Immigration Insights & Issues Blog
Key legal insights into modern immigration challenges.
For years, Small Business Administration (SBA)-backed small business loans were available to borrowers that were at least 51% owned by U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and/or U.S. legal permanent residents (LPRs also known as “green card” holders). The Trump Administration has now extended the scope of its efforts to tighten immigration-related policies and rules to qualifications …
Continue reading “Trump Administration Prohibits SBA Loans to Noncitizens”
Without any grace period for implementation, investigation results, or opportunity for prior comment by H-1B employers in the State of Texas, Governor Abbott issued a letter on January 27, 2026, addressed to all state agency heads stating that, “The economy of Texas should work for the benefit of Texas workers and Texas employers.” The letter …
Continue reading “Texas Hold’em: Governor’s H-1B Pause Reveals Several ‘Hole Cards’”
On September 19, 2025, the Trump Administration created, via Executive Order, new immigrant options for investors to acquire permanent residence via the Trump Gold Card program, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The Secretary of the DOC coordinates with the Secretary of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish …
Continue reading “Trump Gold Card or Pyrite Card Program – Which Is It?”
The H-1B nonimmigrant category[1] has been a target of extreme scrutiny under the current administration. H-1B sponsoring employers face a variety of new considerations affecting their petition beneficiaries such as: potential eligibility for selection in the annual H-1B lottery for cap-subject employers, costs of filing due to the H-1B Proclamation implementing the $100,000.00 payment, ability …
Continue reading “2026 H-1B Employer Punch List: Regulatory and Filing Considerations”
This article provides an updated summary of the implications of the expanded Travel Ban announced by the administration on December 16. BASIS – PROCLAMATION 10949 of JUNE 4, 2025 – Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats TRAVEL BAN EXPANSION …
Continue reading “Updated Summary of the Travel Ban and its Impact Post December 16”
Effective December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will require all H-1B professional workers and H-4 dependents to make their social-media profiles publicly viewable so consular officers can conduct an “online presence review.” This screening requirement, previously applied primarily to students and exchange visitors in the F, M, and J visa categories, now …
Continue reading “New State Department Social-Media Review: Implications for H-1B Employers”
On December 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a significant new policy memorandum PM-602-0192, titled “Hold and Review of all Pending Asylum Applications and all USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Aliens from High-Risk Countries.” The memorandum implements one of the most far-reaching adjudication holds in recent years and directs immediate, agency-wide changes …
Continue reading “Important Updates in the New DHS Entry Suspension Memo”
In today’s competitive global talent environment, employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories remain essential tools for U.S. employers trying to attract, transfer, or retain high-skilled professionals. Recent trends show that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has adopted a significantly more stringent approach to adjudicating related petitions. USCIS has recently made several changes that are …
Continue reading “Rising Scrutiny in Employment-Based Visas: What Employers Must Prepare For”
The September 19 Presidential Proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” is not an absolute travel/adjudication ban on H-1B petition adjudications and admission of existing H-1B visa holders without the payment of $100,000.00, but the various agencies trying to implement the Proclamation are issuing rapid-fire clarifications. The Proclamation took effect at 12:01 am …
Each year, the AILA National Conference provides an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from government officials on immigration policies, operational updates, and agency priorities. Among the most anticipated sessions are the Government Open Forums — though this year, they looked a little different. Unlike previous years, where agencies had dedicated booths and multiple current officials …
Continue reading “Key Government Takeaways from the 2025 AILA Conference”