Overview In order to allow U.S. firms to temporarily employ foreign workers in “specialty occupations” — positions that call for the theoretical and practical application of a particular body of knowledge — the H-1B nonimmigrant visa classification was created. In highly skilled fields, the main justification is to fill labor shortages domestically by enabling firms […]
Read MoreUSCIS will now issue green card-based work permits (EADs) for only 18 months instead of five years for all applications pending or filed on or after December 5, 2025. Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made an official announcement discussing a major change to work permits (Employment Authorization Documents, or “EADs”) for many […]
Read MoreBeginning December 15, 2025, all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will undergo an online presence review as part of the U.S. Department of State’s expanded screening process. Introduction The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued an official announcement that, beginning December 15, 2025, consular officers will conduct an online presence review for all H-1B […]
Read MoreA new draft application for the Trump Gold Card program has cleared federal review, moving this high-value immigrant visa option one step closer to implementation. Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has taken the first formal step toward implementing a new immigration option called the Gold Card program. To support the program, USCIS has […]
Read MoreA 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 […]
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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 […]
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