The judge hearing a legal challenge to a $100,000 fee on employers seeking to sponsor an employee for an H-1B visa has ordered that all legal briefings in the case be completed by December 8, 2025. Judge Beryl Howell's order specifies that the government must file its...
OFLC Announces Extensions and Emergency Procedures in Light of Shutdown
Due to the federal government shutdown, the Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced on November 5, 2025, that it is implementing several temporary changes to its standard procedures related to applications and documents affected by...
OFLC Resumes Application Processing; Delays Expected
The Department of Labor (DOL) announced that the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has resumed processing of employer requests for prevailing wages and labor certification determinations for temporary and permanent employment in the United States. OFLC's...
Steve Yale-Loehr Comments on Wole Soyinka’s U.S. Visa Revocation in The New York Times
In Nigerian Nobel Laureate Says the U.S. Revoked His Visa, Steve noted that although Nigerian author Wole Soyinka's criticism of President Trump could have made him a target for visa revocation, not showing up to an interview also could have provided the State...
Presidential Determination Limits Refugee Admissions to Historic Low of 7,500 in FY 2026, Prioritizes Afrikaners From South Africa
A Presidential Determination published on October 30, 2025, limits refugee admissions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 to 7,500 and prioritizes Afrikaners from South Africa: "The admissions numbers shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa pursuant to...
DHS Publishes Interim Final Rule Ending Automatic Extension of Certain EADs
Effective October 30, 2025, an interim final rule published the same day ends the automatic extension of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) (Forms I-766) for those who have timely filed an application to renew an EAD in certain employment authorization...
Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted by the Times of India
In H-1B Fears Cool, Companies Hiring From U.S. Campuses to Gain, Steve commented on the Trump administration's decision to exempt those who are already in the United States, including foreign students, from a new $100,000 H-1B application fee. Steve said this means...
Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted in Arizona Republic on DACA Case Impact
In Will U.S. Start Processing New DACA Applications? How a Texas Lawsuit Complicates Question, Steve said, "It is possible that once the case is resolved, USCIS will begin to decide new [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)] requests again." A Department of...
USCIS Discusses Impact of Shutdown on Certain H and CW Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will process H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B-related Form I-129 petitions and CW-1-related Form I-129CW petitions during the federal government shutdown. "We recognize, however, that the shutdown may affect a...
USCIS Releases Additional Guidance on New $100,000 H-1B Fee
On October 20, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced additional guidance related to the September 19, 2025, Presidential Proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. As of September 21, 2025, new H-1B petitions must...
