UPDATE: Computer Glitch At US State Department

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Trump administration has directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to temporarily pause and reschedule immigrant visa interviews while consular officers undergo mandatory training on enhanced screening procedures, including the public charge ground of inadmissibility.

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.

A qualifying Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, alone does not establish that an adjustment applicant is not inadmissible on public charge grounds.

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 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.

In a move aimed at recalibrating the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, Canadian Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages...

At Green and Spiegel U.S., our experienced immigration attorneys are at the forefront of helping accomplished scientists secure O-1 Visas, tailored for individuals with extraordinary...

On June 8, author David Bier of the Cato Institute published a sobering analysis of the employment-based Green Card backlogs for India-born beneficiaries:

Today, the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 3900 applicants with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 449 or higher to apply for permanent residence.

As reported by the Washington Post, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a pre-dawn raid on January 10, targeting 98 7-Eleven Stores in Washington, D.C. and 17 states coast-to-coast.

Green and Spiegel LLP provides comprehensive immigration law services across Canada and the United States, offering both corporate and individual immigration solutions. The firm maintains offices in Toronto and Philadelphia, serving clients with expertise in business immigration, risk management, and workforce mobility. With dedicated teams for Canadian and U.S. immigration matters, the firm delivers strategic counsel for companies and individuals navigating complex immigration processes.

On September 18, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, effective September 10, 2024, it would automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) to 36 months...

Consistent with our advisory from late August, as of today, September 11, 2018, USCIS will no longer accept Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions unless said Petitions are:

International graduates are employed across a wide range of industries in Canada. One of the key temporary work permit categories that enables international graduates to work in Canada is the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Understanding how the PGWP works and the potential pathways to permanent residence that may be available to international graduates can help businesses make informed hiring decisions and develop appropriate employee retention strategies. While many international graduates hope to obtain permanent residence, eligibility depends on a range of factors, including the immigration program requirements in effect at the time of application.

In a Federal Register Notice published earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State ("DOS") has requested emergency regulatory approval for a supplemental questionnaire Form, known as the DS-5535.