DOS and USCIS have issued all available immigrant visas for the EB1 category for fiscal year 2025. The annual limits will reset with the start of the 2026 fiscal year on 01.Oct.2025....
Effective 06.Sep.2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants must schedule their interviews at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality. Exceptions apply only to select visa types or those impacted by temporary diplomatic or humanitarian circumstances....
On August 25, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is resuming “neighborhood” investigations of certain individuals applying for naturalization. This policy change ends the agency's over three-decade long practice of waiving these investigations. Overview of Neighborhood Investigations The Immigration and Nationality Act...
To apply for U.S. citizenship, an individual must show good moral character (GMC) for the applicable statutory period. The definition of GMC was taken to mean no adverse behavior, such as multiple criminal convictions and so forth. Recently, the USCIS has published policy memos that...
The current trends with inspection at the Port of Entry, including issues at preclearance, are discussed by Murthy Law Firm attorneys in this 03.Sep.2025 podcast.The MP3 is available here and can be found in the archive of our podcasts and teleconferences on iTunes. Find more...
DHS announces termination of 2021 TPS designation for Venezuela, effective 07.Nov.2025. Current beneficiaries must explore other lawful options to remain in the U.S. or prepare for departure. Read the Federal Register notice for details....
New USCIS policy memo (PM-602-0190) reaffirms that applicants must demonstrate it is unlikely they will become a “public charge” per INA § 212(a)(4), a reminder that adjudicators must apply a holistic, statutes-based standard. The return to this public charge policy does not involve changes to...
USCIS has expanded its law enforcement authorities by adding special agents who can investigate, arrest, carry firearms, and execute warrants. The officers can also order expedited removal of foreign nationals....
In a significant policy shift, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its plan to eliminate the ability to pay filing fees using personal checks, money orders, or other forms of paper payments, with few exceptions. For decades, these paper-based payments have been a...
Answer Priority date retention happens at the I-140 stage. Requesting retention of a priority date does not void or otherwise invalidate the original I-140’s PERM application. If Company A chooses not to withdraw the I-140, it continues to remain valid for immigration purposes, even if that...
