On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memo addressing how officers should exercise their discretion when adjudicating Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications (Form I‑485) filed within the United States. Historically,...
Updated Signature Policies for USCIS Filings
May 15, 2026
On May 11, 2026, USCIS published a new interim final rule addressing how the agency will handle immigration filings containing invalid signatures. The rule becomes effective for filings received by USCIS on or after July 10, 2026. Under the new rule, if USCIS later...
H-1B “cap” registration dates and fee announced for 2026 (FY 2027)
Jan 30, 2026
On January 30, 2026, USCIS announced the dates for the upcoming H-1B visa cap registration window. The window will open at noon ET (9am PT) on Wednesday March 4, 2026 and will close at noon ET (9am PT) on Thursday March 19, 2026. The registration fee will remain $215....
USCIS Pauses All Immigration Adjudications for Travel-Ban Countries
Dec 12, 2025
June 12, 2026 update: On June 12, 2026, USCIS posted that it would comply with the court order and that any related policy memos "should be treated as if they are not in effect." June 9, 2026 update: In a June 5, 2026 decision, a federal court concluded that USCIS...
DHS implements $1,000 immigration parole fee
Oct 23, 2025
On October 16, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began assessing and collecting a $1,000 parole fee pursuant to its announcement in the Federal Register. Unless an exception applies (see below), the parole fee will attach when a foreign national’s parole...
USCIS issues new guidance on applicability of President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee
Oct 23, 2025
Update 6/9/2026: On June 8, 2026, U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin in Massachusetts struck down the Trump administration's $100,000 H-1B visa fee, ruling it an unlawful tax that unconstitutionally bypassed Congress and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The...
DHS proposes wage-based selection system for annual H-1B cap lottery
Sep 25, 2025
Update: December 23, 2025 On December 23, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the proposed changes to the H-1B cap selection system in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) discussed below would become the subject of a final rule,...
Presidential Proclamation Imposes $100,000 Fee on Certain H1B Entries
Sep 19, 2025
Disclaimer: Any foreign national considering international travel should have an attorney review the particular circumstances of their case. UPDATE 09/24/2025Since President Trump released his proclamation on Friday, September 19, 2025, imposing a $100,000 fee on...
Presidential Proclamation Banning Travel for Nationals from Certain Countries
Jun 5, 2025
Update: On June 16, 2025, the New York Times reported that 36 additional countries are under consideration for adding to the ban. Original post:On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued the Proclamation, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United...















