Posts From July, 2026

On July 28, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a new interim final rule that changes one of the most important protections in the affirmative asylum process. Under this rule, USCIS asylum officers may now refer an asylum application directly to immigration court — placing the applicant in removal proceedings — without ever conducting […]

On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that fundamentally changes how international students (F-1), exchange visitors (J-1), and foreign media representatives (I) are admitted to the United States. The rule eliminates the decades-old “duration of status” (D/S) framework and replaces it with fixed admission periods. The rule takes effect […]

Re: New USCIS rule on public benefits and green card applications — effective September 18, 2026  What Happened  On July 16, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule canceling the 2022 “public charge” regulation.  “Public charge” is a rule that allows the government to deny a green card or visa if […]

USCIS and the State Department have sharply expanded background checks and social media review for green cards, work permits, and citizenship. If you have an immigration case — a visa, a green card, a work permit, or citizenship — assume the government is reviewing your public online presence. In 2026, both USCIS and the State […]

From July through December 2026, some visitor visa applicants can pay extra for a faster interview. Here is how it works — and what it will not do. Waiting months — sometimes more than a year — for a visitor visa interview is a real problem for families trying to bring relatives to visit. The […]

If you have Temporary Protected Status from one of seven countries, your work permit may expire on July 10, 2026. Here is what is happening. If you or a family member holds Temporary Protected Status (TPS), there is an urgent deadline to know about. Work permits tied to TPS for seven countries are currently set […]

In Blanche v. Lau (June 2026), the Supreme Court made it easier for border officers to treat returning green card holders as if they were seeking entry for the first time. If you have a green card and travel outside the United States, a recent Supreme Court decision changes what can happen when you come […]

If your green card, work permit, citizenship, or asylum case stalled for no clear reason, a June 2026 court ruling may help. If your case seemed to stop moving out of nowhere in late 2025 or early 2026, you were not imagining it. USCIS had quietly put many cases on hold based on the applicant’s […]

If your child is born in the United States, your child is a United States citizen. On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States confirmed this once again. In a 6 to 3 decision, the Court upheld birthright citizenship and rejected the executive order that had tried to take it away from […]

If you are applying for a green card from inside the United States, a recent policy change makes the strength of your application more important than ever. On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, reminding its officers and the public that adjustment of status under INA § 245 is an act of “administrative […]