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07 Nov 2025

State Department Expands Health-Based Grounds for Visa Denials

The Trump Administration has directed the U.S. Department of State to issue new guidance directing consular officers to consider a significantly expanded range of health conditions when evaluating visa applications, including common chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health conditions. Although...

13:32 / Consulates / Employment Based / Family Based / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Travel / Worker
29 Oct 2025

I am in the U.S. on L-1 status, but my family is still abroad. If I obtain my green card, can my family come to the U.S. afterwards on L-2 status and apply for their green cards?

Answer Once the primary L-1 visa holder becomes a permanent resident, they are no longer in L-1 status, and their family members are no longer eligible for L-2 status. The family would need to enter the U.S. prior to the principal L-1 visa holder becoming a...

05:29 / Family Based / FAQs / For Families / Immigrant Family / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Travel / Worker
02 Oct 2025

Navigating Immigration Enforcement at Formerly Protected Locations

For over three decades, immigration enforcement agencies operated under policies that restricted enforcement activities at certain sensitive locations, such as schools, places of worship, and hospitals. This protective framework, built through successive presidential administrations, ended abruptly on January 20, 2025, when the Trump Administration rescinded...

08:09 / F-1 / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / H1B / Homeland Security / NewsBrief / Student / USCIS News / Visitor / Worker
18 Sep 2025

When I was living in the U.S. in H-4 status, my husband and I mistakenly believed my status was automatically extended when his H1B extension was approved. By the time I learned I was supposed to file a separate H-4 extension, I had already overstayed by more than six months. I immediately left the U.S. and now wish to apply for a waiver to the 3-year bar so I can return H-4. Is there a particular form I need to fill to file this waiver application?

Answer There is no form or specific format required for requesting 212(d)(3) nonimmigrant visa waiver. The applicant may submit an application package – usually at a consular post, in connection to applying for a nonimmigrant visa – that includes things such as a letter providing details...

08:19 / FAQs / For Families / For Individuals / Nonimmigrant Family / Travel / Worker
10 Sep 2025

I was in H-4 status and have an H-4 visa stamp in my passport. A few months ago, my husband was laid off and we both changed to B-2 status. He now has a new job, so he changed back to H1B, and I returned to H-4 status. Can I still use my existing H-4 visa stamp?

Answer Generally speaking, an H-4 visa “stamp” remains valid through the expiration date listed on the document. Changing status to B-2 typically would not prevent a person from later using the visa to request admission in H-4 status, assuming the principal spouse is in valid H1B...

07:18 / B-2 / FAQs / For Families / For Individuals / H-4 Dependents / H1B / Nonimmigrant Family / Travel / Visitor / Worker
04 Sep 2025

USCIS to Stop Accepting Checks and Money Orders, Effective 29.Oct.2025

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...

09:05 / Employment Based / Family Based / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Resident / USCIS News