Posts

Jul 06, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

USCIS Opens New Atlanta Asylum Office to Expand Interview Capacity

USCIS opens a new Atlanta Asylum Office on July 8, 2026, serving Georgia and Alabama with interviews at three locations until a permanent site opens in 2027.

USCIS Asylum Processing Times

Jul 06, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

White House Clears Final Rule Ending Duration of Status: F-1 and J-1 Face a 4-Year Cap

DHS's final rule replacing Duration of Status with a fixed admission period of up to four years for F-1 and J-1 visa holders cleared White House review on June 17, 2026, and awaits Federal Register publication.

USCIS F-1 Visa OPT Policy Updates

Jul 05, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DHS Proposes Sweeping EB-5 Investor Visa Overhaul: What Investors Need to Know

DHS published a July 2, 2026 proposed rule to fully implement the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, adding mandatory project pre-approval, promoter registration, and tougher regional-center oversight. Comments are open until August 31, 2026.

EB-5 USCIS Policy Updates Green Card

Jul 05, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

H-1B and H-4 Applicants Must Now Make Their Social Media Public Before Consular Interviews

Since December 15, 2025, the State Department requires H-1B and H-4 visa applicants to make their social media profiles public for consular review, and the added vetting is causing appointment delays.

H-1B H-4 Visa News USCIS

Jul 05, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

International Students: New Form I-983 and Tight OPT Windows Demand Action This Summer

International students face a new mandatory Form I-983 for STEM OPT, strict OPT filing deadlines for spring 2026 grads, and a pending shift from Duration of Status to fixed four-year admission periods.

F-1 OPT Visa News H-1B

Jul 05, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

The 2025 Naturalization Civics Test: A Tougher Bar for New Citizenship Applicants

USCIS has replaced the 2008 civics test with a tougher 2025 version for anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025 — 20 questions from a 128-item bank, with 12 correct required to pass.

USCIS Naturalization Citizenship Policy Updates

Jul 05, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Moves to Nearly Double the Cost of Citizenship — and End Fee Waivers

A June 23, 2026 DHS proposed rule would raise the N-400 naturalization fee to as much as $1,330 and eliminate reduced fees and fee waivers. Public comments are open until August 24, 2026.

USCIS Naturalization Citizenship Policy Updates

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Court Strikes Down the $100,000 H-1B Fee as an Unlawful Tax — But an Administrative Stay Keeps It in Effect

A Massachusetts federal court vacated the $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax on June 8, 2026, but a June 12 administrative stay keeps the fee in effect pending the government's appeal to the First Circuit.

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates

Jul 03, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

DOL Proposes 20–33% Prevailing Wage Hikes for H-1B and PERM — What EB-2 and NIW Applicants Should Watch

A March 2026 DOL proposal would raise H-1B and PERM prevailing wages by 20–33%, adding roughly $14,000 per worker per year — here's what it means for EB-2 and NIW applicants.

H-1B EB-2 NIW

Jul 03, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

Federal Court Vacates USCIS Benefits Freeze Affecting Applicants From 39 Countries

On June 5, 2026, a Rhode Island federal court vacated four USCIS policies that had frozen green card, work permit, naturalization, and asylum adjudications for nationals of 39 travel-ban countries, ordering nationwide relief.

USCIS Green Card Policy Updates