Immigration Insights & Issues Blog
Key legal insights into modern immigration challenges.
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”
June 4 marked a very active day for the administration in immigration related proclamations. The horrific act of anti-semitic violence by an Egyptian national B visa visitor overstay in Boulder, Colorado has served as a catalyst for both a travel ban and restrictions to cut off access to Harvard University by F-1, J-1, and M-1 …
Continue reading “Travel Ban Redux: June 9 Implementation Regarding 19 Countries”
The H-1B visa program is a cornerstone for U.S. companies looking to hire international professionals in specialty occupations—from engineers and IT experts to researchers, teachers, and healthcare professionals, among others. Unfortunately, the cap of 85,000 visas that are available each year does not meet the demand. The selection rate of H-1B registrants for the fiscal …
Continue reading “Crossing the Finish Line: Navigating Post-H-1B Registration”
On March 12, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its proposed new registration Interim Final Regulation (IFR).[1] It becomes effective on April 11, 2025. The IFR outlines the existing long-term regulations that provide that it is a legal requirement for all unregistered foreign nationals (or previously registered foreign nationals who turn 14 years …
Continue reading “Canadian B Visitors to the U.S.: What Does Registration Mean for You?”
An article published by The New York Times on March 14, 2025, details a travel ban proposal under review by the Trump administration affecting 43 countries, categorized using a color-coded triage system (the “Article”). The article is based on a leaked memo. Reportedly, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) submitted this proposed list a few …
Continue reading “Planning for Travel Ban 2025 – Leaked Draft includes 43 countries”