Some United States Consulates Now Requiring that Form DS-160 Be Signed and Submitted At Least 48 “Working” Hours Before Interview Date
A number of United States consulates have been contacting nonimmigrant visa applicants to notify them that they must make sure that their Forms DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application are “signed and submitted” no later than 48 “working hours” before the scheduled...
ICE to Cease SEVIS Terminations on the Basis of Law Enforcement Interactions, Will Restore Previously Terminated SEVIS Records
In a recent open court, an attorney representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) declared that it will cease the terminations of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records of F-1 academic students and M-1 vocational students that...
May 2025 Visa Bulletin Issued: Final Action EB Cut-Off Dates Will Once Again Apply; Little to No Movement in Any EB Category
The U.S. Department of State has released its May 2025 Visa Bulletin imposing per-country cut-off dates that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications and consular Immigrant Visa application interviews and approvals....
Brazilian Visa Requirement Reinstated for U.S., Canada and Australia
Taking effect on April 10, 2025, the Brazilian government has decided to reinstate the visitor visa requirement for citizens of the following countries: the United States, Canada and Australia. Brazilian visas will be required for tourism, business, transit,...
USCIS to Review Social Media of Foreign National Applicants for Immigration Benefits for Anti-Semitic Activity
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will start using a foreign national’s perceived “antisemitic activity” on social media, as well as the physical harassment of Jewish persons, as a basis on which to deny an application...
USCIS Completes Initial H-1B Cap Registration Selection Process for Fiscal Year 2026
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, as expected, it received sufficient electronic H-1B cap registrations during the initial registration period in March to reach the FY 2026 H-1B numerical allocations of 65,000 (for holders...
State Department Sends Cable to Consulates Requiring Social Media Review of All F, M, and J Visa Applicants
An investigative reporter (State Dept. demands 'enhanced' social media vetting of student visa applicants) has obtained a copy of a cable sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 26, 2025, to State Department employees entitled “Action Request: Enhanced...
Social Security Administration Freezes Enumeration Beyond Entry Program; Social Security Cards May No Longer Be Mailed to EAD or Naturalization Applicants
Yesterday, an investigative reporter revealed an unpublished internal memo from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), indicating that the SSA had temporarily paused its Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program. Through EBE, SSA automatically issues Social...
Litigation Over Birthright Citizenship Executive Order Reaches United States Supreme Court
After three separate federal courts issued nationwide injunctions preventing the federal government from enforcing or implementing the Trump administration’s January 20, 2025 Executive Order (“EO”) entitled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, the...
Trump Administration Issues Interim Final Rule on Foreign National Registration Requirement
As we reported on March 6, 2025, in our Alert, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on February 25, 2025 a new registration procedure for foreign nationals in the United States. This procedure was announced in an effort to comply with...