Immigration Insights Podcast: International Entrepreneur Parole Program & Biometrics Requirement
As of September 6, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) appears to be limiting the ability for applicants to make nonimmigrant visa appointments outside of their country of nationality or residence (limitation does not apply...more
On Saturday, September 6, the Department of State announced that, effective immediately, individuals should plan to process nonimmigrant visa applications in their country of nationality or residence. ...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has published a proposed rule that would fundamentally change the way foreign nationals are admitted to the United...more
On September 6, 2025, the US Department of State (DOS) announced that, effective immediately, applicants for US nonimmigrant visas should schedule visa appointments at the US Consular Post in their country of nationality or...more
For hospitals and health systems seeking to recruit talented physicians, navigating J-1 waiver programs is essential. Foreign physicians who have completed a training program in the U.S. must either return to their home...more
On Saturday, September 6th, 2025, the Department of State announced that, effective immediately, all applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or...more
Updates regarding the H-1B lottery, restrictions for visa appointment waivers and additional requirements for naturalization are included in the latest edition of the Immigration Insider. No Additional H-1B Lottery for...more
Beginning on September 2, 2025, U.S. consulates will implement a more restrictive version of the nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview waiver (IW) program. The IW program is also commonly referred to as “drop box” visa...more
On July 25, 2025, the US State Department announced that US embassies will greatly reduce eligibility for the nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program beginning on September 2, 2025. In addition, the State Department will...more
Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. State Department is eliminating visa waiver of appointments (otherwise called dropbox appointments) for many visa applicants. Many visa applicants and their dependents previously...more
On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a new policy that will significantly limit the eligibility of visa applicants to obtain visas without consular interviews. The new policy will go into effect on...more
The U.S. Department of State announced that effective September 2, 2025, the categories of applicants that may be eligible for the Dropbox Program (a/k/a Interview Waiver) will be updated, adding further restrictions to those...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
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
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
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
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