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28 Jul 2026

I received deferred disposition for an assault / family violence citation. Since the case was later dismissed, do I still have a conviction for immigration purposes?

Answer You may still have a conviction for immigration purposes. A conviction for immigration purposes can exist even if the court withholds adjudication and later dismisses the case, so long as the person entered a guilty plea, no contest plea, or admitted sufficient facts, and the...

09:20 / Employment Based / Family Based / FAQs / For Families / Homeland Security / Immigrant Family / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Worker
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...

18:31 / EB5 Investor / Employment Based / Family Based / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / Investor / NewsBrief / Resident / Visa Bulletin
08 Jul 2026

I filed my I-485 application and left my sponsoring employer before it had been pending for 180 days. What happens if my employer withdraws the underlying I-140 petition before then? Can I still use AC21 portability?

Answer AC21 portability, in part, requires that the I-485 application must have been pending for at least 180 days, and the I-140 petition remained approved through that point. If the employer withdraws the I-140 before the I-485 has been pending for 180 days, then the requirements...

11:58 / Employment Based / FAQs / For Individuals / Resident
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...

16:04 / Employment Based / Family Based / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / Worker
30 Jun 2026

When is the EB5 investment amount expected to increase? How much will it increase, and which EB5 categories are affected?

Answer The law requires the EB5 investment amount to be adjusted for inflation starting January 1, 2027 and again every five years thereafter. The exact amounts have not yet been announced, but both the standard investment amount and the reduced amount for investments in targeted employment...

14:21 / EB5 Investor / Employment Based / FAQs / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / Investor / Resident
23 Jun 2026

Supreme Court: Border Officers Need No Heightened Proof to Treat Returning Green Card Holders with Criminal Issues as Seeking Admission

In a decision with real consequences for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who travel internationally, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on 23.Jun.2026, that a border officer does not need clear and convincing evidence that a green card holder committed a crime before treating that person as...

14:06 / Employment Based / Family Based / For Families / For Individuals / Homeland Security / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Resident / Travel / USCIS News
23 Jun 2026

I noticed that the July 2026 Visa Bulletin shows a “U” for India in the EB2 and EB5 Unreserved categories. What does that mean?

Answer A "U" on the Visa Bulletin means the category is unavailable because all available immigrant visa numbers for that fiscal year have been used. As a result, USCIS cannot approve adjustment of status applications or issue immigrant visas in that category while it remains unavailable....

13:04 / Consulates / Employment Based / FAQs / Resident / USCIS News / Visa Bulletin
16 Jun 2026

July 2026 Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin. There is forward movement in select employment-based categories, while certain employment-based categories retrogress. All cutoff dates listed below refer to the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Visa Bulletin Summary Employment-Based,...

17:07 / Consulates / EB5 Investor / Employment Based / Family Based / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Homeland Security / Immigrant Family / Investor / NewsBrief / Resident / USCIS News / Visa Bulletin