Posts

Jun 24, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

H-1B Lottery Is Changing: DHS Weighted Selection Rule Gives Higher-Wage Jobs Up to 4x Better Odds

A DHS final rule effective February 27, 2026 replaces the equal-odds H-1B lottery with a wage-weighted selection process for FY 2027, giving Level IV jobs up to four entries and far better odds than Level I.

H-1B USCIS Policy Processing Times

Jun 24, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

July 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Goes Unavailable, EB-1 India Retrogresses, Most Categories Advance

The State Department's July 2026 Visa Bulletin makes EB-2 India unavailable for the rest of FY 2026, retrogresses EB-1 India, and advances EB-3 and several family categories.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 NIW Green Card +1 more

Jun 24, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

July 2026 Visa Bulletin: Employment-Based Final Action Dates Apply for Third Straight Month

The State Department's July 2026 Visa Bulletin keeps employment-based applicants on the Final Action Dates chart for a third month, with EB-2 India retrogressing to Unavailable.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 NIW Green Card

Jun 24, 2026 • Green Card • 2 min read

NIW Approvals Are Getting Harder: USCIS Guidance and a Collapsing Approval Rate Reshape the National Interest Waiver

USCIS's January 2025 NIW guidance and a Q4 2025 approval rate that fell to 35.7% have made the EB-2 National Interest Waiver significantly harder to win, raising the bar for evidence and case construction.

NIW EB-2 USCIS Green Card

Jun 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Adjudication Hold Expands to 39 High-Risk Countries — What I-140 and Green Card Applicants Should Know

USCIS expanded its adjudication hold to nationals of 39 high-risk countries in January 2026, pausing I-140, I-485, I-765 and other filings — with a national-interest exception that may help NIW and EB-1A petitioners.

USCIS NIW Green Card Processing Times

Jun 24, 2026 • Immigration News • 2 min read

USCIS Backlog Hits Record ~12 Million Cases as Processing Times Climb in 2026

USCIS closed FY2025 with a record backlog approaching 12 million cases, and 2026 processing times for I-130, I-129F, and I-90 have all risen — with the Ombudsman urging faster digitization.

USCIS Processing Times NIW Green Card

Jun 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Now Accepts Online Filing for EB-1A and EB-2 NIW I-140 Petitions

USCIS has enabled online filing of standalone Form I-140 petitions for EB-1A and EB-2 NIW self-petitioners, offering faster receipts — though concurrent I-485 filings still go by mail.

NIW EB-1A USCIS EB-2

Jun 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Will Grant Adjustment of Status Only in "Extraordinary Circumstances": What the New Policy Memo Means

USCIS policy memo PM-602-0199 reframes adjustment of status as discretionary relief granted only in 'extraordinary circumstances,' shifting the burden onto applicants to prove positive equities.

USCIS Green Card Adjustment of Status Policy

Jun 24, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Work Permit Crackdown: USCIS Ends Automatic EAD Extensions and Shortens Validity Periods

USCIS ended automatic EAD extensions for renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025 and cut maximum validity for certain EAD categories from five years to 18 months, raising the risk of work-authorization gaps.

USCIS EAD Work Authorization Processing Times

Jun 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

$100,000 H-1B Fee Reinstated for Now After Court Grants Administrative Stay

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

H-1B USCIS Policy Updates