22 Aug 2026

September 2026 Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the September 2026 Visa Bulletin. Cutoff dates across the employment-based and family-based categories generally hold steady from August 2026, with no forward movement or retrogression this month, but the DOS continues to caution that retrogression, or categories...

18 Aug 2026

NewsFlash! USCIS Issues Sweeping New Public Charge Guidance Effective September 18, 2026

On August 18, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued extensive new policy guidance explaining how the agency will apply the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The guidance implements the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule published on July 20, 2026, which...

05 Aug 2026

NewsFlash! USCIS Revises Initial Evidence Requirements and RFE/NOID Guidance

On August 5, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Alert revising its guidance regarding the evidence required with initial benefit requests and the circumstances under which officers may issue, or decline to issue, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and Notices of...

05 Aug 2026

Adding a Spouse or Child to a Principal Applicant’s Green Card Process

When an individual applies for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (commonly, a green card) in the United States, certain family members also may qualify for LPR status as derivative beneficiaries. Such family members typically include the principal applicant’s spouse and any unmarried children under the...

20 Jul 2026

August 2026 Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the August 2026 Visa Bulletin. As fiscal year (FY) 2026 enters its final two months, the bulletin reflects limited movement across most employment- and family-based immigrant visa categories. While several categories advanced modestly, others remained unchanged or...

16 Jul 2026

NewsFlash! USCIS Rescinds 2022 Public Charge Rule; New Standards Take Effect 18.Sep.2026

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a final rule rescinding the public charge regulation issued during the Biden administration, which has governed public charge determinations in adjustment of status applications since 2022. The new rule, published by the Department of Homeland Security...

01 Jul 2026

A Simple Explanation of Lawful Status, Authorized Stay, and Unlawful Presence

A person living in the United States on a visa may hear terms such as “out of status,” “authorized stay,” and “unlawful presence.” Although these phrases can sound similar, they have distinct legal meanings. Understanding the difference can be important, because it may affect whether...