Immigration Insights Podcast: International Entrepreneur Parole Program & Biometrics Requirement
The Department of State recently announced new rules requiring visa applicants to attend interviews in their home countries – a change that could significantly impact employers that rely on foreign talent, in addition to the...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
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently delivered a one-two punch to nonimmigrant visa processing: (1) as of September 2, 2025, the “interview waiver” (or “dropbox processing”) option for nonimmigrant visas has...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has implemented new restrictions that all but eliminate the ability of individuals to apply for visa stamps at U.S. consulates outside their home countries. This change significantly impacts...more
The Department of State (DOS) announced that effective immediately, applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIVs) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of...more
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
On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced that, with few exceptions, all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will require an in-person interview with a...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
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
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
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
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