Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
Visa Bulletin for December Notes Extension of ‘Certain Religious Workers’ Category
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for December 2025 includes the following update: H.R. 5371, signed on November 12, 2025, extends the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until January 30, 2026. No SR visas may be issued...
DOS Expands Public Charge Exclusions, Encourages Visa Officers to Speculate
According to reports, the Department of State sent a cable to diplomatic and consular posts that greatly expands the public charge reasons for excluding visa applicants beyond the current requirements of a medical exam, required vaccines, and screening procedures....
Shutdown Aftermath: Visa Services Resume, Delays Expected
According to reports, routine visa services have resumed after the federal government shutdown ended on November 12, 2025, after a record 43 days. Federal funding has been extended until January 30, 2026, but delays and backlogs remain. Although funding through fees...
DOS Signals Upcoming Changes to DV Program, Postpones Launch of DV-2027
The Department of State (DOS) announced on November 5, 2025, that it is implementing "certain changes" to the Diversity Visa (DV) entry process and has postponed the start date for the launch of DV-2027. "We will announce the start date for the DV-2027 registration...
DHS Terminates South Sudan TPS Designation
On November 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it has published a Federal Register notice terminating South Sudan's designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), effective January 5, 2026. The Systematic Alien Verification for...
Annual Asylum Fees Paused in Response to Court Order
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on November 7, 2025, that in accordance with an October 30, 2025, court order, it has paused the issuance of Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) notices. "Any applicant who has received a notice from USCIS instructing...
USCIS Receives ‘Overwhelming’ Number of Applications for New ‘Homeland Defender’ Positions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on November 6, 2025, that since starting its hiring campaign for "Homeland Defenders" on September 30, the agency "has received an overwhelming 35,000-plus applications—the most for any position in agency...
Court Sets Expedited Briefing Schedule for $100K H-1B Fee Challenge
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...
