As the federal government shutdown drags on into its third week with no clear end in sight, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has provided helpful guidance for petitioners who are unable to timely file due to the closure of other essential agencies, such...
There are reports of heightened scrutiny by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at U.S. ports of entry (POEs), even for individuals entering the U.S. under employment-based visas such as the H1B. This heightened scrutiny can lead to lines of intense questioning and searches...
Following the implementation of the presidential proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on certain H1B petitions effective September 21, 2025, additional clarity has emerged regarding who is subject to the fee and who is exempt. However, significant questions remain about the proclamation's scope and application, and...
A diverse group of organizations has filed suit against Trump’s proclamation that imposes a $100,000 fee on “new” H1B petitions. The organizations, which include schools, religious organizations, labor unions, and workers, presents multiple legal theories as to why the fee is not lawful.In the lawsuit,...
Each year, thousands of F-1 students are granted a change of status to H1B, with an effective start date of October 1st. But plans sometimes change before the start date. The employer may withdraw the H1B petition before it ever takes effect, leaving the student...
Congress must pass a spending bill to extend government operations before October 1, 2025, or else a temporary shutdown of the federal government will go into effect. This would be the first shutdown since Trump was reelected. Security, CBP, and Vital Functions Continue The U.S. government never...
On September 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register titled “Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions.” If finalized, the rule would change the H1B cap registration process...
Last night, Trump issued a proclamation to restrict the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers, specifically targeting the H1B visa program. The proclamation, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21, 2025, requires employers to pay a $100,000 fee to accompany a visa petition...
The Trump Administration is poised to sign a proclamation that would impose a $100,000 fee for H1B petitions. No additional details have been provided. But, if Trump proceeds with this action, it will inevitably result in a flurry of lawsuits filed to block the rule...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued new instructions, effective 06.Sep.2025, that may sharply curtail the practice of third-country national (TCN) visa processing. The new guidance signals that most nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants will be expected to apply from within their country of nationality...
