Per USCIS and CBP (see photos below), it appears that the new $100,000 fee will not apply to: (1) H-1B visa holders currently abroad who are reentering the U.S.; (2) H-1B visa holders traveling internationally and returning or (3) H-1B petitions filed prior to Sept. 21.  Instead, the proclamation applies only to new H-1B petitions… Continue reading NEWEST H-1B Update (Sept. 20, 6:00 PM EST)

Gold Card – Requires a $1M “gift” (plus fees) after DHS vetting. Approved applicants get lawful permanent residence, in categories comparable to EB-1 or EB-2, with guidance from Gold Card Visa Lawyers. Applicants must be eligible for lawful permanent resident status, admissible to the United States, and a visa must be available. 🔹 Gold Card… Continue reading Trump Gold Card Just Announced – What’s Really Going On?

On Sept. 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting the entry of H-1B workers outside the U.S. unless they pay a new $100,000 fee. This takes effect Sept. 21, 2025, and lasts for 1 year (may be extended). Key points:• Appears to apply only to H-1B workers attempting to enter/reenter the U.S. after Sept… Continue reading Important Update for H-1B Workers & Employers

USCIS has announced important changes to the civics portion of the naturalization exam. Beginning soon, applicants will no longer take the 2008 version of the test  when attending their Citizenship Interview. Instead, USCIS will roll out what it is calling the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test—a modified version of the 2020 exam. What Is Changing Transition… Continue reading USCIS Announces New 2025 Naturalization Civics Test

If you’re a Green Card hold applying for U.S. citizenship, a new immigration policy that you should be aware of may affect your case. Recently, in August 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the reinstatement of the practice of conducting “neighborhood checks” for certain naturalization applicants. This shift means that some applicants could… Continue reading USCIS Revives “Neighborhood Checks” in Naturalization Cases: What Citizenship Applicants Should Know

In certain cases, foreign nationals applying for temporary visitor visas to the United States — specifically B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism/pleasure) visas — may now be required to post a substantial monetary bond as a condition of visa issuance. Under this pilot program, consular officers may require qualifying applicants to post a bond of up… Continue reading Bond Requirements for B-1 and B-2 Visitors from Specific Countries

Starting September 2, 2025, most nonimmigrant visa applicants will once again be required to attend an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate—even children under 14 and adults over 79. The U.S. Department of State recently announced a significant rollback of its nonimmigrant visa interview waiver policy. For the past few years, certain visa applicants—including those… Continue reading Changes to U.S. Visa Interview Waiver Policy

In the spring of 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), through local offices of the Principal Legal Advisor, began issuing “Notice of Intention to Fine” to thousands of unsuspecting individuals, who had been granted voluntary departure and failed to depart, or who had been issued “final orders of removal,” and willfully failed or refused… Continue reading Challenging DHS Notices of Intention to Fine for Failure to Depart the United States

On July 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua, citing improved conditions in both countries. To facilitate a transition, DHS has instituted a 60-day wind-down period, during which TPS beneficiaries will retain their protection from removal and continue… Continue reading Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Honduras and Nicaragua

  After canceling visa interviews for individuals seeking to study in the United States, the Department of State recently announced that they will begin scheduling them again with new procedures in place. Specifically, a June 18, 2025 State Department cable outlines a major policy shift in the processing of F, M, and J visa applications—one… Continue reading New State Department Policy Adds Social Media Vetting for Students