Immigration - Visas

Effective January 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of State will pause issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from seventy-five designated countries. This announcement renews the Trump administration’s push for immigrants to demonstrate they are “financially self-sufficient and not a financial burde

The U.S. Department of State’s February 2026 Visa Bulletin shows advancement from the January 2026 Visa Bulletin in both final action dates and dates for filing in the EB-3 category. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it would continue to accept employment-base

Some U.S. employers are facing a complicated situation: a foreign national employee on a work visa, such as an H-1B, travels abroad for what should be a short trip, with the goal of renewing the visa stamp travel document, only to become stranded due to unforeseen visa processing delays. With

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that removes the long‑standing requirement that R‑1 nonimmigrant religious workers who have exhausted the maximum five‑year period in R‑1 status must spend one full year abroad before becoming eligible to return in R‑1

The U.S. Department of State announced an update to its “ Countries Subject to Visa Bonds ” notice on January 6, 2026, expanding the pilot program to include thirty-two additional nations—including Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Uganda, and Venezuela—and expanding acceptable ports of entry to include n

The U.S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed on Jan. 5, 2025, to fast-track the appeal of the recent federal court ruling upholding the Trump Administration’s imposition of a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa petitions. On Dec. 24, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Distri

U.S. consulates abroad have recently begun postponing a wide range of H‑1B and H‑4 visa interviews, resulting in significant delays in visa processing. Consulates in India have been among the most affected, as India remains the largest source of H‑1B visa holders worldwide. Beginning in the second w

A federal judge has granted the Trump Administration’s motion for summary judgment and upheld the legality of the $100,000 fee requirement for certain H-1B visa petitions. Chamber of Commerce of the USA v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, No. 1:25-cv-03675 (D.D.C. Dec. 23, 2025). President Dona

Takeaways DHS has announced a final rule that replaces the usual randomized selection lottery H-1B cap selection process for one favoring higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign professionals. The “Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions”

A federal judge has granted the Trump Administration’s motion for summary judgment and upheld the legality of the $100,000 fee requirement for certain H-1B visa petitions. Chamber of Commerce of the USA v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, No. 1:25-cv-03675 (D.D.C. Dec. 23, 2025). President Dona

Takeaways DHS announced in a final rule that it will apply a new H-1B selection process, replacing the random lottery, to allocate cap-subject H-1B visas beginning with FY 2027. Registrants submitted under higher wage levels will have a better chance of being selected, with positions under the highe

The U.S. Department of State’s January 2026 Visa Bulletin shows advancement from the December 2025 Visa Bulletin in both final action dates and dates for filing in several categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it would continue to accept employment-bas

Social Media Vetting Expansion for Visa Applicants On December 15, the Department of State (DOS) announced it will expand its social media vetting requirement to additional nonimmigrant visa classifications, including H-1B, H-4 dependents, F, M, and J. tgelbman@littler.com Thu, 12/18/2025 - 10:50

Related links EEOC Press Release: New and Updated Educational Materials on National Origin Discrimination (11.19.25) EEOC National Origin Discrimination Landing Page EEOC Technical Assistance Document: “Discrimination Against American Workers Is Against the Law” The Equal Employment Opportunity Comm

Starting December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will expand its online presence review to include all H-1B and dependent H-4 visa applicants. As part of the expansion, announced by the State Department on December 3, 2025, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants must make their social media profiles p

Takeaways Starting 12.15.25, all H‑1B visa applicants and their H‑4 dependents must make their social‑media profiles public. Consular officers will scrutinize social-media activity, resumes and online work history. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers should anticipate possible delays, administrative p

Takeaways The launch of Project Firewall signals the current administration’s tougher, more restrictive stance on high-skilled immigration. Key aspects of the enforcement initiative include increased investigations, interagency coordination, greater employer accountability and intent to protect Amer

Takeaways The Trump Administration will review all green cards issued to individuals from 19 “countries of concern.” The DHS has indefinitely stopped processing Afghan-related immigration requests. President Trump stated his goal is to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries.” U.

The U.S. Department of State’s December 2025 Visa Bulletin shows some advancement from the November 2025 Visa Bulletin in the final action dates, while the dates for filing show no changes, with the exception of the fourth preference category for certain religious workers and the fifth preference un