Immigration Alerts

USCIS Reframes Adjustment of Status as "Extraordinary" Relief — Increasing Denial Risk for Many Applicants

On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum directing its officers to treat Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) as extraordinary discretionary relief from the regular immigrant visa process (i.e., consular processing), and not as a routine...

Plaintiff Prevail Against USCIS’s Hold of Applications by Applicants from “High-Risk Countries”

This is a new update to our previous Update: Hold and Review of USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Applicants from “High-Risk Countries”.

Reports of CBP Scrutinizing H-1B Employees Returning After Working Abroad

There have been reports regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance in Abu Dhabi scrutinizing H-1B visa holders and even revoking their H-1B visas for working from abroad.

DOL Proposes Significant Increases to Prevailing Wage Levels for H-1B and PERM Programs

On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed a rule that will restructure the prevailing wage levels for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM programs.

H-1B Cap Registration for FY2027 Begins Soon

The window for H-1B cap registration (AKA H-1B lottery) will begin Wednesday, March 4th at 9:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time), and close on Thursday, March 19th at 9:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time). 

U.S. Suspending Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Nations

The U.S. State Department is indefinitely suspending immigrant (permanent residency) visa processing from 75 countries in another expansion of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.  This temporary suspension does not affect...

Update: Hold and Review of USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Applicants from “High-Risk Countries”

This is a follow up to our December 5th, 2025 article USCIS Halts Asylum and Other Benefit Applications from "High-Risk" Countries.

Wage-Based System for H-1B Lottery Finalized

This is a follow up to our October 3rd article regarding changes coming for the H-1B lottery by adopting a wage-based lottery system.

New Photo Policy Helps Prevent Immigration Fraud Through Enhanced Identity Verification

Effective immediately, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has limited the use of photos to those that were taken within three years of the date a person files a USCIS form.

Visa Appointment Cancellations for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants

This is a follow up article to our December 4th alert regarding Expanded Screening and Vetting for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants.