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 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
On February 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State updated visa interview waiver (“drop box”) eligibility criteria for individuals renewing their visa stamps, resulting in sudden drop box appointment cancellations and...more
After quietly updating consular websites, signaling a significant change to Visa Interview Waiver (“dropbox”) eligibility requirements, on Feb. 18, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) officially announced the reversion to...more
On Feb. 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DoS) began limiting those who can use the Dropbox Program to renew their visas to individuals with either valid visas or with visas that expired in the last 12 months (reduced...more
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India recently announced updates to nonimmigrant visa processing that took effect last week, including changes to interview waiver (drop box) eligibility and the centralization of visa...more
H-1B Registrations for the FY2026 cap season will open at noon ET on March 7, 2025, and run through noon ET on March 24, 2025. The USCIS filing fee is $215 per registration this year (a significant increase from $10)....more
Through a series of sweeping executive orders, the Trump Administration has launched a systematic overhaul of U.S. immigration policy. The Administration’s prioritization of immigration enforcement will likely impact...more
On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration issued multiple immigration-related Executive Orders focusing on border security, rolling back humanitarian programs, increased vetting of visa applicants, and an attempt to end...more
Along with the New Year, January 1st also marks the implementation of a new Visa Bulletin by the U.S. Department of State....more
An all too familiar countdown once again as we wait to hear the fate of the latest temporary extension to continue funding the government after midnight on Friday, December 20th. Employers should be aware that a shutdown will...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule to permanently increase the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents for certain applicants. The final...more
The Department of State released the January 2024 Visa Bulletin and USCIS has confirmed they will accept employment-based Adjustment of Status applications based on the Dates for Filing chart. All employment-based categories...more
The U.S. Supreme Court held in Bouarfa v. Mayorkas, No. 23-583 (Dec. 10, 2024), that one cannot appeal a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revocation of an approved visa petition in federal court because such...more