Posts

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

Jun 19, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

July 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Becomes Unavailable as Visa Pressure Mounts

The July 2026 Visa Bulletin makes EB-2 and EB-5 India unavailable for the rest of FY2026 and retrogresses EB-1 India, while Rest-of-World EB-1/EB-2 stay current.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 NIW USCIS

Jun 19, 2026 • Visa News • 2 min read

July 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Goes Unavailable as Most Categories Hold or Advance

The State Department's July 2026 Visa Bulletin keeps worldwide EB-1 and EB-2 Current but makes EB-2 India entirely Unavailable for the rest of FY2026, with USCIS again honoring Final Action Dates.

Visa Bulletin EB-2 NIW Green Card

Jun 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

Random No More: How the New Wage-Weighted H-1B Selection Changes Your Odds

A DHS final rule effective February 27, 2026 replaces the random H-1B lottery with a wage-level weighted selection that gives Level IV registrations four entries and pushes their selection odds above 61 percent.

H-1B Processing Times NIW Policy Updates

Jun 19, 2026 • Policy Updates • 2 min read

USCIS Makes Consular Processing the Default: What the New Adjustment of Status Policy Means

USCIS policy memo PM-602-0199, effective May 21, 2026, makes consular processing the default for green card seekers and treats adjustment of status as extraordinary relief, though dual-intent H-1B and L-1 holders are less affected.

USCIS Green Card H-1B Policy Updates