Immigration Insights Podcast: International Entrepreneur Parole Program & Biometrics Requirement
Each month, federal immigration authorities publish a list of dates informing immigrant visa applicants when they should expect to be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to government officials. This...more
The U.S. Department of State has announced resumption of student and exchange visitor visa processing, along with expanded digital vetting procedures. The June 18, 2025, press release, “Announcement of Expanded Screening and...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding certain eligibility requirements, including filing, requirements for classification, and change of status...more
The USCIS has issued new guidance in its Policy Manual, which updates the eligibility criteria for TN professionals under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, also known as the “USMCA.” This guidance outlines...more
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications chart in July 2025. The Final Action Dates chart shows slight advancement in several...more
Recent United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. State Department updates require businesses and individuals to adhere to new TN visa eligibility criteria—such as prohibiting self-employment,...more
On May 28, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese students, “including...more
In a sudden move last week, the State Department stopped scheduling new visa interviews for international students and exchange visitors while it rolls out enhanced social media screening procedures. The suspension, which...more
The State Department ordered U.S. embassies and consulates to temporarily stop scheduling new student visa interviews for F, M and J visas worldwide in preparation for expanding vetting. The directive instructs diplomatic...more
Last week, an internal U.S. Department of State (DOS) correspondence pertaining to visa processing for international student and exchange visitors in the F, M, and J visa classifications was leaked and published by various...more
On May 27, 2025, the Department of State issued a cable instructing U.S. Embassies and Consulates to pause scheduling new visa appointments for foreign nationals seeking to obtain student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and...more
The June 2025 Visa Bulletin shows some advancement in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for all countries except for India. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept employment-based...more
On April 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of State launched two new tools to monitor immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interview availability: (1) the Immigrant Visa (IV) Scheduling Status Tool, and (2) the Global Visa Wait Times...more
The H-1B visa is among the most popular working visas in the U.S. for individuals filling professional positions. Most H-1B visas are subject to an annual quota or “cap.” Because demand exceeds the number of available visas,...more
A memo issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, titled “Guidance for Visa Adjudicators on Executive Order 14201: ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,’” introduces new U.S. visa policies that affect transgender individuals...more
The Department of State announced it is restricting the eligibility for visa interview waiver appointments (commonly known as dropbox). To remain eligible for dropbox, applicants must be applying for a visa in the same...more
Given the strong economic ties between Japan and the U.S., the E-2 visa has become a well-established option for individuals looking to expand their business across the border. The E-2 visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa that...more
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign professionals. But with a limited number of visas and high demand, early preparation is key. Here is a quick overview of the 2026 H-1B visa lottery...more
On February 18, 2025, the US Department of State announced a new policy requiring more foreign nationals to attend in-person interviews to apply for nonimmigrant visas....more
Effective February 18, 2025, the Department of State has changed the categories of applicants that are eligible to waive the in-person non-immigrant visa interview appointment when applying for a non-immigrant visa stamp for...more
International travelers seeking to renew their U.S. visas must meet stricter requirements and may see longer wait times. Effective February 18, 2025, DOS has officially reverted the special pandemic-era eligibility criteria...more