A recent federal court order has rolled back the steep EB-5 fee increases from the 2024 USCIS Fee Rule, restoring pre-2024 filing fees and immediately reducing costs for petitioners and regional centers. Introduction As stated in a recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) news alert, on November 12, 2025, the federal court temporarily blocked […]
Read MoreDHS proposes to rescind the 2022 public charge ground of inadmissibility regulations, signaling a major shift toward a more flexible and balanced “totality of the circumstances” standard for admissibility. Introduction On November 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register. The NPRM proposes […]
Read MoreA new DHS regulation could either end or sharply restrict optical practical training (OPT), altering the primary post-graduation work pathway for international students in the United States. Introduction The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it is preparing a new regulation that could change the rules surrounding student practical training programs—including Optional Practical […]
Read More
Nov 18 2025
The Department of State has released the December 2025 Visa Bulletin. You can access the copy of the Visa Bulletin on the Department of State website here. Note: USCIS has designated the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based adjustment of status applications and the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored adjustment of status applications within the U.S. for December […]
Read MoreDHS has proposed a sweeping biometrics rule that would allow USCIS to require fingerprints, photos, and even DNA from virtually anyone connected to an immigration filing—including U.S. citizens, green card holders, and children—unless specifically exempted. Introduction On November 3, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the […]
Read MoreThe DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification has fully resumed processing prevailing wage and labor certification applications following the government shutdown, allowing stalled employment-based immigration cases to move forward again, though stakeholders should expect slower-than-normal processing times. Introduction The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has made an official announcement that the Office of Foreign Labor […]
Read More
Nov 13 2025
Introduction Effective October 28, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only accept electronic payments for paper-filed forms. This change, announced in a news release, marks the formal end of filing fees paid by check, money order, or other paper-based instruments for applications, petitions, and requests submitted by mail. How to Pay: Credit, Debit, […]
Read MoreThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that significantly changes how automatic extensions of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) will apply in the future. Effective Date and Non-Retroactivity: Scope of the Rule Under the new rule, DHS clarifies that the 540-day automatic extension applies only to renewal EAD applications filed […]
Read More
Oct 28 2025
The Department of State has released the November 2025 Visa Bulletin. You can access the copy of the Visa Bulletin on the Department of State website here. Note: USCIS has designated the Final Action dates for employment-based adjustment of status applications and the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored adjustment of status applications within the U.S. for November 2025. […]
Read More
Oct 24 2025
On September 19, 2025, the President issued a Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. Under the Proclamation, certain H-1B petitions filed at or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 21, 2025, must include an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility. USCIS has provided more clarification about the payment. […]
Read More