into a permanent program and raises the maximum bond from $15,000 to $20,000.

Visa News Policy Updates USCIS

Aug 05, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

TPS Work Permits Are Now Expiring in Week-Long Increments — Here Are the Current Dates

After the Supreme Court's June 2026 decision in Mullin v. Doe, USCIS is extending TPS work authorization a few days at a time while litigation continues, with Haiti, Syria, and Yemen already terminated.

USCIS Policy Updates Employment Authorization

Aug 05, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Can Now Send Asylum Cases Straight to Immigration Court With No Interview

An interim final rule effective July 28, 2026 lets asylum officers refer applications to EOIR based on the written record alone, targeting a backlog above 1.4 million cases.

USCIS Policy Updates Processing Times

Jul 22, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Judge Halts USCIS Work-Permit Rollback for Asylum Seekers and TPS Holders

A Boston federal judge temporarily blocked USCIS from retroactively shortening work permits and from using unpaid annual asylum fees to terminate work authorization, with a longer-term ruling expected by August 5, 2026.

USCIS EAD TPS Policy Updates

Jul 18, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Housing Aid Will Count Against Green Card Applicants Starting September 18

A DHS final rule effective September 18, 2026 lets USCIS weigh food stamps, Medicaid, and housing aid in green card decisions under a broader public charge test — with key exemptions.

Green Card USCIS Policy Updates EB-2

Jul 18, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Trump Administration Weighs a Refundable $100,000 Green Card Bond for Some Immigrant Visa Applicants

The State Department is reviewing a proposal to require a refundable bond of up to $100,000 from certain immigrant visa applicants abroad, refundable only after naturalization.

Green Card USCIS Policy Updates Immigration News

Jul 15, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

New Gallup Poll: 73% of Americans Still See Immigration as a Good Thing, Even as Support Dips

Gallup polling released in July 2026 shows 73% of Americans view immigration positively — down from a record high but still historically strong, with the dip driven mainly by shifting Republican sentiment.

USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 12, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DHS Plans August 2026 H-1B Reform Rule Targeting Cap Exemptions and Third-Party Placements

DHS's 2026 regulatory agenda flags an August 2026 H-1B reform proposal that would narrow cap exemptions, tighten third-party placement rules, and increase employer oversight.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates NIW

Jul 12, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

International Students Face New Limits: OPT Restrictions and Fixed Stay Periods Advance in 2026 Agenda

The 2026 regulatory agenda advances a proposed OPT/STEM OPT restriction (Feb 2027) and an imminent Duration of Status final rule that would give F-1 and J-1 students fixed stay periods.

USCIS Policy Updates H-1B NIW

Jul 12, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Trump Administration's 2026 Regulatory Agenda Signals Sweeping Immigration Rules Ahead for H-1B, Students, and Green Cards

The government's 2026 Unified Regulatory Agenda, released July 7, lays out pending DHS, DOL, and State Department rules affecting H-1B workers, international students, and green-card applicants.

USCIS H-1B Policy Updates Green Card

Jul 11, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

DOJ Orders Prosecutors to Prioritize 'Birth Tourism' Cases After Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship

One day after the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship in a 5-4 ruling, the DOJ directed prosecutors to prioritize birth tourism cases using visa fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering charges.

Birthright Citizenship USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 11, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Government Launches Major H-1B and PERM Visa Fraud Crackdown

The Department of Labor's Inspector General, working with DHS, DOJ, and VP Vance's fraud task force, launched a major H-1B and PERM fraud investigation on July 8, 2026, issuing dozens of subpoenas.

H-1B PERM USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 09, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship, Striking Down Trump Executive Order

The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 on June 30, 2026 that children born in the U.S. to unlawfully or temporarily present parents are citizens at birth, striking down Executive Order 14160.

Supreme Court Birthright Citizenship USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 09, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Proposes to Sharply Limit Discretionary Work Permits — One-Year Cap and New Denial Triggers

A USCIS proposed rule (91 FR 34352, June 5, 2026) would limit discretionary EADs for parolees, deferred-action recipients, and those under orders of supervision — capping validity at one year and adding new termination triggers. Comments due August 4, 2026.

USCIS Employment Authorization EAD Policy Updates

Jul 06, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

White House Clears Final Rule Ending Duration of Status: F-1 and J-1 Face a 4-Year Cap

DHS's final rule replacing Duration of Status with a fixed admission period of up to four years for F-1 and J-1 visa holders cleared White House review on June 17, 2026, and awaits Federal Register publication.

USCIS F-1 Visa OPT Policy Updates

Jul 05, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DHS Proposes Sweeping EB-5 Investor Visa Overhaul: What Investors Need to Know

DHS published a July 2, 2026 proposed rule to fully implement the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, adding mandatory project pre-approval, promoter registration, and tougher regional-center oversight. Comments are open until August 31, 2026.

EB-5 USCIS Policy Updates Green Card

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 • 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 • 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

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

Jun 28, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Employers Take Note: New Form I-9 Edition and the July 31, 2026 Electronic-System Deadline

USCIS reminds employers that a revised Form I-9 (edition 01/20/25, expiring 05/31/2027) is in use and that electronic I-9 systems must be updated to the current version by July 31, 2026.

USCIS H-1B Policy Updates

Jun 28, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

USCIS Issues Urgent Notice to Clients of Disbarred Immigration Attorney Alexandra Lozano

USCIS is urging the roughly 35,000 former clients of disbarred attorney Alexandra Lozano to update their addresses and review filings, after she resigned from the Washington bar and was suspended from practice before DHS.

USCIS Immigration News Policy Updates

Jun 27, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Courts Lift Country-Based Suspensions on Green Card and Visa Processing

Federal courts ordered immigration agencies to lift nationality-based suspensions on green card and immigrant-visa adjudications, ruling the broad pauses unlawful.

