posted on: February 6, 2026
What is the Board of Immigration Appeals? The Board of Immigration Appeals, or BIA, is the highest administrative appellate body in the U.S. immigration system. It reviews decisions made by immigration judges and is responsible for correcting legal and factual errors, ensuring consistent application of immigration law nationwide, and providing a basic level of due […]
posted on: December 31, 2025
We are updating guidance in Volume 3 of the USCIS Policy Manual related to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) program—a program where certain immigration benefits can be provided to survivors of domestic abuse. From fiscal years 2020 to 2024, the overall number of Form I-360 VAWA self-petitions increased by approximately 360% and male self-petitioners increased by 259%. These […]
posted on: December 29, 2025
In December 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a major overhaul of the H-1B visa selection process, replacing the traditional random lottery with a weighted selection system. Key Features of the Weighted System The new system prioritizes higher-paid and higher-skilled workers by giving them more entries into the selection pool based on their […]
posted on: December 5, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens. This update also incorporates changes to EAD validity periods made by recent legislation to ensure proper vetting and screening of aliens. The reduced maximum validity periods for certain categories will result […]
posted on: November 18, 2025
In a sweeping new directive, the Trump administration has ordered US visa officers to start weighing chronic health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and even depression, as potential reasons to deny entry or residency to foreigners. According to a cable sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to US embassies and consulates worldwide on November 6, […]
posted on: November 4, 2025
On Oct. 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to end the practice of automatically extending the validity of certain Forms I-766, Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) when a renewal Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, application was timely filed. EAD renewal applicants will no longer receive an up-to-540-day automatic […]
posted on: October 29, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security is publishing a Federal Register notice to implement a new immigration parole fee required by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill. The fee is $1,000 for FY 2025 and is subject to annual adjustments for inflation. You must pay this fee when you are paroled into the United States, unless you qualify for an […]
posted on: September 25, 2025
FINANCIAL EXPRESS- Green card holders applying for U.S. citizenship through naturalization will be required to take the updated 2025 civics test from USCIS. Written by Sunil Dhawan Green card holders or lawful permanent residents applying for American citizenship should prepare for the updated 2025 civics test, which assesses understanding of U.S. history, values, and government. […]
posted on: September 23, 2025
PBS NEWS- WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s latest plan to overhaul the American immigration system has left some immigrant workers confused, forcing the White House on Saturday to scramble to clarify that a new $100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders. The […]
posted on: September 4, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the factors that officers consider in certain benefit requests where an exercise of discretion is required, including factors relating to aliens’ past requests for parole and any involvement in anti-American or terrorist organizations, as well as the use of discretion in adjudication […]
