With the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”)’s publication of its July 2026 visa bulletin, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has decided to continue its use of the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications (Chart A). Significantly, USCIS has determined that due to overwhelming demand in June, especially in the employment-based visa preference categories for India, USCIS, in conjunction with the Department of State, has retrogressed EB-1, and exhausted/made unavailable EB-2 and EB-5 (unreserved categories), while advancing EB-3 by half (1/2) month, in order to slow down the various employment-based applications for India even starting in June 2026.

On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new policy memo that fundamentally changes how applicants may qualify to apply for lawful permanent residence -…

When sponsoring an employee under H-1B nonimmigrant status, the approval of their H-1B I-29 petition is only the beginning of the journey. There are additional steps that employers must take…

If you are filing an immigration petition in the near future, a recent policy change from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may affect your timeline and what you need…

With the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”)’s publication of its June 2026 visa bulletin, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has decided to continue its use of the Final…

Choosing the right pathway to permanent residency in the United States is a significant decision for any individual or business. While both family-based and employment-based immigrant petitions can lead to…

On March 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that would significantly adjust the methodology for determining prevailing wages under the H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and the permanent labor certification PERM programs.

Federal worksite enforcement has changed significantly in recent months. If your business employs employees within the United States, you will have access to Form I-9, and it could expose you to…

In March 2026, a new Executive Order signed by President Trump was issued with the goal of tightening citizenship verification in federal elections. This order has the potential to shift…

USCIS has announced key updates for the May 2026 visa bulletin, signaling a more cautious approach to managing green card demand. The agency will revert to using Final Action Dates…

The EB-1A extraordinary ability classification is often misunderstood. Many professionals, when considering various U.S. immigration pathways, assume that the EB-1A classification is reserved for Nobel Prize winners, Olympic athletes, or globally recognized public figures.

On March 31, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had received enough electronic registrations to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2027 H-1B cap, including the advanced degree exemption (also known as the master’s cap).

On March 25, 2026, the Department of State (DOS) announced that it will expand its online presence review. This is set to take effect on March 30, 2026. The expanded screening and vetting procedures now include applicants in the following additional non-immigrant visa classifications.

Sheetal A. Patel of Pasricha & Patel, LLC, explains the adjustment of status filing charts for the Visa Bulletin.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will restrict flagship loan programs, such as the 7(a) and 504 loans, to businesses where 100% ownership is to United States citizens or United States nationals who have their principal residence in the U.S., or its territories.

With today’s evolving immigration landscape, the O-1 visa remains a valuable immigration pathway for many individuals seeking legal status in the United States. While much sought after, this pathway is commonly misunderstood. The O-1 visa allows highly skilled professionals, researchers, creatives, and entrepreneurs from a range of industries to continue their work in the United States, given that their contributions are within the evidentiary framework set by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

For many years, international students and exchange visitors on F-1 and J-1 legal status have enjoyed the benefits of a policy known as “Duration of Status (D/S).” This policy allowed students to remain in the United States indefinitely, provided that they remain an enrolled student within an institution and followed the program’s rules.

Sheetal A. Patel of Pasricha & Patel, LLC, explains the adjustment of status filing charts for the Visa Bulletin

Across the United States, immigrant communities are experiencing an increase in sophisticated impersonation scams. These schemes, which has gained more traction since mid-2025 and especially with ever changing immigration-related news and varies rule changes, are affecting many individuals in the immigrant community.

On February 3, 2026, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and six individual researchers filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and their respective agency leads in their official capacity.