Adjustment of status interviews are continuing to take place in the wake of USCIS's Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, which was published on May 22, 2026. The Policy Memorandum doubled down on approvals of adjustment of status applications being discretionary by requiring applicants to show extraord...
Immigration Newswire
Immigration law is composed of statutes, regulations, case law and non-binding agency guidance. The primary statute with which we deal as immigration attorneys is the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The regulations we reference are all included in various volumes of the Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”). We primarily use 8 CFR, which is USCIS regulations; 20 CFR, which is Department of Labor regulations; and 22 CFR, which is Department of State regulations.
In addition, we cite to precedent decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO).
Finally, the various federal agencies with which we deal provide frequent administrative guidance which is not binding but which governs their internal policies.
By providing you with the latest immigration legal news, we hope to offer practical insights into the ways various legal provisions are being construed by the government.
New Vetting Process at USCIS Expected to Cause Delays in Case Processing
On April 27, 2026, USCIS implemented a new vetting process for conducting background checks. This change is part of a broader plan for USCIS to use stronger security screening and vetting processes initially announced on March 30, 2026. The new process requires that all applications requiring bi...
What USCIS’s New Policy Memo on Adjustment of Status Means for You
On May 22, 2026, USCIS released Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 which introduced drastic changes for how adjustment of status applications will be processed going forward. The Policy Memorandum relies heavily on language in Section 245(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) which states ap...
BREAKING – USCIS Announces New Policy for Adjustment of Status
On May 22, 2026, USCIS announced a new policy directing USCIS Officers to approve Form I-485, Adjustment of Status applications only in “extraordinary circumstances” when an applicant has the ability to pursue Consular Processing in their home country. Officers have been directed to consider all...
USCIS Ends Telephonic Interview Appearances for Attorneys
USCIS has posted an announcement on their Field Offices page that, effective May 18, 2026, attorneys and accredited representatives will no longer be allowed to appear telephonically at client field office interviews and in affirmative asylum and Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief ...
Changes to upcoming H-1B cap lottery selection process
USCIS will make weight future H-1B lottery selections based on salary
Updates to the $100K fee for new H-1Bs
USCIS has issued clarification regarding the $100K fee for new H-1Bs. This post quickly summarizes when it is and is not required.
USCIS "Declares War" on Immigration Fraud with Operation Twin Shield
By Grace Vensel On September 30, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the completion of Operation Twin Shield, an immigration fraud investigation conducted in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region from September 19 to September 28, 2025. Labeled a "resounding success" by U...
Updates to the H-1B: What we know about the $100,000 fee
An overview of what USCIS has confirmed and what is still unknown about the $100,000 H-1B fee
USCIS Announces Changes to Naturalization Civics Test
By Grace Vensel To become a naturalized citizen of the United States, Section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires applicants to demonstrate an understanding of the English language, as well as knowledge of U.S. history, principles, and the form of government. One of the key...
USCIS to Accept Only Electronic Payments of Filing Fees Starting October 2025
Effective October 28, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer accept paper checks and money orders as payment of filing fees. In place of paper payments, USCIS has implemented an electronic payment system that either authorizes the agency to directly withdraw filing fees from a U.S. bank account or to charge a U.S. issued credit card. This article explains why USCIS has made this change, how applicants must now submit filing fees, and important considerations to keep in mind.
ALERT: Potential Travel Ban for Muslim-Majority Countries
by Daniela A. Hoegerle On March 6, 2025, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) advised lawful permanent residents and other immigrants originating from Muslim-majority countries legally present in the U.S. to avoid overseas travel for the next 30 days. This announcement comes after an...
ALERT – Department of State announces it has reached EB-4 Annual Limit
On February 28, 2025, Department of State announced that it has now issued all available immigrant visas and green cards in the Employment Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) category for FY2025. The EB-4 category includes: Religious workers Special Immigrant Juveniles Certain broadcasters comi...
Updates to the Department of State Interview Waiver program
by Adam J. Kneeland On February 18, 2025, the Department of State (DoS) updated the categories of applicants eligible for a visa interview waiver. The eligible categories are as follows: Applicants who previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the...
FY 2026 H-1B Cap Season has begun
With USCIS's confirmation of the registration schedule on February 5, 2025, we have officially entered the FY 2026 H-1B cap season. What is cap registration? Before working in H-1B status for the first time, most non-immigrant employees must be selected in a random lottery. An employer can ...
BREAKING - COVID-19 Vaccination no longer required for Adjustment of Status Applicants
Beginning January 22, 2025, USCIS announced that it will waive any and all requirements that Adjustment of Status applicants present documentation of the COVID-19 vaccination. The announcement posed on the Form I-485 webpage states that: USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence (RFE) or No...
Changes to Form I-693 Requirements for Adjustment of Status Applicants
On December 2, 2024, USCIS updated the Form I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record instructions. The update states that most Adjustment of Status applicants must now submit the completed medical exam at the same time as their Form I-485. Previously, USCIS has en...
What is “good moral character” for naturalization?
Applicants for naturalization are required to show that they have maintained good moral character during the statutory 3 or 5 year period prior to filing a Form N-400. The statutory period will depend on the category under which you are applying for naturalization. USCIS must find that you have ...
Understanding USCIS's New Policy on Medical Exam Validity Periods
By Grace Vensel U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy guidance regarding form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Non-citizens applying for immigrant status must file form I-693 to demonstrate that they are not inadmissible to the United States on health-related grounds. According to the policy guidance, a properly completed form I-693 that has been signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023 does not expire and can be used indefinitely.
Keeping Families Together: A New Opportunity for Parole-in-Place
by Grace Vensel and Emilie Gough On June 18, 2024, the Biden-Harris administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced “Keeping American Families Together”, an initiative to ensure that certain noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens are able to apply for lawful per...
What are my responsibilities as a sponsor under the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support?
For family-based immigrant petitions – and some employment-based immigrant petitions – the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA must be submitted in order for permanent residency to be approved. The Form I-864 is a binding contact between the sponsor and the US gover...
DHS Extends and Re-Designates Haiti, Yemen, and Somalia for Temporary Protected Status
By Grace Vensel Throughout the months of June and July, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended and re-designated Haiti, Yemen, and Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an additional 18 months. What is TPS? How can it benefit individuals from these countries? ...
FY2025 H-1B Cap Lottery Overview
By Adam J. Kneeland With USCIS's recent confirmation of this year's registration schedule, we have officially entered the FY 2025 H-1B cap season. This year brings some significant changes that will affect how USCIS selects candidates. New Changes to Registration Starting this year, USCIS w...
USCIS Final Rule Makes Significant Change to Filing Fees for the First Time in Seven Years
On January 30, 2024, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would be making significant changes to filing fees for certain immigrant and naturalization requests. For the first time since 2016, USCIS published the Final Rule to adjust filing fees for various nonimmigrant, immigrant, and naturalization forms. The Final Rule goes into effect on April 1, 2024. Any application or petition that is postmarked on or after this date must include the proper forms and filing fees established under the Final Rule. Here are some key pieces of information to know before the new changes apply.
How to become a U.S. citizen through military service for you or your family
By Daniela A. Hoegerle Who is eligible? In order to apply for citizenship, the military member must meet all the requirements of either section 328 or 329 of the INA. If the military member served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year at any time, he or she may be eligible to...