Practice Pointer: FAQs Regarding The New Electronic H-1B Registration & Filing Process

If you're applying for adjustment of status to become a permanent resident (green card holder) in the United States, you'll need to complete a medical examination as part of the process.

A federal judge has invalidated the U.S. Department of State's nationality-based policy suspending immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. The ruling in CLINIC v. Rubio requires the government to return to individualized adjudication under U.S. immigration law, though it does not eliminate existing travel restrictions or guarantee visa issuance.

The U.S. Department of State has temporarily paused immigrant visa interviews worldwide to conduct training programs for consular officers on public charge assessments. This development affects scheduling at U.S. embassies and consulates globally, though it does not mean all immigrant visa applications have been canceled or permanently suspended.

Following a federal court order in Medani v. Trump, the U.S. Department of State has resumed issuing Diversity Immigrant Visas after a nine-month pause that began in December 2025. DV-2026 selectees now face a critical deadline of September 30, 2026, to complete their visa processing or permanently lose their opportunity for permanent residence through the diversity visa lottery program.

Building a successful O-1 visa case requires more than collecting awards and credentials—it demands strategic evidence organization, clear demonstration of extraordinary ability, and careful planning of proposed U.S. work. This comprehensive guide reveals how to construct a legally persuasive petition that connects achievements to regulatory criteria and positions applicants for approval.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B petitions, potentially transforming the economics of foreign worker sponsorship. This comprehensive analysis examines who would pay this substantial charge, when it would apply, its legal foundation compared to the previously challenged $100,000 rule, and the potential court challenges that could determine whether federal agencies can impose six-figure fees on employers to fund broader immigration system costs.

A federal court in Massachusetts has postponed the Department of Homeland Security rule that would have ended 'duration of status' admissions for F, J, and I nonimmigrants, originally scheduled to take effect September 15, 2026. This preliminary injunction affects students, exchange visitors, foreign media representatives, and their sponsoring institutions, though the postponement is not a final invalidation of the rule and litigation continues.

Foreign nationals from treaty countries seeking to launch, buy, or actively run a U.S. business can explore the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, a flexible nonimmigrant option requiring substantial investment and active management. This comprehensive guide examines eligibility requirements, compares E-2 to EB-5 pathways, and outlines the application process from initial planning through visa issuance.

If your goal is to make it through the EB1A process you'll be happy to know that just 54% of petitions actually get rejected in 2026.

USCIS is implementing a revised Form I-485 on September 18, 2026, with no grace period for transition, requiring immediate use of the new edition for all green card adjustment of status applications. The updated form incorporates significant changes related to the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule, affecting documentation requirements and filing procedures. Employers and immigration sponsors must carefully navigate the hard cutoff date to avoid application rejections.