05 Dec 2025

DOS to Review Social Media Account of All H1B and H-4 Visa Applicants

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced 03.Dec.2025 that it will expand mandatory social media screening to include all H1B visa “stamp” applicants and their H-4 dependent family members, effective 15.Dec.2025. The expansion extends an online presence review requirement that previously applied only to student...

04 Dec 2025

New USCIS Guidance on Country-Specific Facts and Discretionary Benefits Requests

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced new policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on how country-specific facts and circumstances may impact the adjudication of discretionary benefit requests. Presidential Proclamation 10949 The new guidance follows the framework of the 04.Jun.2025 Presidential Proclamation 10949, "Restricting...

26 Nov 2025

My husband is in L1A status and his current I-94 and L1A petition are valid through June 2026. When I traveled back from India a few weeks ago, I was admitted in L2S status through June 2027, which is my visa stamp expiration date. Is this an error?

Answer Yes, this appears to be an error made by the officer at the U.S. port of entry. An L2S spouse’s I-94 normally should not be issued beyond the L1A petition’s expiration date (although, an additional 10-day grace period beyond that date is permissible.) You should...

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...

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...

13 Oct 2025

Increased Scrutiny at U.S. Ports of Entry: What You Need to Know About Expedited Removal Orders

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...

25 Sep 2025

Possible Government Shutdown as of 01.Oct.2025

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...