USCIS Green Card Policy Updates

Jun 27, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

H-1B Visa Holders Lose Access to FHA-Insured Mortgages Under HUD Rule

A HUD rule now bars non-permanent residents, including H-1B visa holders, from FHA-insured mortgages, pushing affected buyers toward conventional loans.

H-1B Policy Updates

Jun 27, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

USCIS Completes FY 2027 H-1B Selection Under New Wage-Weighted Lottery

USCIS completed FY 2027 H-1B cap selection under its new wage-weighted lottery, which awards one to four entries based on offered wage level, with more registration changes ahead.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jun 25, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

H-1B Lottery Replaced: Wage-Weighted Selection Takes Effect for FY2027

DHS's final wage-weighted H-1B selection rule, effective Feb. 27, 2026, replaces the random lottery for FY2027 — higher-paid registrations get more entries and better odds.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jun 25, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Supreme Court Lets Trump End TPS Protections for Haitians and Syrians

In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration has unreviewable authority to end TPS for roughly 330,000 Haitians and 3,800 Syrians.

TPS Policy Updates USCIS

Jun 24, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Appeals Court Clears Trump Administration to Expand Fast-Track Deportations Nationwide

The D.C. Circuit ruled 2-1 on June 23, 2026 to let the administration apply expedited removal nationwide to undocumented immigrants who cannot prove two years' continuous U.S. presence.

Policy Updates USCIS

Jun 24, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Data Shows Legal Immigration Falling Sharply in 2026 — What It Means for Skilled Applicants

Government data and Migration Policy Institute analysis show legal immigration falling sharply in 2026 — with fewer visas, halved student-visa issuance, and worsening delays reshaping the system.

Policy Updates NIW Green Card Processing Times

Jun 24, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump's $100,000 H-1B Fee as an Unlawful Tax

A Massachusetts federal judge vacated the administration's $100,000 H-1B fee as an unauthorized tax, but a conflicting D.C. ruling means the issue is likely headed to appeals or the Supreme Court.

H-1B Policy Updates USCIS

Jun 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

$100,000 H-1B Fee Reinstated for Now After Court Grants Administrative Stay

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

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jun 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Random No More: How the New Wage-Weighted H-1B Selection Changes Your Odds

A DHS final rule effective February 27, 2026 replaces the random H-1B lottery with a wage-level weighted selection that gives Level IV registrations four entries and pushes their selection odds above 61 percent.

H-1B Processing Times NIW Policy Updates

Jun 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Makes Consular Processing the Default: What the New Adjustment of Status Policy Means

USCIS policy memo PM-602-0199, effective May 21, 2026, makes consular processing the default for green card seekers and treats adjustment of status as extraordinary relief, though dual-intent H-1B and L-1 holders are less affected.

USCIS Green Card H-1B Policy Updates

Jun 17, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Court Battle Over the $100,000 H-1B Fee: Why the Charge Is Still Alive

A Massachusetts federal court struck down the $100,000 H-1B fee, but an administrative stay keeps it in effect while the government appeals to the First Circuit.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jun 17, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

USCIS Clarifies F, M, and J Student and Exchange Visitor Rules

A USCIS Policy Alert clarifies the definitions and requirements for F, M, and J student and exchange visitor classifications, aligning with the State Department and requiring dependents to establish eligibility individually.

USCIS Visa News Policy Updates

Jun 17, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Implements the H-1B Modernization Final Rule: Beneficiary-Centric Selection Explained

An official USCIS Policy Alert details the H-1B Modernization Final Rule, which moves the cap lottery to a beneficiary-centric selection process so each person is entered only once.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jun 17, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Restores Officer Discretion on RFEs and Denials: What It Means for Your Case

A USCIS Policy Alert confirms officers can issue RFEs more flexibly and may deny cases without an RFE or NOID when eligibility isn't established — raising the stakes on getting filings right the first time.

USCIS Policy Updates NIW

Jun 10, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

H-1B Lottery Overhaul: Final Rule Shifts Selection Toward Higher-Wage Workers

A final rule moves the H-1B lottery from equal odds to a weighted, wage-based system, giving the highest-paid applicants multiple chances while squeezing students, early-career workers, and startups.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jun 10, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Supreme Court to Decide Fate of TPS for 350,000 Haitians, With Ripple Effects for Other Nationalities

The Supreme Court is set to decide whether the administration can end TPS for about 350,000 Haitians, a ruling expected to also affect Venezuelan, Syrian, and Salvadoran TPS holders.

TPS USCIS Policy Updates

Mar 10, 2026 • X • 1 min read

Eleven Deaths Reported in US Immigration Custody This Year

ICE reports eleven deaths in immigration custody in 2023, raising concerns about detainee welfare and oversight.

ICE Detainee Welfare Immigration Custody US Immigration +1 more

Feb 25, 2026 • X • 1 min read

H-1B Lottery Filing Window Opens March 4-19, 2024

The H-1B lottery filing window for 2024 opens from March 4 to March 19, 2024, as announced by USCIS.

H-1B USCIS Visa News Policy Updates +1 more

Feb 09, 2026 • X • 1 min read

Prepare for FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Now

Important information on the upcoming FY 2027 H-1B cap registration process.

H-1B USCIS Visa News Policy Updates +1 more

Feb 09, 2026 • X • 1 min read

Trump's Immigration Reform Focus Shifts After Border Security

Republicans, including Trump, now advocate for immigration reform following border security achievements.

Immigration Policy Border Security Trump Reform +1 more

Jan 25, 2026 • LinkedIn • 1 min read

Pause on Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries Expected

Important updates on consular immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries shared by Minnie Fu and Porter Young.

Immigrant Visa Visa Processing Department of State Policy Updates +1 more